Chapter 4: Vowels

Question 1

How are vowels produced?

Answer 1

-Without constriction or blockage of air flow from the vocal tract
-Tongue is the primary articulator vowel production

Question 2

Vowel Categorization

Answer 2

-Tongue Height
-Tongue Advancement: how far forward
-Lip rounding
-tense/lax

Question 3

/i/

Answer 3

Sample: key
Tongue Height: high
Tongue Advancement: front
Tense/Lax: tense
Lip Rounding: unrounded

Question 4

/ɪ/

Answer 4

Sample: win
Tongue Height: high
Tongue Advancement: front
Tense/Lax: lax
Lip Rounding: unrounded

Question 5

/e, eɪ/

Answer 5

Sample: rebAte
Tongue Height: high-mid
Tongue Advancement: front
Tense/Lax: tense
Lip Rounding: unrounded

Question 6

/ɛ/

Answer 6

Sample: red
Tongue Height: low-mid
Tongue Advancement: front
Tense/Lax: lax
Lip Rounding: unrounded

Question 7

/æ/

Answer 7

Sample: had
Tongue Height: low
Tongue Advancement: front
Tense/Lax: lax
Lip Rounding: unrounded

Question 8

/u/

Answer 8

Sample: moon
Tongue Height: high
Tongue Advancement: back
Tense/Lax: lax
Lip Rounding: rounded

Question 9

/ʊ/

Answer 9

Sample: wood
Tongue Height: high
Tongue Advancement: back
Tense/Lax: lax
Lip Rounding: rounded

Question 10

/o/

Answer 10

Sample: Okay
Tongue Height: high-mid
Tongue Advancement: back
Tense/Lax: tense
Lip Rounding: rounded

Question 11

/ɔ/

Answer 11

Sample: law
Tongue Height: low-mid
Tongue Advancement: back
Tense/Lax: tense
Lip Rounding: rounded

Question 12

/ɑ/

Answer 12

Sample: cod
Tongue Height: low
Tongue Advancement: back
Tense/Lax: tense
Lip Rounding: unrounded

Question 13

/ə/

Answer 13

Sample: about
Tongue Height: mid
Tongue Advancement: central
Tense/Lax: lax
Lip Rounding: unrounded

Question 14

/ʌ/

Answer 14

Sample: bud
Tongue Height: low-mid
Tongue Advancement: back-central
Tense/Lax: lax
Lip Rounding: unrounded

Question 15

/ɚ/

Answer 15

Sample: buttER
Tongue Height: mid
Tongue Advancement: central
Tense/Lax: lax
Lip Rounding: rounded

Question 16

/ɝ/

Answer 16

Sample: bird
Tongue Height: mid
Tongue Advancement: central
Tense/Lax: tense
Lip Rounding: rounded

Question 17

Vowel Quadrilateral

Answer 17

-Shows vowel categorization by tongue height and advancement
-An approximation of relative tongue positions

Question 18

Monopthongs

Answer 18

Vowels produced with one primary tongue position

Question 19

Dipthongs

Answer 19

-Vowels produced with movement from one tongue position (onglide) to a different position (offglide)
-Arrow indicates direction of movement
-Tongue always glides from a lower to higher position

Question 20

Front Vowels

Answer 20

-Highest point of tongue is near front of mouth
-further divided by tongue height
-unrounded
-can be tense or lax

Question 21

Back Vowels

Answer 21

-Highest point of tongue is near back of the mouth
-further divided by tongue height
- most are rounded
-can be tense or lax

Question 22

Central Vowels

Answer 22

-Highest point of tongue is near center of mouth
-tend to be mid in tongue height
-rounded or unrounded
-tense or lax

Question 23

Stressed Central Vowels

Answer 23

-/ʌ/ low-mid, back-central, unrounded, lax
- /ɝ/ mid, central, rounded, tense

Question 24

Low Back Vowel

Answer 24

/ɑ/ low, back, unrounded, tense

Question 25

Mid Back Vowels

Answer 25

• /o/ high-mid, back, rounded, tense
• /ɔ/ low-mid, back, rounded, tense

Question 26

High Back Vowels

Answer 26

-/u/ high, back, rounded, tense
- /ʊ/ high, back, rounded, lax

Question 27

Low Front Vowel

Answer 27

/æ/ low, front, unrounded, lax

Question 28

Mid Front Vowels

Answer 28

• /e/ high-mid, front, unrounded, tense
• /ɛ/ low-mid, front, unrounded, lax

Question 29

High Front Vowels

Answer 29

• /i/ high, front, unrounded, tense
• /ɪ/ high, front, unrounded, lax