LECTURE 2

ENGLISH VOWEL
SOUNDS
Definition:
Vowels are sounds in which there is
……………to the flow of air as it
passes from the larynx to the lips.
Ex: /æ/, /∂/, / u:/, /i:/
(English Phonetics and phonology - A practical
course (Peter Roach, 2000))
 Classification of vowels

Vowels

Monophthongs/
Monothongs/ Diphthongs Triphthongs
pure vowels Diphthongs Triphthongs
Pure vowels (8) (5)
(12)
 Some characteristics of vowels

All vowels are voiced sounds.

The differences among vowels are resulted from:
………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………
Another important variable of vowel quality is lip-rounding (độ tròn của
môi).
There are 3 possibilities:
a.
b.
c.
1. Monophthongs

a. Definition
Monophthongs are …………………..sound
in which the speech organs ……………………
throughout the duration of the vowel’s articulation.
(OXFORD, Advanced learner’s Encyclopedic dictionary,
1992)
b. Classification
12 monophthongs are classified in terms of

1. The ………… of the tongue

2. The ………… of the tongue
3. The degree of the lip-rounding
4. The length of ………….
5. The vertical distance between the ……… and the
……… of the mouth
According to the position of the tongue

1. ………………..: are those in the production of which the front of the

tongue is the highest point.
e.g. /i:/
2. ……………….: are those in the production of which the back of the tongue
is the highest point.
e.g. /u:/
3. ………………….: are those made with neither the front nor the back of
the tongue. The tongue is neither high nor low in the mouth when
central vowels are produced.
e.g. /ʌ/
 According to the height of the tongue
According to the height to which the tongue is raised we have:
1.………………..: are those in the production of which the tongue is high
in the mouth. It is raised above its rest position.
e.g. /u:/
2.………………..: are those made with the tongue below its rest position.
e.g.: / æ/
3.…………………: are those made with the tongue neither high nor low in
the mouth.
e.g.:/ ɔ:/
 According to the degree of lip rounding

1. ………………………: are those made with rounded lips. The corners of

the lips are brought towards each other and the lips are pushed
forwards.
e.g. /u/
2. ………………………..: are those made with the lips spread. The corners
of the lips are moved away from each other as for a smile.
e.g. /e/, /æ/
3. ………………………….: are those made with the lips neither rounded
nor spread.
e.g. /ə/
According to the vertical distance between the tongue and
the roof of the mouth
4 cases:
1
2

3
4
 Examples

/e/: front, mid, unrounded, half-close/half-open, short

/i:/……………………………
/u:/…………………………..
/æ/……………………………
/I/……………………………
2. Diphthongs

Definition
Sounds that consist of a …………….or ………… from one vowel to
another. The first part of a diphthong is always ………….. and …………….. than
the second part, as the sound glides into the second part of the diphthongs the
loudness of the sound decreases. The length of a diphthong
is………………………. to that of a long monophthong.
CLASSIFICATION OF DIPHTHONGS

Diphthongs

Centring diphthongs Closing diphthongs

Ending in /ə / Ending in /I / Ending in /ʊ/

Iə eə ʊə aI eI ɔI əʊ (ou) aʊ

Centring diphthongs : Closing diphthongs:

Diphthongs that glide Diphthongs that glide
from front/ back position from a more open to a
to more central position closer position
 Diphthongs
Centring diphthongs Closing diphthongs

Diphthongs that glide Diphthongs that glide from

from ……………position to a more ……………… to a closer
more central position position
 3. Triphthongs

⚫ Definition
- Sounds that consist of a movement or glide from one vowel to another and
then to a third.

- There are 5 triphthongs composed of the 5 closing diphthongs and /ə/

added at the end.
 3. Triphthongs

⚫ Definition
- Sounds that consist of a movement or glide from one ……………. to
another and then to a third.
- There are …………… triphthongs composed of the 5 closing diphthongs
and /ə/ added at the end.
 There are five triphthongs as follows:
⚫ aI + ə =
eg:
⚫ eI + ə =
eg:
⚫ ɔI + ə =
eg:
⚫ əʊ (ou) + ə =
eg:
⚫ aʊ + ə =
eg:
 EXERCISE 1
Ex I ‑ True ‑ False: Decide if the following statements are true or false:
1 ‑ Speech sounds are divided into pure vowels and diphthongs.
2 ‑All vowels are voiced.
3 - A diphthong is a pure vowel.
4 ‑ The front vowel is the one in the production of which the front of the tongue is raised in
the direction of the hard palate.
5 ‑ According to the height to which a part of the tongue is raised, vowels can be classified into
close and open vowels.
6 ‑ A close vowel is the one in the production of which the tongue is as low as possible.
7 ‑ A rounded vowel is the one in the production of which the tongue is as low as possible.
8 ‑ Vowels can be long or short.
9 ‑ / i: / is a long vowel.
10 ‑ / e / is a long vowel.
 EXERCISE 2
EX2- Multiple Choice: Choose the best answer

1‑The . . . . . . . . . . . . . provide the most usual source of energy.

A‑ lungs B‑ ears C‑ eyes D‑ lips
2‑The larynx is situated in the upper part of the . . . . . . . . .
A‑ mouth B‑ windpipe C‑ eye D‑ ear
3‑ Which of the following is not………the articulators above the larynx?
A‑ The lungs B‑ The stomach C‑ The tongue D‑ The eyes
4‑ The………. is between the teeth ridge and the soft palate.
A‑ hard palate B‑ tongue C‑ nose D‑ lungs
5‑ We use the word glottis to refer to the opening between . . . . . . . . . ..
A‑ the eyes B‑ the ears C‑ the vocal cords D‑ the mouth
 EXERCISE 3
Ex3: Put the following words into the correct position in
the vowel chart

•hid •the •put

•head •bird •hot

•had •cut •hard

•heed •shoe •saw

 Front Central Back
Close

High

Half-close

Mid

Half-open

Low

Open