The Classification of English Vowel Phonemes

The classification of english vowel phonemes
On the articulatory level the vowels change:
1. in the stability of articulation,

2. in the tongue position,
3. in the lip position,
4. in the character of the vowel end.
Besides that vowels differ in their length.
1. STABILITY OF ARTICULATION
All English vowels are divided into three groups: pure vowels or
monophthongs, diphthongs and diphthongoids.
Monophthongs are vowels the articulation of which is almost

unchanging. The quality of such vowels is relatively pure. The
English monophthongs are: [ı], [e], [æ], [], [a:], [Ŋ], [Ɔ:], [ʊ], [з:],
[ә].
In the pronunciation of diphthongs the organs of speech glide

from one vowel position to another within one syllable. The
starting point, the nucleus, is strong and distinct. The glide which
shows the direction of the quality change is very weak. The
English diphthongs are: [eı], [aı], [Ɔı], [aʊ], [əʊ], [eə], [ɪə], [ʊə].
In the pronunciation of diphthongoids the articulation is slightly

changing but the difference between the starting point and the
end is not so distinct as it is in the case of diphthongs. There are
two diphthongoids in English: [i:], [u:].
2. tongue position
The tongue may move forward and backward, up and down, thus
changing the quality of vowel sounds.
(1) When the tongue moves forward and backward, various parts
of it may be raised in the direction of the palate.
 When the tongue is in the front part of the mouth, and the
front part of it is raised to the hard palate, a f r o n t vowel is
pronounced: [i:], [e], [æ].
 When the tongue is in the front part of the mouth, but slightly
retracted, and the part of the tongue nearer to centre than to
front is raised, a f r o n t–r e t r a c t e d vowel is pronounced:
[ı].
 When the front of the tongue is raised towards the back part
of the hard palate, the vowel is called c e n t r a l: [], [з:], [ә].
 When the tongue is in the back part of the mouth, and the
back of it is raised towards the soft palate, a b a c k vowel is
pronounced: [a:], [Ŋ], [Ɔ:], [u:].
 When the tongue is in the back part of the mouth, but is
slightly advanced, and the central part of it is raised towards
the front part of the soft palate, a b a c k–a d v a n c e
d vowel is pronounced: [ʊ].
(2) Moving up and down in the mouth various parts of the tongue
may be raised to different height towards the roof of the mouth.
 When the front or the back of the tongue is raised high

towards the palate, the vowel is called c l o s e: [i:], [ı], [ʊ],
[u:].
 When the front or the back of the tongue is as low as
possible in the mouth, o p e n vowels are pronounced: [æ],
[a:], [Ŋ], [Ɔ:].
 When the highest part of the tongue occupies the position
intermediate between the close and the open one, m i
d vowels are pronounced: [e], [], [з:], [ә].
It is necessary to distinguish broad and narrow variants of close,
mid and open vowels:
narrow variant [i:], [u:]

C l o s e vowels
broad variant [ı], [ʊ]
narrow variant [e], [з:], [ә(ʊ)]

M i d vowels
broad variant [], [ә], [e(ә)]
narrow variant [Ɔ:], [Ɔ(ı)]

O p e n vowels
broad variant [æ], [a:], [Ŋ], [a(ı, ʊ)]
3. lip position
The shape of the mouth cavity is very dependent on the position

of the lips.
 When the lips are neutral or spread, the vowels are called u
n r o u n d e d: [i:], [ı], [e], [æ], [], [a:], [з:], [ә].
 When the lips are drawn together so that the opening

between them is more or less round, the vowels are called r
o u n d e d: [Ŋ], [Ɔ:], [ʊ], [u:].
4. character of vowel end
The quality of all English monophthongs in the stressed position is

strongly affected by the following consonant of the same syllable.
 If a stressed vowel is followed by a strong voiceless

consonant, it is cut off by it. In this case the end of the vowel
is strong, and the vowel is called c h e c k e d. Such vowels
are heard in stressed closed syllables ending in a strong
voiceless consonant, e.g. better, cart.
 If a vowel is followed by a weak voiced consonant or by no
consonant at all, the end of it is very weak, and the vowel is
called f r e e. Such vowels are heard in closed syllables
ending in a voiced consonant or in an open syllable,
e.g. before, money, begger, bead.
vowel length
+Vowels are capable of being continued during a longer or a

shorter period. All English vowels (monophthongs) are divided
into long and short.
Long vowels are: [i:], [a:], [Ɔ:], [u:], [з:].
Short vowels are: [ı], [e], [æ], [], [Ŋ], [ʊ], [ә].
All English vowels are longer when they are strongly stressed,
cf in'form – 'uniform. They are also longer in the nuclear syllable,
cf
It is six o’clock now. They are only six.

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The classification of english vowel phonemes

On the articulatory level the vowels change:

1. in the stability of articulation,

Besides that vowels differ in their length.

Monophthongs are vowels the articulation of which is almost

In the pronunciation of diphthongs the organs of speech glide

In the pronunciation of diphthongoids the articulation is slightly

 When the front or the back of the tongue is raised high

narrow variant [i:], [u:]

narrow variant [e], [з:], [ә(ʊ)]

narrow variant [Ɔ:], [Ɔ(ı)]

The shape of the mouth cavity is very dependent on the position

 When the lips are drawn together so that the opening

4. character of vowel end

The quality of all English monophthongs in the stressed position is

 If a stressed vowel is followed by a strong voiceless

+Vowels are capable of being continued during a longer or a

Long vowels are: [i:], [a:], [Ɔ:], [u:], [з:].

Short vowels are: [ı], [e], [æ], [], [Ŋ], [ʊ], [ә].

It is six o’clock now. They are only six.

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