The document discusses vowels and their classification. It defines vowels as speech sounds made with an open approximation of the articulators, allowing free airflow. Vowels are classified based on height, backness, roundedness, and whether they are oral or nasal. The vowel space is represented on the Cardinal Vowel Chart. English vowels vary between dialects but RP English has 19-21 distinct vowel sounds. A table illustrates the vowel positions in terms of height and backness.

1. Phonology
LANE - 335
Chapter 4
(Vowels)
Definitions
· Vowels are articulated with a manner different to that of consonants: the articulators are far enough apart to
allow the airflow to exit unhindered, that is, with open approximation.
· A speech sound, such as (ē) or (ĭ), created by the relatively free passage of breath through the larynx and oral
cavity, usually forming the most prominent and central sound of a syllable.
· A letter, such as a, e, i, o, u, and sometimes y in the English alphabet, that represents a vowel.
· Vowels are sonorant, they are typically voiced.
4.1 Vowel Classification
· Vowel Height is open, which means the tongue is positioned as far as possible from the roof of the mouth.
· Vowel Backness is back, which means the tongue is positioned as far back as possible in the mouth
without creating a constriction that would be classified as a consonant.
· Vowel Roundedness is rounded, which means that the lips are rounded.
4.2 The Vowel space and Cardinal Vowels
· Cardinal Vowel Chart - was first proposed by the linguist Danial Jones in the 1920
4.3 Further Classifications
· Vowel can be differing in the following terms:
1. Quality.
2. Quantity.
3. The Duration of vowel.
4. The state of velum – Vowel produced with a lowered velum are known as nasal vowels and those
produced with raised velum are know as oral vowel.
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2. Phonology
LANE - 335
4.4 The vowels of English
· One of the difficulties with describing 'the vowels of English' is that English speakers don't all have the same
one.
· Not all speakers have the same vowel in any particular works.
· RP is usually considered to have 19-21 distinct vowel sound,
· But many varieties of Scottish English have only 10-14
Front Central Back
i: u:
High I ʊ
Example > see sit put shoe
e: ɛ ɜ: ə o
Mid
ʌ ɔ:
Example > day bed nurse about bought goat
æ ɒ
Low a ɑ:
Example > rat father dog
How question will come on the above table?
· List the vowel that carry the feature [+High]
│i:│as in seat
│I│ as in sit
│ʊ │as in put
│u: │as in shoe
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