This document discusses the classification of English vowels according to four criteria: tongue position, mouth openness, lip shape, and length. It outlines the categories of front, central, and back vowels based on where the highest point of the tongue is placed in the mouth. Vowels are also classified as close, semi-close, semi-open, and open based on the openness of the mouth. Vowels can be rounded or unrounded depending on lip shape. Finally, vowels are either long or short based on length. The document also provides examples of assimilation rules where the final consonant sound of one word changes when followed by another word based on place or manner of articulation.