Vowels
A vowels
are defined as voiced sound in
which there is no obstruction in the air passage. The shape of the oral cavity
changed to form resonance chamber. Tongue
is the important organ in creating resonance chamber. This highly flexible
organ is capable of positioning itself
to various degrees of height.
· Vowels that are pronounced when the front part of the tongue raised at
different heights are recognized as front vowels.
/i/,/e/,/
· Vowels that are pronounced when the back part of the
tongue raised at different height are recognized as back vowels.
/u/,/o/,/É” /, /a/
· The centre of the tongue can also be raised to
produce central vowels. /^/,/É™ /.
Short Vowels
:
/i/,/e/,
/a/,/^/,/α/,/u/
Long Vowels :
The long vo
wel tend to be long,the symbols
consist of one vowel symbol plus a length mark of two dots :
/i:/ , /
Major
criteria for the articulatory descriptions of vowels :
i.
Tongue height
ii.
Tongue advancement
iii.
Lip rounding
The length of the
tongue is divided into front
, central and back parts.
In English Cardinal vowels they are identified as close, half close, half open and open. Vowels are divided into rounded and unrounded.
Front vowels
/i/
i.
Tongue height
It is in between half close and close Tongue advancement
The back of
the front of the tongue is raised toward the hard palate.
iii.
Lip rounding
The lips are
spread and drawn back.
They have
tendency to make syllabal.
Examples :
Initial
Medial
Final
It bit
city
/it/
/bit/ /siti/
/i:/
i.
Tongue height It
is between half close and open.
ii.
Tongue advancement The front of the tongue raised toward the hard
palate
iii.
Lip rounding
It is pronounced with lips spread and pulled back
and the lower jaw is raised a little.
Example :
Initial
Medial
Final
Eat
Beat
Tree
/i:t/
/bi:t/
/tri:/
/e/
i.
Tongue height
It is in between half close and half open.
ii.
Tongue advancement
The front part of the tongue raised
in the direction of the hard palate.
iii.
Lip rounding
Lips are drawn back un rounded and
the lower jaw is somewhat dropped .
Examples :
Initial Medial
Final
Enter
let
Stay
/entÉ™/
/let/ /
stei/
/
i.
Tongue height The roof of the tongue drawn back in between high mid and low mid.
ii.
Tongue advancement The front of the tongue raised toward hard palate.
iii.
Lip rounding The
lips are drawn back and the lower jaw is somewhat dropped.
Examples :
bet
tell
fell
/b
/α/
i.
Tongue height The front of the tongue is at a position lower than /É›/.
ii.
Tongue advancement It is a low front vowel.
iii.
Lip rounding The lips open and become unrounded
Examples :
Intial Medial
At Fat
/αt/
/fαt/
Back
Vowels
/u:/ Tongue
height
The position of the tongue is fully
open.
Tongue
advancement The back part of the tongue is raised. It is a long vowel.
Lip
rounding The shape of the lips is rounded.
Examples:
Root Tool Do
/ru:t/ /tu:l/ /Du:/
/u/
i.
Tongue height Its position is
above high mid
ii.
Tongue advancement In term of tongue movement this sound
is similar to /u:/.
iii.
Lip rounding The lips are
rounded and lower jaw is somewhat raised.
Examples:
Not found in
intial position.
Could
would
look
/kud/
/wud/ /luk/
/o/
i.
Tongue height The tongue height is half close.
ii.
Tongue advancement The back part of the tongue is used.
iii.
Lip rounding
lips are rounded.
Examples:
Go
/go/
/É”:/
i.
Tongue height It is in between high mid and low mid
position.
ii.
Tongue advancement The back part of the tongue is raised
toward soft palate.
iii.
Liprounding
lips are rounded. Long vowel.
Examples:
Cord Tall Half
/kÉ”:d/ /TÉ”:l/ /HÉ”:f/
/É”/
i.
Tongue height It is in between high mid and low mid
position.
ii.
Tongue advancement
The back of the tongue is
raised above the low back position.
iii.
Lip rounding
Lips are rounded and the lower jaw is dropped.
Examples:
Dog Top
/Dɔg/ /Tɔp/
/α/
i.
Tongue height
Low back vowel.
ii.
Tongue advancement Tongue leaves and fairly open oral
cavity.
iii. Lip rounding Lips are
unrounded.
Examples :
Alarm calm
/əlα:m/ /kα:m/
Central Vowels
/^/
iv.
Tongue height
Tongue height is
in between open and half open position.
v.
Tongue advancement The centre of the tongue moved toward
hard and soft palate.
vi. Liprounding
Lips are unrounded.
Examples :
Done Cup Come
/d^n/ /c^p/ /k^m/
/É™:/
i.
Tongue height It is in between
half closed and half opened.
ii.
Tongue advancement Tongue is raised toward the hard
palate.
iii. Liprounding
Lips are neutral.
Examples :
Bird Butter
/bÉ™:d/ /b^tÉ™:/
/É™/
i.
Tongue height Mid and central ( half way between
close and open) and ( half way between front and back).
ii.
Tongue advancement The centre of the tongue is raised in
between hard palate and soft palate.
iii.
Lip rounding Lips remain neutral
and the lower jaw is dropped.
It is lax (not articulated with muscular energy).
Examples:
About
Again
Sir
/əbaut/
/əgɛn/
/sÉ™/
Secondary
cardinal vowels
They are related to the primary ones by reversing
the lips posture .
Example
1 ) Vowel is
close , front , unrounded.
2) Vowel is
close, front ,rounded.
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