Uttalslra Introduction to phonetics and English phonology Vowels

Uttalslära Introduction to phonetics and English phonology

Vowels are voiced sounds which are produced without any obstruction to the vocal cavity. A syllable has one vowel sound.

Vowels can be open, for instance /ɑ: / or close, for instance /i: / front, for instance /e/ or back, for instance /u: /

The vowel sounds of English /ı/ pit /e/ pet /æ/ pat /ʊ/ put /ʌ/ but /ə/ above /ɒ/ pot (only RP) /i: / see /3: / girl /ɑ: / father /ɔ: / door /u: / noon /eı/ face, pain /aı/ iron /ɔı/ boy /aʊ/ scout /əʊ||o(ʊ)/ boat /ıə/ hear (only RP) /eə/ bear (only RP) /ʊə/ poor (only RP, uncommon)

Return to /ə/ Schwa, /ə/, is the most common vowel sound in the English language. It is used in unstressed syllables, where the vowel is reduced. Compare: suspect (verb) /səs'pekt/ suspect (noun) /'sʌspəkt/

/ı/ in unstressed syllables In some words, /ı/ is used instead of /ə/ when a syllable is unstressed, especially when the spelling is e, i, y. /ı/ also occurs in stressed syllables, unlike /ə/. target biscuit city /'tɑ: (r)gıt/ /'bıskıt/ /'sıtı/

Mute vowels Schwa, where the vowel is reduced, is different from mute vowels which occur in the spelling but not in the pronunciation or transcription of some words. hate /heıt/ hurricane /ˈhʌrıkeın/

Unstressed syllables with “long” vowels athlete /ˈæθli: t/ appetite /ˈæpətaıt/ hurricane /ˈhʌrıkeın/ A mute e in the spelling often signals that the preceding unstressed vowel is not reduced to schwa or /ı/.

Diphthongs Also known as glides. Two sounds (di- = two, double) Two types of diphthongs: falling where the first sound is more pronounced than the second sound, and rising where the second sound is more pronounced. English has eight diphthongs, all of them falling.

/eı/ as in say Spellings: a, ai, ay, ei, ey Examples raven /'reıvən/ train /treın/ weigh /weı/

/aı/ as in iron Spellings: i, y, ie, ye Examples bite /baıt/ die /daı/ rye /raı/

/ɔı/ as in boy Spellings: oi, oy Examples joint /dʒɔınt/ toy /tɔı/

/aʊ/ as in scout Spellings: ou, ow Examples noun /naʊn/ howl /haʊl/ out /aʊt/

/əʊ||o(ʊ)/ as in boat Spellings: o, oa, oe, ou, ow Examples nose /nəʊz||noʊz/ boat /bəʊt||boʊt/ toe /təʊ||toʊ/ tow /təʊ||toʊ/

/ıə/ as in dear Spellings: e, ea, ee, ie (all before r) Examples here /hıə(r)/ beard /bıə(r)d/ beer /bıə(r)/ pierce /pıə(r)s/

/eə/ as in hair Spellings: a, ae, ai, ey (all before r) Examples hair /heə(r)/ bare /beə(r)/ heir /eə(r)/ bear /beə(r)/

/ʊə/ as in poor (uncommon) Spellings: oo, u (both before r) NB! Only in RP. Is becoming replaced by /ɔ: / Examples jury /dʒʊərı || dʒu: rı/ poor /pʊə || pɔ: r/

Related words — different pronunciations grave /greıv/ gravity /ˈgrævity/ nation /ˈneɪʃən/ national /ˈnæʃən(ə)l/ type typical /ˈtıpıcəl/ /taıp/ Bible /ˈbaıb(ə)l/ biblical /ˈbıblık(ə)l/ discrete /dıˈskri: t/ discretion /dɪˈskreʃən/ compete /kəmˈpi: t/ competitor /kəmˈpetɪtə(r)/

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