Characteristics / Factors

That Determine the Formation of a Vowel

Sound:

1. Tongue and Jaw Height

2. Tongue Position or
Advancement
3. Lip Position
4. Tension
5. Length
This refers to the part of the tongue most active in
the production of the vowel sound.

The tongue is very flexible.

When we talk, there is a hump in the tongue that

moves up and down as well as backward and forward.

Vowels are described in relation to the highest point

of the hump formed.

To determine the highest point, two axis are fixed:

a. Horizontal Axis
b. Vertical Axis
1. Tongue and Jaw Height

This refers to the degree of

closeness of the lower jaw to
the upper or the tongue to the
palate.

This is the vertical axis (from

the floor to the roof of the
mouth) along which are three
points : HIGH, MID and LOW
as seen in the triangle
 2. Tongue Position or Advancement

 
The horizontal axis – is from
front to back of the mouth.
 Along the horizontal axis are three
points : FRONT, CENTER AND BACK
- which describe the tongue position or
advancement as shown in the vowel
triangle
2.Tongue and Jaw Height
This refers to the degree of
closeness of the lower jaw to
the upper or the tongue to the
palate.

This is the vertical axis (from

the floor to the roof of the
mouth) along which are three
points : HIGH, MID and LOW
as seen in the triangle
3. Lip Position

This refers to the amount

of rounding or spreading the
lips.

The shape of the lips

rounded when the corners
are brought forward.

Unrounded ( spread), when

the corners are pulled back.
4. Tension
This refers to the
degree to which the
muscles of the speech
tract are tense or
lax during the sound
production.

Example :
/ i / is tense
/I/ is lax
 
5.Length

This refers to the

duration the vowel is held
in a certain position.
It maybe Long or short
Example:
/i/ is long
/I/ is short
 
 
THE VIETOR TRIANGLE
Prepared by : Badette S. Garcia