the vowels of english
DESCRIPTION
sounds in which there is no obstruction of the airflow as they pass through the larynx. The Vowels of English. Vowels. All vowels are considered voiced => the vocal cords are vibrating when producing the sounds. Characteristics of vowels. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
sounds in which there is no obstruction of the airflow as they
pass through the larynx
Vowels
All vowels are considered voiced => the vocal cords are vibrating when producing the sounds
Characteristics of vowels Involves flow of the airstream out of the
mouth over the central part of the tongue with stoppage or local turbulence in the mouth => central, oral, sonorant
Sonorants
=> Involves no closure or stricture of the stricture of the airstream but stead relatively unimpeded airflow
Only some sonorants are oral Some vowels are nasalized.
Vowel = central oral sonorant
Vowels Classification
Positions of the tongue in the mouth
1.) Tongue height (how far the tongue is raised – high-mid-low)
2.) Tongue backness (which part of the tongue- front – central – back)
3.) Lip rounding (rounded – unrounded)
4.) A degree of tension (tense or lax)
1. Tongue height
How much space there is between the tongue and roof of the mouth
High ‘bee’
Mid ‘bet’
Low ‘bat’
2. Tongue back
The horizontal tongue position during the articulation of a vowel.
Front ‘beat’Central ‘bird’
Back ‘boot’
Vowel diagram
=> is shaped as an inverted triangle or trapeziod.
Can portray the positions of the highest point on the tongue for the respective vowels
Cardinal vowels
Theoretical vowel qualities against which the actual vowels of the language are being compared. It has the 4 levels of IPA system
American English vowels
Front Central Back
High ‘beat’ ‘boot’
‘bit’ ‘put’
Mid ‘bait’ ‘sofa’ ‘boat’
‘bet’ ‘but’ ‘bought’
Low ‘bat’ ‘t’
British English vowels Front Central Back
High ‘beat’ ‘boot’ ‘bit’ ‘put’Mid ‘bet’ ‘bird’
‘bought’ ‘sofa’ ‘but’Low ‘bat’ ‘pot’
‘bath’
3. Lip Rounding http://clas.mq.edu.au/phonetics/phonetics/vowelartic/lip_posture.html
4. Tenseness Some vowels need a greater degree of
muscular tension in the mouth and jaw when they are produced than others.
Tense vowels => produced with more muscular effort in the mouth and jaw
(long vowels with symbol are tense) Lax vowels => produced with more
relaxing mouth and jaw
http://sci2s.ugr.es/keel/dataset/images/vowel.jpg