Phonology 1

Vowel Classification

Vowels are characterized by:

- Tongue Height

- Tongue Advancement

- Lip Rounding

- Tense/ Lax Vowel

It is important to note that a vowel is produced with no constriction or blockage of the vocal tract.

Tongue Height

The tongue is the main articulator for vowels. Therefore, it is important on where it is placed. The height can be characterized by being either high, mid, or low.

Tongue Advancement

The tongue is also characterized by being either front, central, or back.

Lip Rounding

The lips are characterized by being either retracted or rounded. This is shown in the difference between  "moon" and "mean"
Retracted: ALL of the front vowels are classified as retracted, as well as unstressed mid-central vowels, and one low-back vowel.
/i, ɪ, e, ɛ, æ, ɑ, ə, ʌ/
Rounded: Most of the back vowels are classified as rounded.
/u, ʊ, o, ɔ, ɚ, ɝ/

 Tense/ Lax Vowel

The vowels can also be characterized by being either a tense vowel or a lax vowel.
Tense vowel: These tend to be longer in duration and may require more effort. Also, it can end open syllables.
/i, e, u, o, ɔ, ɑ, ɝ/
Lax vowels include:
/ɪ, ɛ, æ, ʊ, ə, ʌ, ɚ/
Lax vowels never end a stressed open syllable.

A vowel quadrilateral is very useful in memorizing the tongue height and advancement. From the above image, it is easy to determine where each vowel falls. However, memorizing the vowel quadrilateral is only half the battle. Another important memorization tool is to provide keywords for each vowel. By doing this, it will make it much easier to determine what sound each vowels represents.

Front Vowels
/i/ : High, front, retracted, tense vowel. Keywords include "key", "seeks", "reach", "piece".
    /rid/ = read     /mit/ = meet    /brizd/ = breezed    /klin/ = clean    /did/= deed

/ɪ/ : High, front, retracted, lax vowel. Keywords include "king", "stink", "prince".
    /mɪt/ = mitt    /pɪk/ = pick    /kɪst/ = kissed    /ɪndid/ = indeed

/e/: High-mid, front, retracted, tense vowel. Keywords include "inmate", "rotate", "essay".
    /ɪnmet/ = inmate        /ribet/ = rebate

/ɛ/ : Low-mid, front, retracted, lax vowel. Keywords include "met", "etch", "where".
    /stɛr/ = stare    /smɛl/ = smell    /hɛvi/ = heavy    /blɛst/ = blessed

/æ/ : Low, front, retracted, lax vowel. Keywords include "trash", "jazz", "stand".
    /klæn/ = clan    /præns/ = prance    /pækt/ = packed    /dræg/ = drag

Back Vowels
/u/ : High, back, rounded, tense vowel. Keywords include "chew", "moon", "truth", "loot".
    /spun/ = spoon    /tun/ = tune    /rut/ = root    /mud/ = mood    /flu/ = flu

/ʊ/ : High, back, rounded, lax vowel. Keywords include "could", "should", "bull", "hood".
    /gʊd/ = good    /stʊd/ = stood    /wʊd/ = would

/o/ : High-mid, back, rounded, tense vowel. Keywords include "bOdacious" and "rOtation".
    This is used when the syllable that contains this vowel is not stressed.

/ɔ/ : Low-mid, back, rounded, tense vowel. Keywords include "frog", "off", "vault", "haul".
    /spɔrt/ = sport    /stɔrd/ = stored    /sprɔl/ = sprawl

/ɑ/ : Low, back, retracted, tense vowel. Keywords include "bond", "stop", "car", "watch".
    /wɑnt/ = want     /stɑrvd/ = starved    /frɑst/ = frost

Central Vowels
/ə/ : Mid, central, retracted, lax vowel. Keywords include "Astound", "ransOm", tunA".
    This is used when the syllable that contains the vowel is unstressed.
    /pinət/ = peanut    /plətun/ = platoon

/ʌ/ : Low-mid, back-central, retracted, lax vowel. Keywords include "rub", "flood", "pUblic".
    This is used when the syllable that contains the vowel is stressed.
    /robʌst/ = robust   

/ɚ/ : Mid, central, rounded, lax vowel. Keywords include "pERtain", "runnER", "harbOR".
    This is used when the syllable that contains the vowel is unstressed.

/ɝ/ : Mid, central, rounded, tense vowel. Keywords include "third", "curse", "sERvice".
    This is used when the syllable that contains the vowel is unstressed.
    /fɝr/ = fur    /lɝn/ = learn

Practice makes perfect when dealing with vowel transcription. Use the charts below, as well as your knowledge of the vowel quadrilateral and dipthongs in order to complete the following exercises.

aɪ	eye
ɔɪ	boy
aʊ	how
oʊ	know
eɪ	cane

/i/	key
/ɪ/	tin
/e/	inmate
/ɛ/	red
/æ/	had
/u/	moon
/ʊ/	would
/o/	obese
/ɔ/	all
/ɑ/	hop
/ə/	tuna
/ʌ/	ton
/ɚ/	labor
/ɝ/	bird

A. Transcribe the front vowels in the following words.
___ 1. lamp
___ 2. glared
___ 3. wrist
___ 4. trim
___ 5. clean
___ ___ 6. kinship
___ ___ 7. revamp
___ ___ 8. eggplant
___ ___ 9. invest
___ ___ 10. keychain

B. Transcribe the front and back vowels in the following words.
___ 1. rude
___ 2. clocks
___ 3. stew
___ 4. lost
___ 5. boats
___ ___ 6. bamboo
___ ___ 7. arrow
___ ___ 8. ballroom
___ ___ 9. romance
___ ___ 10. airborne

C. Transcribe the front, back, and central vowels in the following words.
___ ___ 1. performed
___ ___ 2. soldier
___ ___ 3. circus
___ ___ 4. gumdrop
___ ___ 5. gorgeous
___ ___ 6. cupcake
___ ___ 7. drama
___ ___ 8. proclaim
___ ___ 9. secrete
___ ___ 10. cedar

Answers:
A1: /æ/ A2: /ɛ/ A3: /ɪ/ A4: /ɪ/ A5: /i/ A6: /ɪ/, /ɪ/ A7: /i/, /æ/ A8: /ɛ/, /æ/ A9: /ɪ/, /ɛ/ A10: /i/, /e/

B1: /u/ B2: /ɑ/ B3: /u/ B4: /ɑ/ B5: /o/ B6: /æ/, /u/ B7: /æ/, /o/ B8: /ɔ/, /u/ B9: /o/, /æ/ B10: /ɛ/, /o/
C1: /ɚ/, /ɔ/ C2: /o/,  /ɚ/ C3: /ɝ/, /ə/ C4: /ʌ/, /ɑ/ C5: /ɔ/, /ə/ C6: /ʌ/, /e/ C7: /ɑ/, /ə/ C8: /o/, /e/ C9: /ɪ/, /i/ C10: /i/, /ɚ/

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