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Chapter 2 :VOWELS
 VOWELS
2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6

Definitition Classification Describing Identifying Diphthongs Triphthongs

vowels vowels
 2.1. Definition
Vowels are sounds in which normally made with the
air stream that flows out with no obstruction in the
mouth, pharyngeal and nasal cavity.
 2.2

2.2. Classification
Vowel sounds are classified according to: the position of
the tongue in the mouth, the openness of the mouth, the
shape of the lips, and the lengthen of the vowels.
*The position of the tongue in the mouth

● Front vowels are the ones in the production of which

the front part of the tongue is raised the highest such as
[i:], [i], [e]

● When the central part of the tongue maintains its

highest position, the vowels thus produced are central
vowels such as [3:], [ə], [ʌ]

● If back of the tongue is held the highest, the vowels thus

produced are back vowels such as [u:], [u]
*The openness of the mouth
● Close vowels: [i], [i:], [u], [u:]
● Semi-close vowels: [e], [3:]
● Semi-open vowels: [ə], [ɔ:]
● Open vowels: [ɔ], [a], [ʌ], [æ], [a:]
*The lengthen of vowels

● Long vowels: ● Short vowels:

They are usually other vowels in
marked with a English are short
colon such as; vowels: [e], [a],
[a:], [u:], [i:], [ɔ:] [u], [i], [ʌ], [æ],
 2.3

2.3. Describing vowels

Basic Parameters for Describing vowels 
The American English vowel sounds are described in
terms of ( front, central, back); height( open, mid, close);
lip position( spread, unrounded, rounded); length( short,
long); jar-dropping, and tenseness( tense, lax).
*HEIGHT: tongue position in the mouth:
-High( /i:/, / i/ / [ɛ]/ / [ʊ]/ / u:/ )  eg:
heat, sue.

-Middle (/ ei/, / [ɛ]/ , / [ʌ]/,  / [ə], / [oʊ̯]

-Low ( [ae̯ ] / a: / , [ɔ]

* BACKNESSBACKNESS: far
front or back the tongue is in the
mouth: 
-Front ( / i:/ , / i /,  / ei /, / [ɛ]/, / ae/ 
-Central ( / [ə] / , [ʌ], [ə], / a:/ ) 
-Back ( / u: / / [ʊ] / [oʊ̯] / [ɔ]
*LIP POSITION: Whether the lips
are rounded ( O- shape ) or spread
( no rounding ) when the sound is
being made: 
-Unrounded (  /i:/, / i/ /, / ei/ [ɛ] [æ],  [ə]
 [ʌ], / a:/ ) 
-Rounded ( / u: / / [ʊ] / [oʊ̯] / [ɔ] ) 
-Neutral: the lips are not noticeably
rounded or spread.
*Length: Represents vowel sound has
one or two parts:
-Short: [i], [3], [a:], [ʌ], [æ]
-Long: [i:], [ei], [ju], [ou] and the
diphthongs[ai]
-Complex: [u:], [ɔ], [ʊ], and the
dipthongs[au],[oi]
*Tenseness: Refers to the amount of
muscular tension around the mouth
when creating vowel sounds:
-Tense: [i], [e], [u], [o]
-Lax: [ɪ], [ɛ], [ʊ], [ɔ]
 2.4

2.4. Identifying vowels

● SHORT VOWEL SOUNDS
● LONG VOWEL SOUNDS
 2.5

2.5. Diphthongs
A diphthong is a glide from one vowel to
another, and the whole glide acts like one of
the long simple vowels.
 2.6

2.6. Triphthongs
In phonetics, a triphthong (UK: /ˈtrɪfθɒŋ, ˈtrɪpθɒŋ/, US: /-θɔːŋ/)
(from Greek τρίφθογγος, "triphthongos", literally "with three
sounds," or "with three tones") is a monosyllabic vowel
combination involving a quick but smooth movement of the
articulator from one vowel quality to another that passes over a
third.
English triphthongs are composed of five closing
diphthongs with ‘ə’ added on the end as discussed below:

1.The sound /eɪə/:which is composed of the closing

diphthong /eɪ/ and the schwa /ə/; thus, /eɪ/ + /ə/ = /eɪə/ as in
the following words: layer = /leɪə/, player = /pleɪə/, sayer =
/seɪə/.

2.The sound /aɪə/:composed of the closing diphthong /aɪ/

and the schwa sound /ə/; thus, /aɪ/ + /ə/ = /aɪə/ as in the
following words: liar = /laɪə/, admire = /ədmaɪə/, buyer
= /baɪə/, tyre = /taɪə/, tier = /taɪə/, tire = /taɪə/, flier =
/flaɪə/.
3.The sound /ɔɪə/:composed of the closing diphthong /ɔɪ/
and the schwa sound /ə/; thus, /ɔɪ/ + /ə/ = /ɔɪə/ as in the
following words: employer = /ɪmplɔɪə/, destroyer =
/dɪstrɔɪə/, enjoyable = /ɪndʒɔɪəbl/, buoyant = /bɔɪənt/.

4.The sound /əʊə /:composed of the closing diphthong /əʊ/

and the schwa sound /ə/; thus, /əʊ/ + /ə/ = /əʊə/ as in the
following words: goer = /gəʊə/, borrower = /bɒrəʊə/, lower
= /ləʊə/, thrower = /θrəʊə/, mower = /məʊə/.

5.The sound /aʊə /:composed of the closing diphthong /aʊ/

and the schwa sound /ə/; thus, /aʊ/ + /ə/ = /aʊə/ as in the
following words: hour = /aʊə/, flour = /flaʊə/, flower =
/flaʊə/, power = /paʊə/.
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