Parameters Vowels are described as open speech sounds because there is no obstruction to the flow of air from the lungs as it passes up through the trachea, through the larynx, through the oral cavity and out of the mouth. Other than a speaker positioning the tongue, jaws…
Types of English As we know, there is variation in the types of English spoken throughout the world. The quality of British English vowel sounds, for example, is different to those used in American English, Australian English, Nigerian English, Caribbean English, and so on. Even within a particular…
Five vowel parameters Whatever variety of English is spoken, vowels may be differentiated by differences in five main parameters: openness of the mouth tongue elevation position of tongue elevation lip shape length of vocalization The first four of these alter the relative size and…
Charting vowels: the vowel chart! We now have all the information we need to begin charting vowel sounds (see Parameters for Describing Vowels) to better understand how they are formed. If we represent the oral cavity diagrammatically as a quadrilateral, we can begin to plot…
Simple vowels = single configuration When a speaker assumes only a single configuration of the mouth when producing a vowel, i.e. there is no movement of the tongue, lips or jaws, the speaker produces what is known as a simple vowel. In sum, once the appropriate position for…
American and British front vowels Figure 8 illustrates the front vowels of General American (GA) and Standard Southern British English (SSBE). Figure 8. American and British front vowels. Front vowels are produced with the front part of the tongue…
Central vowels = intermediate position All central vowels are produced in an intermediate position between front and back vowels, with the body of the tongue raised towards the roof of the mouth in the area where the hard and soft palates fuse. British central vowels…
Back vowels explained The largest group of simple vowels is the back vowels. These are shaped with the back of the tongue raised towards the soft palate (velum). There are six back vowels, compared to the four front vowels and two central vowels.
