Phonetics

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 Phonetics:- De nition
Phonetics:
Phonetics is the branch of linguistics that studies the physical properties of
speech sounds, including their articulation (how they are produced), acoustic
properties (how they sound), and auditory perception (how they are heard).
Phonetics aims to provide a detailed and objective analysis of speech sounds,
irrespective of language, using tools like the International Phonetic Alphabet
(IPA) for transcription.

Phonology:
Phonology is the branch of linguistics that studies the abstract, mental
representations and rules for organizing and using speech sounds within a
speci c language or languages. Phonology explores the sound patterns,
phonemes (distinctive sound units), allophones (sound variations), syllable
structures, stress patterns, and phonological rules that govern the use of
sounds in a particular linguistic community. It focuses on the language-speci c
aspects of sound organization and distribution.

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 Types of phonetics

1. Articulatory Phonetics:
2. Acoustic Phonetics:
3. Auditory Phonetics:

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 1. Articulatory Phonetics

De nition: Articulatory phonetics is the branch of phonetics that focuses on how

speech sounds are produced or articulated by the human vocal apparatus. It studies
the movements and positions of the various speech organs, such as the tongue, lips,
teeth, vocal cords, and palate, during speech production.
Key Concepts:
Manner of Articulation: This refers to how speech sounds are produced by
controlling the air ow and the degree of constriction in the vocal tract. Examples
include stops, fricatives, and approximants.
Place of Articulation: This describes where in the vocal tract the constriction or
closure occurs during speech sound production. Examples include bilabial (between
the lips), alveolar (at the alveolar ridge), and velar (at the soft palate) sounds.
Voicing: It refers to whether the vocal cords vibrate during the production of a
sound. Sounds can be voiced (vocal cords vibrate) or voiceless (vocal cords do not
vibrate).
Applications: Articulatory phonetics helps us understand how di erent speech sounds
are physically produced. It is used in speech therapy, language acquisition research,
and accent modi cation training.
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 1. Square Brackets "[ ]" for Phonetic Symbols:
1. Imagine you want to show exactly how words are
pronounced, like the sounds you make when you speak.
2. You put the sounds inside square brackets, like [kæt].
These brackets tell us it's all about how the word sounds,
not how it's spelled.
3. So, [k] tells us the "k" sound you make at the start of
"cat," [æ] is the sound in the middle, and [t] is the ending
sound.
2. Angled Brackets "< >" for Ordinary Spelling:
1. Now, think about how we write words on paper. We use
regular letters like "c," "a," and "t."
2. When you want to show how a word looks when written,
you use angled brackets, like <cat>. These brackets
remind us it's about how the word is written, not how it
sounds.
3. So, <c> is the letter "c," <a> is the letter "a," and <t> is
the letter "t" in this example.

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 1. Phonetic Alphabet vs. English Alphabet:
- The phonetic alphabet looks like the English alphabet, but it's used
to show exactly how words are pronounced, not how they're spelled.
- In the phonetic alphabet, there are no "silent" letters like in English
words. Each symbol represents a sound, and every letter always
sounds the same, no matter where it appears in a word.

2. Diacritics for Fine Distinctions:

- To be very precise about sounds, phoneticians use special symbols
called diacritics along with the basic alphabet letters.
- These diacritics help them make ne distinctions between similar
sounds. For example, they might use a symbol to show a sound is
slightly di erent from another similar sound.

3. Non-English Sounds:
- Some sounds exist in languages other than English, or they might
be used in speci c English accents. For these sounds, phoneticians
have created symbols that aren't in the regular English alphabet.

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 4. How Sounds Are Made:
- To speak, air ows from your lungs through your vocal tract.
This includes the vocal folds (often called vocal cords, but
they're more like stretchy bands), the nose, and the mouth.
- Depending on the sound you're making, di erent parts of
your vocal tract are involved. Sometimes, the vocal folds
vibrate, and for some sounds, air goes through your nose. But
most of the time, it's your mouth that's the main player in
creating speech sounds.

5. Understanding Pronunciation:
- When you look at the phonetic alphabet, it helps you
understand exactly how sounds are made when people speak.
It's like a secret code to show the sounds of words.

So, phonetics is all about showing us how to say words, and it

uses a special alphabet to do that, focusing on how sounds are
produced in your mouth, nose, and throat.

