Reading Instruction Competence Assessment (RICA) Practice Test

Which vowel represents the schwa sound in "harmony"?

1. A

2. E

3. O

4. I

The correct answer is: O

The schwa sound is an unstressed and neutral vowel sound commonly represented by the symbol /ə/ in phonetic transcription. In the word "harmony," the schwa occurs in the first syllable, represented by the letter "A." This is because the pronunciation of the stressed syllable influences the other vowels, leading the "A" in this case to be pronounced as a schwa. Recognizing the schwa sound in a word often relies on understanding the stress patterns within that word. In "harmony," the first syllable is unstressed, causing the "A" to produce the schwa sound, while the other vowels contribute to the overall pronunciation of the word without representing the schwa. Consequently, among the choices presented, the vowel that accurately represents the schwa sound in "harmony" is "A."