The document discusses the classification of English vowels, detailing five primary vowels (a, e, i, o, u) based on articulation, tongue position, and lip shape. Vowels are categorized into rounded and unrounded types depending on lip shape, while tongue position is described through concepts of height and part raised. Primary and secondary cardinal vowels are outlined, indicating their relationships and characteristics of sound production.

1. CLASSIFICATION
OF
VOWELS
JERICK MENDOZA

2. - There are five vowels in the English alphabet.
- (a, e, i ,o ,u )
- This are categorized according to their vowel
qualities, articulation of the tongue, the
stability of articulation, lengthening and
thickness, and voicing.

3. Vowels can be defined as speech sounds
produced without obstruction or audible
friction of the lung air passing through
the
oral passage. The tongue and the lips can
produce various resonating chambers by
assuming different shapes.

4. Vowel sounds are classified into certain
sets basing on the following main
factors.
1.The Shape of the Lips
2. The Raising of the Tongue

5. The Shape of the Lips
The lips can assume spread, neutral or
rounded positions. Those vowels in the
production of which the lips assume a rounded
shape are called rounded vowels. The vowels in
‘do’, ‘shoe’, and ‘fruit’ are, for example, rounded
vowels. The vowels produced with a spread or
neutral shape of the lips are called unrounded
vowels. The vowels in ‘tree’, ‘egg’, ‘friend’, ‘come’ are
examples of unrounded vowels.

6. The Raising of the Tongue
The tongue can assume different shapes because of its
flexibility. Every change in its shape results in a different vowel
sound. Such changes are determined by two factors: (a) the part of
the tongue that is raised, and (b) how high it is raised. The parts of
the tongue which produce the vowels are called the front, the
back, and the central. These are imaginary divisions of the tongue.
These parts again can be raised or lowered to produce certain
sound effects. The raising or lowering, however, remains restricted
to a certain degree. The highest point to which the tongue can be
raised is called the close position. The lowest point to which it can
be brought down is called an open position.

7. Two more intermediate imaginary
positions are also demarcated to
describe the raising of the tongue.
They are the half-close and the half-
open positions. These divisions and
heights can be shown with the help of
the following diagram

9. Primary Cardinal Vowels
The primary set [i e ɛ a ɑ ɔ o u],
are numbered 1 -8, (with 1 – 5
being unrounded and 6 - 8
rounded).

11. The cardinal vowels are auditorily agreed qualities
and must be learnt from a teacher who knows
how they sound, or from a recording. However,
vowels 1 and 5 can be given an articulatory
specification. No.1 is produced with the fronts
, closest position of the tongue which does not
produce audible friction, and No. 5 is produced
with the back, opens possible tongue
position, again without audible friction.

12. Secondary Cardinal Vowels
• The secondary cardinal vowels are [y Ø œ œ DA Y ш],
numbered 9-16. The secondary cardinal vowels are related
to the primary ones by reversing the lip- posture; so for
example vowel 1 (primary) is close, front, unrounded and so
vowel 9 (secondary) is close, front, rounded. To take another
example, vowel 8 is close, back, rounded -- so vowel 16 is
close, back, unrounded.