How do you produce the short a and broad a sound?

Answer 1

The short A has an "ah" sound (cat, cab, can) while the broad A (long A) has a "ay" sound : able, cane, day, rain. The long A is usually created through other vowels (e.g. as in the word anal, the first A is stressed and the second is a schwa).

Answer 2

To produce the short "a" sound (as in "cat"), relax your mouth, slightly open it, and say the sound with a quick exhale. To produce the broad "a" sound (as in "father"), open your mouth wide, relax your jaw, and say the sound with a longer exhale. Practice these sounds by comparing them to similar words with different vowel sounds.