An Introduction to Vowel Sounds Flashcards
What does IPA use to represent a vowel sound?
IPA transcription will use one vowel symbol (phoneme) for each vowel sound
What does English spelling use to represent vowels?
English spelling patterns use a variety of written combinations to represent vowels*
How many dialects are there in British Isles and North America?
40 dialects in the British Isles
30 dialects in North America
What is GAE? (2)
Established dominant dialect
Dialect taught in schools, written in books, receives status
Influenced by Midland American English, Western American English, and Standard Canadian English
What are the production basics of Vowels? (3)
- Produced with expiratory airflow
- Vocal fold vibration
Phonation
All English vowels are voiced - All vowels are oral
Elevating velum for oral release
Is there blockage when you produce vowels?
No,
Vowels are phonemes produced without any appreciable blockage or constriction of the airflow and produced with changes in vocal tract shape
What is the relationship between the tongue and vowels? (2)
(1) healthy tongue is hugely flexible. Changing its position affects the size and shape of the pharynx
(2) Changes are primarily made with the tongue. Changes in sound are made by changing tongue advancement and height
What are the movements of the tongue when producing the siren?
Alternate between /i/ and /u/ (ignore the lip rounding), and concentrate on how your tongue is tensing, front and back. You may feel it moving along the inside of your back teeth.
What is the relationship between the tongue and the advancement of the tongue?
Advancement can be tricky because it’s subtle but think of it more as where the majority of energy or stiffness in the tongue is.
What occurs when the tongue is advanced in Front?
- Highest point of tongue tensed
anteriorly. - Don’t think of it as lolling out.
What occurs when the tongue is central?
Body of the tongue at a neutral position
Central or slightly toward the back of the hard palate
What occurs when the tongue is back?
Highest point of the tongue raised posteriorly toward the soft palate
What is occurring when changing tongue height?
Changing tongue height alters size of air space above the tongue, which changes the acoustics. It allows dominant waveforms to pool in different places, and creates clear formants on spectrograms.
What are the differences in tongue height between a high and low mandible?
Mandible high: tongue high and smaller space
Mandible low: tongue low and larger space
Describe the three tongue height.
“High”
Tongue close to palate (some linguists call this “close”)
“Mid”
Neutral position
“Low”
Lowered and resting at bottom of oral cavity
How are vowels represented graphically?
Using a Vowel Quadrilateral which is the shape of the oral cavity
(Nine regions of tongue positioning)
Where are Tongue advancement and Tongue height on a Vowel Quadrilateral?
Tongue advancement
Horizontal x-axis
Tongue forward or back in the oral cavity
Front, central, back
Tongue height
Vertical y-axis
Tongue high or low in the oral cavity
High, mid, low
Describe the four vowel classifications on this Vowel Quadrilateral.
Tongue height
Vertical
Tongue advancement:
Horizontal
Lip rounding
Dashed lines
Tenseness
Tense = Circled
Lax = Uncircled
What are three Vowel types?
Monophthongs
Diphthongs
Triphthongs*
What are Monophthongs? How many in the Standard Canadian English?
Steady-state: single articulatory movement (“pure” vowels)
8 vowels exist on their own in Standard Canadian English
What are Lexical sets?
Lexical sets are useful tools for vowels, instead of trying to describe the IPA symbol, call them by these standard words.
What is particular about /ɔ/ from this American chart?
This is an American chart, so the /ɔ/ is a solo phoneme.
In almost all Canadian dialects, the rounded /ɔ/ is not used as an independent phoneme;
/ɑ/ is used.
In each of these transcriptions, which syllables would be stressed?
What are the 5 American diphthongs?
What is special about diphthongs in Mandarin?
Mandarin has rising and falling diphthongs. 11 of them.
What are Rhothic Vowels?
Vowels with an /ɹ/ sound immediately after them. It is not simply the next sequential sound, but alters the acoustics of the preceding vowel.
Give Lexical sets for these vowels?
What are the vowel categories?
What is Lip Rounding?
Rounded
Vocal tract lengthening that changes acoustic quality
Resonance of vowel
Puckering of lips
In GAE, as tongue moves posteriorly (back), lips are rounded
Unrounded
Lips in neutral (resting) position or
Lips spread (smiling)
What is tenseness? (2)
Tense
Tongue body in more extreme position
Closer to the edges of the quad, therefore closer to the front or back of the mouth
Usually longer duration
Lax
Tongue body is slightly more central in the oral cavity
Usually a more clipped duration
Fill in the blanks for Front Vowels:
Fill in the blanks for Central Vowels:
Fill in the blanks for Back Vowels:
