Phonetics: English Vowels

Question 1

vowels are….

Answer 1

sonorous

Question 2

Which two properties of the vocal tract determine the quality of the vowel?

Answer 2

shape: lip shape and tongue position
constriction: to what degree is the vocal tract open/closed
during the production of a vowel

Question 3

lips can be…

Answer 3

rounded or unrounded

cool vs keel

Question 4

rounded vowels are

Answer 4

door, pour, sword
pot, rot, flop
zoo, cool
put, look

Question 5

rounding is not…

Answer 5

distinctive in English (no vowel pairs differ only in rounding)

Question 6

Which two dimensions does the tongue have?

Answer 6

1. height high, mid, low (key, car)

2. length front central back (key vs. coo)

Question 7

Articulatory process adjustments

Answer 7

• assimilation: one sound becomes more similar to another
• deletion of sounds:
• epenthesis: insertion of sounds