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