This document discusses the classification and description of vowel sounds. It defines vowels as speech sounds produced without friction in the oral passage, allowing air from the lungs to escape freely and continuously through the mouth. Vowels are classified based on 3 criteria: the part of the tongue used (front, back, central), the height to which the tongue is raised (close, half-close, half-open, open), and the position of the lips (rounded, unrounded).

1. Classification and Description
of Vowel Sounds
Lt. Dr. B. Ajantha Parthasarathi
Assistant Professor of English &
Associate NCC Officer,
Sri SRNM College, Sattur.

2. Vowel Sounds
• a speech sound which is produced
without making any friction
•the pulmonic egressive air escapes freely
and continuously through the mouth

3. Vowel Sounds
•Freely - no narrowing anywhere along the
oral passage & the air from the lungs escapes
freely
•Continuously - no obstruction anywhere
along the oral passage & so the air from the
lungs escapes continuously
•through the mouth - the lung-air escapes
through the mouth

6. Vowel Sounds - 3 criteria
★Part of the tongue used
● Front Vowels
● Back Vowels
● Central Vowels
★The Height to which the tongue is raised
● Close Vowels (High Vowels)
● Half-close vowels (High-Mid Vowels)
● Half-Open Vowels (Low-Mid Vowels)
● Open Vowels (Low Vowels)
★The Position of the Lips
● Unrounded Vowels
● Rounded VOwels