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 Vocal apparatus

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 The 44 Phonemes in English
Despite there being just 26 letters in the English language there are
approximately 44 unique sounds, also known as phonemes. The 44
sounds help distinguish one word or meaning from another. Various
letters and letter combinations known as graphemes are used to
represent the sounds.
The 44 English sounds fall into two categories: consonants and vowels.

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 The phonemes
Total 44

Consonants 24 Vowels 20

1. Voicing
1. Monophthongs
2. Manner of articulation
2. Diphthongs
3. Place of articulation
4. Nasality

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 1. Consonants
De nition of Consonants:
• Consonants are speech sounds produced by obstructing or
constricting the air ow in some way while speaking. Unlike
vowels, which are produced with an open vocal tract and
free air ow, consonants involve some form of constriction
or closure within the vocal tract.

Classi cation of Consonants:

Consonants are classi ed based on several articulatory
features, which include
1. Voicing
2. Manner of articulation
3. Place of articulation
4. Nasality

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 1. Voicing
• What Is Voicing?
• Voicing is all about whether your vocal cords vibrate or not when you
make a sound. Imagine your vocal cords like two tiny pieces of
rubber bands inside your throat.
• Voiced Sounds:
• When you make a sound, like when you say "b," "d," or "z," your
vocal cords come together and vibrate. It's like plucking a guitar
string; they make a buzz.
• Think of it as a "buzzing" sound. Try saying "zzz" and feel your
throat gently vibrating.
• Voiceless Sounds:
• Now, when you make sounds like "p," "t," or "s," your vocal
cords stay apart. They don't vibrate.
• These are the "hissing" sounds or "explosive" sounds. Try
saying "sss" or "t" without vibrating your throat.
• So, in short, voicing tells us if your vocal cords are buzzing (voiced)
or quiet (voiceless) when you make a sound. It's a crucial part of
what makes some sounds di erent from others in language.

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 Examples of Voiced Sounds:
• /b/ as in "bat": When you say "bat," your vocal cords vibrate, creating a buzzing
sensation.
• /d/ as in "dog": In "dog," the vocal cords vibrate while producing the "d" sound.
• /z/ as in "zebra": The "z" in "zebra" is a voiced sound, causing your vocal cords
to vibrate.
• /v/ as in "very": The "v" sound in "very" is voiced, and you can feel the vibration
in your throat.
Examples of Voiceless Sounds:
• /p/ as in "pen": In "pen," there's no vibration of the vocal cords; it's a burst of air
when the lips release.
• /t/ as in "top": Saying "top" involves a voiceless "t" sound with no vocal cord
vibration.
• /s/ as in "snake": The "s" in "snake" is voiceless, characterized by a hissing
sound.
• /f/ as in " sh": The "f" sound in " sh" is voiceless and produces a gentle
blowing of air.

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 All voice and voiceless consonants

Voiced Consonants:
1. /b/ as in "bat" Voiceless Consonants:
2. /d/ as in "dog" 1. /p/ as in "pen"
3. /g/ as in "go" 2. /t/ as in "top"
4. /z/ as in "zebra" 3. /k/ as in "cat"
5. /v/ as in "very" 4. /s/ as in "snake"
6. /ð/ as in "this" (pronounced like "th" in "the") 5. /f/ as in " sh"
7. /ʒ/ as in "measure" (pronounced like "su" in 6. /θ/ as in "think" (pronounced like "th" in "thin")
"leisure") 7. /ʃ/ as in "shoe"
8. /ʤ/ as in "judge" 8. /ʧ/ as in "cheese"
9. /m/ as in "mother" 9. /h/ as in "house"
10. /n/ as in "nice"
11. /ŋ/ as in "song"
12. /l/ as in "love"
13. /ɹ/ as in "red"
14. /w/ as in "wonderful"
15. /j/ as in "yes"
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 2. Manner of articulation
Manner of articulation is an important concept in phonetics
that describes how the air ow is obstructed or modi ed
when producing speech sounds, particularly consonants. It
refers to the way di erent parts of the vocal tract, such as
the lips, tongue, teeth, and palate, are involved in shaping
and controlling the air ow during speech. Manner of
articulation categorizes consonants based on the speci c
method used to produce them.

