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Module 2

The document provides an overview of English vowels, focusing on articulatory phonetics, the distinction between vowels and consonants, and the variables affecting vowel production. It introduces cardinal vowels as a framework for phonetic analysis and details English short and long vowels, diphthongs, and triphthongs. Additionally, it includes references for further reading on the subject.

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16 views14 pages

Module 2

The document provides an overview of English vowels, focusing on articulatory phonetics, the distinction between vowels and consonants, and the variables affecting vowel production. It introduces cardinal vowels as a framework for phonetic analysis and details English short and long vowels, diphthongs, and triphthongs. Additionally, it includes references for further reading on the subject.

Uploaded by

hanapecteacher
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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/ˈɪŋɡlɪʃ/ Phonetics & Phonology

--- 🡪 ---

MODULE 2
English vowels

Instructor: Lam Hoang Phuc


2.1. Articulatory phonetics and the production
of speech sounds
▪ Articulatory phonetics is the study of how the different
parts of the vocal tract are involved in the production of
speech sounds. These parts are call articulators.
▪ For the detailed descriptions of these articulators, refer to
pages 8-10, especially Fig. 1 and Fig. 2.
2.2. Vowel versus consonant

▪ The most common view is that:


o Vowels are sounds in which there is no obstruction to
the flow of air as it passes from the larynx to the lips.
o Consonants are sounds in which there is some
obstruction that makes it difficult for the air to pass
through the mouth.
▪ However, there are sounds which are considered
consonants but do not really obstruct the flow of air more
than some vowels. Also, different languages have different
ways of dividing their sounds into vowels and consonants,
i.e. a consonant in a language may be treated as a vowel in
another language, and vice versa.
2.2. Vowel versus consonant

▪ Alternatively, vowels and consonants can be distinguished


through the study of the distribution of the sounds, i.e.
looking at the different contexts and positions in which
particular sounds can occur.
▪ The distribution of vowels and consonants is different for
each language.
2.3. Variables in the production of vowels

1. Tongue position (tongue height): the vertical distance


between the upper surface of the tongue and the palate.
🡪 Close / Mid / Open
2. Tongue shape: the part of the tongue, between front and
back, which is raised highest.
🡪 Front / Central / Back
3. Lip position:
o Rounded: the corners of the lips are brought towards
each other, the lips are pushed forwards.
o Spread: the corners of the lips are moved away from
each other.
o Neutral: not noticeably rounded or spread.
2.3. Variables in the production of vowels

❖ Cardinal vowels
▪ To make phonetic analysis accurate, phoneticians have
developed a set of vowels called cardinal vowels.
▪ These cardinal vowels do not belong to any particular
language and act as a useful framework for describing
vowels. The quality of individual vowels can be accurately
described by comparing them with the cardinal vowels.
2.3. Variables in the production of vowels

❖ Cardinal vowels
▪ There are eight primary cardinal vowels:
o Four extreme points:
No. 1 – [i]: fully close and front, spread.
No. 5 – [ɑ]: fully open and back, neutral.
No. 8 – [u]: fully close and back, rounded.
No. 4 – [a]: fully open and front, slightly spread.
o Four intermediate points:
No. 2 – [e], No. 3 – [ɛ], No. 6 – [ɔ], No. 7 – [o].
▪ Refer to pages 12-13 and especially Fig. 4 for more
information.
2.4. English short vowels

▪ Short vowels are only relatively short, as vowels can have


quite different lengths in different contexts.
▪ Short vowels in English:
ɪ less close and less front than [i], slightly spread.
e less open than open-mid, front, slightly spread.
æ less open and less front than [a], slightly spread.
ʌ more open than open-mid, central, neutral.
ɒ between open-mid and open, slightly less back than [ɑ],
slightly rounded.
ʊ less back and less close than [u], rounded.
ə between close-mid and open-mid, central, neutral.
▪ For more information, refer to pages 13-14 and Fig. 5.
2.5. English long vowels

▪ Long vowels are the vowels which tend to be longer than


the short vowels in similar contexts.
▪ Long vowels in English:
iː closer and more front than ɪ, slightly spread.
ɜː between close-mid and open-mid, more open than ə
central, neutral.
ɑː slightly less open and less back than [ɑ], neutral.
ɔː less close than close-mid, almost fully back, quite strong
lip-rounding.
uː less close and less back than [u], moderately rounded.
▪ For more information, refer to pages 16-17 and Fig. 6.
2.6. Diphthongs

▪ Diphthongs are sounds which consist of a glide from one


vowel to another.
▪ A vowel which remains constant and does not glide is
called a pure vowel.
▪ In terms of length, diphthongs are similar to long vowels.
▪ The first part of diphthongs is much longer and stronger
than the second part.
2.6. Diphthongs

❖ Classification of English diphthongs


▪ Refer to Fig. 7, Fig. 8 and Fig. 9 (pp. 17-18) for more
information.
▪ Centring diphthongs: gliding towards ə (schwa).
ɪə the starting point is a little closer than ɪ.
eə the starting point is more open than e.
ʊə the starting point is similar to ʊ.
2.6. Diphthongs

❖ Classification of English diphthongs


▪ Closing diphthongs: gliding towards a closer vowel; since
the second part of the diphthong is weak, they often do
not reach a position that could be called close.
o Gliding towards ɪ:
eɪ the starting point is the same as e.
aɪ the starting point is not quite fully open and between
front and back.
ɔɪ the starting point is slightly more open than ɔː.
o Gliding towards ʊ, accompanied by lip-rounding:
əʊ the starting point is the same as ə, slightly rounded.
aʊ the starting point is similar to aɪ, slightly rounded.
2.6. Triphthongs

▪ A triphthong is a glide from one vowel to another and then


to a third, all produced rapidly without interruption.
▪ The triphthongs are composed of the five closing
diphthongs with ə added to the end:
eɪ + ə = eɪə aɪ + ə = aɪə ɔɪ + ə = ɔɪə
əʊ + ə = əʊə aʊ + ə = aʊə
▪ Detailed descriptions of triphthongs are usually not given
since there is so much variation in the amount of vowel
movement according to how slow and careful the
pronunciation is.
▪ The careful pronunciation can be described as adding ə to
the corresponding diphthong.
REFERENCES

Roach, P. (2009). English phonetics and phonology – A


practical course (4th ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge
University Press.

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