Back Vowels

Question 1

Back Vowels

Answer 1

All somewhat rounded except the lowest one /ɑ/

Tongue is in the back of the mouth with greatest constriction at the pharynx or near the velum

Question 2

Vowel /u/
Mule, who

Answer 2

Tongue: high-back, tense
Jaw: Closed
Lips: Rounded

In mule, what precedes the vowel?
“you” is not /u/. “you” is /ju/

-Thus, cues is /kyuz/ and coos is /kuz/
- Fool is /ful/ while fuel is /fjul/
- compare tenseness of “who” vs. “book”

Question 3

Vowel /ʊ/
Book, sugar, could

Answer 3

Can contrast tension for the 2 highest back vowels as we did for front vowels /i/ + /I/
Tongue: high-mid, back, lax
Lips: rounded
Jaw: closed usually

Question 4

Vowel /o/
Rotate, don’t, ocean

Answer 4

Unstressed
Tongue: mid, back tense
Lips: rounded

Transcription examples:
Location /l o k ēī ʃ ə n/
compost /k ɑ m p o s t/
notation / n o t e ʃ ə n/
cohabitate / k o h æ b ə t ēī t/

Question 5

/o/ vs. ōʊ/

Answer 5

/oʊ/ is an allophonic variation of /o/

/o/ occurs less frequently

/oʊ/ is made starting with the /o/ and rises to the /ʊ/

/oʊ/ is more likely to occur in syllables receiving primary stress or in final syllables (single syllable words)

/o/ is more likely to occur in non-stressed syllables (ex. “Notation”)

Question 6

Transcription for /o/

Answer 6

bow /b oʊ/
toad /t oʊ d/
mode /m oʊ d/
note /n oʊ t/

Question 7

Vowel /ɔ/
All, taught, cough, daughter

Answer 7

Tongue: low-mid, back, tense
Lips: rounded
Jaw: mid-position

Production of this vowel varies with dialect MORE than any other

When you hear “or” it is either /or/ or /ɔ r/ - our text uses /ɔ r/

Ex. more /m ɔ r/, but /or is also acceptable transcription

Question 8

Transcription of /ɔ/

Answer 8

all /ɔl/
ought /ɔ t/
caught /k ɔ t/
Dog /d ɔ g/
law /l ɔ/
shawl / ʃ ɔ l/
haunt /h ɔ n t/
office /ɔ f ɪ s/
cough /k ɔ f/
faucet /f ɔ s ɪ t/

Question 9

Vowel /ɑ/
Calm, Father, Ah

Answer 9

Tongue: low, back, tense
Lips: unrounded
Jaw: open

use of this vowel varies widely with dialect

Question 10

Transcription of vowel /ɑ/

Answer 10

Pot /p ɑ t/
Common /k ɑ m ə n/
College /k ɑ l ɪ ʤ/
Folly /f ɑ l i/
pasta /p ɑ s t ə/
doll /d ɑ l/
holly /h ɑ l i/
imposter /ɪ m p ɑ s t ɚ/
holler /h ɑ l ɚ/
honor /ɑ n ɚ/
pocket /p ɑ k ɪ t/
admonish /ə d m ɑ n ɪ ʃ/
slot /s l ɑ t/
costume /k ɑ s t u m/

Question 11

Back Vowel Practice

Answer 11

Telephone /t ɛ l ə f o n/

Shoot /ʃ u t/

Could /k ʊ d/

Halls /h ɔ l z/

Stood /s t ʊ d/

Salt /s ɔ l t/

Shook /ʃ ʊ k/

Food /f u d/

Spot /s p ɑ t/

Shoes /ʃ u z/

Books /b ʊ k s/

Whom /h u m/

Draw /d r ɔ/

Flowed /f l ōʊ d/