1. sounds in which there is no obstruction of the airflow as they pass through the larynx

2. Vowels  All vowels are considered voiced => the vocal cords are vibrating when producing the sounds

3. Characteristics of vowels  Involves flow of the airstream out of the mouth over the central part of the tongue with stoppage or local turbulence in the mouth => central, oral, sonorant

4. Sonorants => Involves no closure or stricture of the stricture of the airstream but stead relatively unimpeded airflow  Only some sonorants are oral  Some vowels are nasalized. Vowel = central oral sonorant

5. Vowels Classification  Positions of the tongue in the mouth 1.) Tongue height (how far the tongue is raised – high-mid-low) 2.) Tongue backness (which part of the tongue- front – central – back) 3.) Lip rounding (rounded – unrounded) 4.) A degree of tension (tense or lax)

6. 1. Tongue height  How much space there is between the tongue and roof of the mouth High i ‘bee’ Mid e ‘bet’ Low Q ‘bat’

7. 2. Tongue back  The horizontal tongue position during the articulation of a vowel. Front i  ‘beat’ Central  ‘bird’ Back u  ‘boot’

8. Vowel diagram => is shaped as an inverted triangle or trapeziod.  Can portray the positions of the highest point on the tongue for the respective vowels

9. Cardinal vowels  Theoretical vowel qualities against which the actual vowels of the language are being compared. It has the 4 levels of IPA system  iu  e o    a A

10. American English vowels Front Central Back High i  ‘beat’ u  ‘boot’ I ‘bit’ U ‘put’ Mid e  ‘bait’  ‘sofa’ o  ‘boat’  ‘bet’  ‘but’  ‘bought’ Low Q ‘bat’  ‘ po t’

11. British English vowels Front Central Back High i  ‘beat’ u  ‘boot’ I ‘bit’ U ‘put’ Mid e ‘bet’  ‘bird’  ‘bought’  ‘sofa’  ‘but’ Low Q ‘bat’  ‘pot’ A  ‘bath’

12. 3. Lip Rounding http://clas.mq.edu.au/phonetics/phonetics/vowelartic/lip_posture.html http://clas.mq.edu.au/phonetics/phonetics/vowelartic/lip_posture.html

13. 4. Tenseness  Some vowels need a greater degree of muscular tension in the mouth and jaw when they are produced than others.  Tense vowels => produced with more muscular effort in the mouth and jaw (long vowels with symbol  are tense)  Lax vowels => produced with more relaxing mouth and jaw

14. http://sci2s.ugr.es/keel/dataset/images/vowel.jpg