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Understanding English Vowels: Properties, Articulation, and Diphthongs Explained

Dive into the world of English vowels with this comprehensive overview. Explore how vowels function as syllable nuclei and are produced through vocal fold vibration. We discuss the parameters of vowel articulation, including tongue height, backness, lip rounding, and tenseness. Discover that English generally has 11 vowels and 3 diphthongs, with those properties shifting based on vocal tract shape. Gain insights into tense vs. lax vowels and learn to differentiate between the various diphthongs in English. Perfect for linguistics students and language enthusiasts!

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Understanding English Vowels: Properties, Articulation, and Diphthongs Explained

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  1. Phonetics Continued Articulation and Description of English Vowels

  2. Properties of Vowels • Most sonorant (audible) sounds • Sound is caused by vocal fold vibration • Usually function as syllable nuclei • Almost always voiced • Vowel sounds change according to SHAPE of vocal tract, no obstructions in vowels

  3. How Many Vowels in English? • Teacher said 5 and sometimes y • We say 11 and 3 diphthongs • 1/2 of languages have 5, some have 3

  4. Parameters • Review: consonant parameters: • Voicing. • Place of articulation. • Manner of articulation. • Vowel articulation is described using FOUR parameters.

  5. Four Parameters of Vowels • Tongue HEIGHT • High / mid / low • Tongue BACKNESS • Front / central / back • Lip ROUNDING • Round / unround • Tenseness • Tense / lax

  6. front central back i u high  I Round e o  mid  E  a low Lax Tense Vowels of English 

  7. Tongue Height • Put your hand under your chin and say seat, set, sat • High: leak, lick, Luke, look • [I], [I], [u], [U] • Mid: bait, bet, but, bought, boat • [eI], [E], [], [], [o] • Low: cat, con • [Q], [a]

  8. Tongue Advancement • Front: seek, sick, sake, sec, sack • [I], [I], [eI], [E], [Q] • Central: luck • [] • Back: ooze, look, road, law, dot • [U], [U], [o], [], [a]

  9. Lip Rounding • In English, only the high and mid back vowels are produced with lip rounding • Round vowels: [u], [U], [o], [] • Unround vowels: all the other vowels

  10. Tenseness • Tense vowels • The tongue is at an extreme height or backness • Lax vowels • The tongue is not at an extreme position • Compare Pete and pit

  11. Diphthongs • A diphthong is a complex vowel where the tongue begins in one place and moves to another (a two part vowel sound) • The vowel diphthongs: • [Ai]: bite • [AU]: bout • [oI]: boy • [eI]: stay ([e] is not a ‘true’ English vowel sound) • (Also: [o]: go, though we may write this with one symbol)

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