Phonetics Exam 3 Flashcards
(77 cards)
Define a vowel.
Speech sound formed without significant constriction of oral/pharyngeal cavities and serves as a syllable nucleus.
What are Monopthongs?
Pure vowel; single unchanging sound quality. Most English vowels are these. One primary position in vocal tract.
What are Diphthongs?
Gradual change in articulation; complex dynamic sound quality. Two distinct articulatory positions. Two vowels comprising one phoneme.
In Diphthongs, what movement happens occurs in the tongue?
Tongue begins at appropriate production place for first element and then moves to second element in a continuous gliding motion . First element= “Onglide.” Second element= “Offglide”
In Diphthongs (specifically Offglide vs. Onglide), where is tongue position in the oral cavity?
Tongue rises in oral cavity for ALL English diphthongs, so offglide is always produced at a higher position than onglide. Offglides are always one of two vowels: /ʊ/ and /ɪ/
How are the tongue, jaw, and pharynx important in vowel production?
Tongue is a primary articulator.
Attached by muscles to the mandible, so changes in jaw position are also linked to vowel production.
As tongue changes position to produce indivdual vowels, the size and shape of the pharynx also change correspondingly
If the tongue DID produce a constriction in the vocal tract, a consonant phoneme would be produced, NOT a vowel.
In Vowel Production, what is the basis of every vowels unique articulatory position and what happens when there is a change in that position?
Every vowel has a unique articulatory position based on combination of tongue height, tongue advancement, and lip rounding.
With each change of position there is a corresponding change in the resonance of the vocal tract. These changes in resonance give each vowel their unique quality and allow them to be recognized individually by listeners.
What are the 5 factors of Vowel Classification?
Tongue Height
Tongue Advancement
Lip Rounding
Tense or Lax
The Vowel Quadrilateral
Tongue Height
Vowel phonemes are categorized in relation to the position of the body of the tongue in the mouth during production
Tongue Height: how hight or low in the oral cavity during production.
Tongue Advancement
How far forward or back in the mouth the tongue is during production.
Lip Rounding
Vowels can also be classified as rounded or unrounded in production.
This relates to whether or not the lips are rounded (protruded) or unrounded (retracted) during the production
Compare “moon” to “mean”
Tense or Lax
Vowels can also be classified as “tense” or “lax”
Tense vowels
Tense vowels are usually longer in duration and require more muscle effort.
Tense vowels are capable of ending stressed open syllables (“he,” “too,” and first syllable of “purchase”). They also occur in closed syllables.
Lax Vowels
Lax vowels, on the other hand, never end a stressed open syllable–you would end up with NONSENSE! (Example: Say “him” and leave off the /m/. Do the same with “had” and “look”.
The Vowel Quadrilateral
Space represents an approximation of the oral cavity
A schematic of the oral cavity
Helps to explain tongue height and advancement
Tongue height: high, mid, low
Tongue advancement: front, central, back
Picture of Vowel Quadrilateral
What are the Front Vowels in the Vowel Quadrilateral?
The Front Vowels are /i/, /ɪ/, /e/, /ɛ/, /æ/
What are the articulatory characteristics of /i/ as in “he”?
Height: High
Advancement: Front
Lip Rounding: Retracted
Tense/Lax: Tense
What are the articulatory characteristics of /ɪ/ as in “hid”?
Height: High
Advancement: Front
Lip Rounding: Retracted
Tense/Lax: Lax
What are the peculiarities of /ɪ/?
Sounds like /i/ but really is /ɪ/
Unstressed syllables ending in “y” (e.g. “happy” /hæpɪ/). Debateable: some insist /i/
“ing” (nasalization affects-not /i/) (e.g. “meeting” /mitɪŋ/
r-colored vowel often found before /r/, so becomes an r-colored vowel: vowel partially assumes the quality of the consonant /r/. Some call this a rhotic diphthong. (e.g., “hear” /hɪr/)
What are the articulatory characteristics in /e/ as in “vacation”?
Height: High-mid
Advancement: Front
Lip Rounding: Retracted
Tense/Lax: Tense
/e/ is the Monopthong of the diphthong /eɪ/
It’s OK to transcribe as /eɪ/
The latter is the stressed form (also used at the end of words) and is longer in duration (onglide + offglide). It’s use varies with syllable context and regional pronunciation. These are considered to be allophones-represent the same sound.
What are the articulatory characteristics of /ɛ/ as in “head” (called Epsilon)?
Height: Low-mid
Advancement: Front
Lip Rounding: Retracted
Tense/Lax: Lax
What are the peculiarities of /ɛ/?
Another example of an r-colored vowel
E.g., /ɛr/ as in “hair” /hɛr/
