UNIT 1. Principles of classification of English vowel sounds

Vowels are normally made with the air stream that meets no closure or narrowing in the mouth, pharyngeal and nasal cavi­ties. That is why in the production of vowel sounds there is no noise component characteristic of consonantal sounds. There are 20 vowel sounds in English. They are [ɪ], [i:], [ɒ], [ɔ:], [ʌ], [a:], [ʊ], [u:], [e], [æ], [ə], [ə:], [eɪ], [aɪ], [ɔɪ], [ɪə], [εə], [uə], [au], [əu].

On the articulatory level the description of vowels notes changes:

1. in the stability of articulation;

2. in the tongue position;

3. in the lip position;

4. in the vowel length.

1. Stability of Articulation. All English vowels are divided into three groups: pure vowels or monophthongs, diphthongs and diphthongoids.

Monophthongs are vowels the articulation of which is almost unchanging. The quality of such vowels is relatively pure. The English monophthongs are: [ɪ], [ɒ], [ɔ:], [ʌ], [a:], [ʊ], [e], [æ], [ə], [ə:].

In the pronunciation of diphthongs the organs of speech glide from one vowel position to another within one syl­lable. The starting point, the nucleus, is strong and distinct. The glide which shows the direction of the quality change is very weak. In fact diphthongs consist of two clearly perceptible vowel elements. The English diph­thongs are: [eɪ], [aɪ], [ɔɪ], [ɪə], [εə], [uə], [au], [əu].

In the pronunciation of diphthongoids the articula­tion is slightly changing but the difference between the starting point and the end is not so distinct as it is in the case of diph­thongs. There are two diphthongoids in English: [i:, u:].

2. Tongue Positions. The changes in the position of the tongue determine largely the shape of the mouth and pharyngeal cavities. The tongue may move in horizontal and vertical directions, thus changing the quality of vowel sounds.

(1)When the tongue moves in the horizontal direction various parts of it may be raised in the direction of the palate.

When the tongue is in the front part of the mouth and the front part of it is raised to the hard palate a front vowel is pronounced. This is the position for the English vowels [i:], [e], [æ].

When the tongue is in the front part of the mouth but slightly retracted, and the part of the tongue nearer to centre than to front is raised, a front-retracted vowel is pronounced. Such is the position for the English vowel [ɪ].

When the front of the tongue is raised towards the back part of the hard palate the vowel is called central. This is the position for the English vowels [ʌ], [ə], [ə:].

When the tongue is in the back part of the mouth and the back of it is raised towards the soft palate a back vowel is pronounced. This is the position for the English vowels [ɒ], [ɔ:], [u:].

When the tongue is in the back part of the mouth but is slightly advanced and the central part of it is raised towards the front part of the soft palate a back-advanced vowel is pronounced. This is the position for the English vowel [ʊ].

(2) Moving in the vertical direction in the mouth various parts of the tongue may be raised to different height towards the roof of the mouth.

When the front or the back of the tongue is raised high to­wards the palate the vowel is called close. This is the way the English vowels [ɪ], [i:], [ʊ], [u:] are pronounced.

When the front or the back of the tongue is as low as possible in the mouth open vowels are pronounced. This is the way to pronounce the English vowels [ɒ], [ɔ:], [a:], [æ].

When the highest part of the tongue occupies the position intermediate between the close and the open one mid vowels are pronounced. This is the position for the English vowels [e], [ə], [ə:], [ʌ].

3. Lip Position. The shape of the mouth cavity is also largely dependent on the position of the lips. When the lips are neutral or spread the vowels are termed unrounded. Such is the position of the lips for the English vowels [ɪ], [i:], [ɒ], [ʌ], [a:], [e], [æ], [ə], [ə:].

When the lips are drawn together so that the opening be­tween them is more or less round the vowel is called rounded. This is the position for the English vowels [ɒ], [ɔ:], [ʊ], [u:].

4. Vowel Length. Vowels are capable of being continued during a longer or a shorter period. All English vowels (with the excep­tion of diphthongs) are generally divided into long and short.

Long vowels are: [i:], [a:], [ɔ:], [u:], [ə:].

Short vowels are: [ɪ], [e], [ʌ], [ɒ], [ʊ], [ə].

The vowel [æ] is not included in the category of short vowels because of specific length associated with it.

Questions and tasks:

1. According to the stability of articulation there are three groups of vowels. Do you think it is enough to distinguish only two groups: monophthongs and diphthongs?

2. Phoneticians speak of front vowels and back vowels. What characteristic do all the front vowels have in common that is different from the back vowels?

3. What is the difference between front and front-retracted vow­els?

4. What is the difference between back and back-advanced vowels?

5. What makes central and front vowels different?

6. What characteristic makes close vowels unlike mid and open ones?

7. Are there any historically long and short vowels in English?