Linguistics 105 * Words and Sounds

Lecture Number Five

The Articulatory Properties of Vowels

1. Natural Classes of Vowels

   Vowels are classified according to the (1) advancement and (2) height of the tongue in pronunciation, (3) the tenseness of the tongue and (4) whether or not the lips are rounded during pronunciation. Finally, like consonants, vowels may be characterized by (5) nasality.

   
   1. Advancement. During the pronunciation of a vowel the tongue may be advanced or retracted to approximately three positions: (a) the front, (b) central or (c) back of the mouth.

      Table 1 : Advancement
      Front	[i, ø, e, ê, À]
      Central	[ª, Ï, Í]
      Back	[í, u, o, a, Ø]

      ([ª] = "u" in French dur)

   2. Height. The tongue may be raised (a) high, to a (b) mid position, or remain (c) low.

      Table 2 : Height
      High	[i, ø, ª, í, u]
      Mid	[e, ê, Ï, o, Ø]
      Low	[À, Í, a]

   3. Tenseness. TENSE [i, e, u, o] versus LAX [ø, ê, í, o] and [À, Ø,]
   4. Labialization. ROUNDED [y, à, í, u, Ø, o] (also English [r])
   5. Nasalization. Polish [» Â]; French [³ Æ y‚ à‚ Ð]
   6. Suprasegmental elements: Stress, Length, Tone

   
   

2. Examples of English vowels

   1. Lax Vowels:	Stressed	Unstressed	Reduced
      ø	implþcit	simplþstic	implicútion
      ê	allõge	tempõstuous	allegútion
      À	emphútic	fantústic	õmphasis
      í	hýodwink	nõighborhood	.
      a	demýnstrable	prognýsis	demonstrútion
      Ø	cúuse	causúlity	.
      Ï	confþrm	verbýse	confirmútion
      Í	confrýnt	umbrõlla	confrontútion

   2. Tense Vowels:	Stressed	Unstressed	Reduced
      i [ij]	deprõciÚte	creúte	dõprecate
      e [ej]	explúin	chaýtic	Õxplanútion
      o [ow]	invýke	vocútion	Þnvocútion
      u [uw]	refáte	Úcoustþcian	rÕfutútion

   3. Diphthongs:	Stressed	Unstressed	Reduced
      aj	recþte	citútion	rÕcitútion
      aw	devýut	outsþder	.
      Øj	explýit	Õxploitútion	.
      ju	compáte	cÝmputútion	cþrcular

3. Conclusion

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