MANNER OF

ARTICULATION
FOR VOWELS:

TENSE VS. LAX

Maricris C. Castillo
Jun Louise Coronado
Vowel sounds differ from each other. Based on this
difference, two classes of vowels are there –
tense vowels and lax vowels.
 What are Tense Vowels?
TENSE VOWELS ARE ENUNCIATED WITH MORE
PROMINENT STRONG EXERTION, MARGINALLY HIGHER
TONGUE POSITIONS, AND LONGER TERMS THAN LAX
VOWELS.
 TONGUE ROOT POSITION: In the
articulation of tense vowels the root moves
TENSENESS/ more forward --- advanced tongue root
(ATR).
LAXNESS
have to be LIP POSITION: Tense vowels are
interpreted as articulated with lips more rounded, or the
lips are more spread.
a complex
of articulatory
TONGUE BODY POSITION: Tense vowels
characteristics. are articulated with the tongue in a higher
position.
 Examples
Repeat "Repeat when you are ready."

Pot "He was stirring the pot."

Root "Work has a bitter root but sweet fruit."

Great "It's so great to see you."

Stop "The bus stopped at a corner."

 What are Lax Vowels?
LAX VOWELS ARE LIKEWISE CALLED SHORT VOWELS: AS A
RULE, THEY ARE MORE LIMITED THAN TENSE VOWELS. LAX
VOWELS ARE UNSTRESSED VOWELS THAT ARE PRONOUNCED
MORE WEAKLY AND WITH A SHORTER DURATION.
 Examples
Cat "The cat was purring loudly."

Bet "I bet on a horse but didn't win."

Lift "The mist will soon lift when the sun comes up."

Knee "My jeans had a grass stain on the knee.

Cut "I cut the cake in half."

Difference Between Tense and Lax Vowels
• Lax vowels end with a consonant, or we can say that they only occur in closed
syllables. Tense vowels do not have such restrictions.
• Lax vowels are more centralized, and they are pronounced closer than tense
vowels.
• Lax vowels are monophthongal and tense vowels are diphthongal.
• Lax vowels are pronounced with more or less stationary tongue and lip position.
Tense vowels are pronounced with the movement of the tongue, with or without a
change in lip position.
End of discussion.
Thank you! 😊