1. Stops (plosives)
2. Fricatives
3. A ricates
4. Nasals
5. Liquids
6. Glides (semivowels)

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 Stops (Plosives):
• Stops are consonants produced by brie y
stopping the air ow in the vocal tract and
then releasing it suddenly.
• Examples include /p/ (as in "pen"), /t/ (as
in "top"), and /k/ (as in "cat").
• When you say these sounds, there's a
complete blockage of air ow at some
point during their production.

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 Stops (Plosives):
1. Voiceless Stops:
• Voiceless stops are produced without vibrating the vocal cords during
their articulation. The key feature is the complete closure of the vocal
tract, which is then released to produce the sound.
• /p/ as in "pen": To pronounce /p/, you fully close your lips, block the
air ow, and then release it suddenly by opening your lips. This produces
the voiceless "p" sound.
• /t/ as in "top": /t/ is formed by fully closing the front part of the mouth
with the tongue against the alveolar ridge and then releasing it to create
the voiceless "t" sound.
• /k/ as in "cat": /k/ is articulated by completely blocking the air ow at the
back of the mouth with the tongue against the velum (soft palate) and
then releasing it, resulting in the voiceless "k" sound.

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 Voiced Stops:
• Voiced stops are produced with vibration of the vocal cords during their
articulation. Like voiceless stops, they involve complete closure followed by a
release.
• /b/ as in "bat": When you say /b/, your vocal cords vibrate while your lips are
initially closed. Opening your lips releases the sound, creating the voiced "b"
sound.
• /d/ as in "dog": /d/ is produced with vocal cord vibration and involves the
tongue brie y blocking the air ow against the alveolar ridge before releasing
it, resulting in the voiced "d" sound.
• /g/ as in "go": /g/ is similar to /k/ but is voiced. The vocal cords vibrate while
the tongue is blocking the air ow at the back of the mouth against the velum.
Releasing the blockage produces the voiced "g" sound.

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 2. Fricatives
Fricatives are a category of consonant sounds in
phonetics characterized by the production of sound
through the narrowing of the vocal tract to create
turbulent air ow, resulting in a hissing or friction-like
quality. Unlike stops, which involve a complete closure
of air ow, fricatives allow air to ow through a narrow
channel with audible friction. Here's more detail about
fricatives:
Imagine you're hissing like a snake or producing
a gentle, breathy sound. That's the essence of
fricatives.

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 Voiceless Fricatives:

• /f/ as in " sh": When you say " sh," you gently push air through a
small gap between your upper teeth and lower lip. It makes the
hissing "f" sound.
• /s/ as in "snake": Saying "snake" involves letting air ow through a
narrow space between your tongue and the roof of your mouth
(alveolar ridge). It produces the hissing "s" sound.
• /ʃ/ as in "shoe": When you pronounce "shoe," your tongue creates
a small gap just behind the alveolar ridge. Air passes through this gap,
creating the hissing "sh" sound.
• /θ/ as in "think" (like "th" in "thin"): For "think," your tongue
touches your upper front teeth lightly, allowing air to escape, creating
the hissing "th" sound.

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 Voiced Fricatives:

Now, imagine adding a gentle buzz or vibration to these sounds.

• /v/ as in "very": Similar to /f/, but with the vocal cords vibrating,
making the sound "v."
• /z/ as in "zebra": Similar to /s/, but with vocal cord vibration,
creating the sound "z."
• /ʒ/ as in "measure" (like "su" in "leisure"): Like /ʃ/, but with
vocal cord vibration, producing the sound "ʒ."
• /ð/ as in "this" (like "th" in "the"): Similar to /θ/, but with vocal
cord vibration, creating the sound "ð."

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English by Rohit
 3. A ricates A ricates are a category of consonant sounds in phonetics that combine
features of both stops (plosives) and fricatives. They begin with a stop-like
closure or constriction of air ow and then transition smoothly into a fricative
sound. A ricates are characterized by this unique combination of sound
qualities. Here's more detail about a ricates:
A ricates:
• Voiceless A ricate (/ʧ/):
• Symbol: /ʧ/
• Example: "cheese"
• Production: To produce the voiceless a ricate /ʧ/, start with a
complete closure of the vocal tract, similar to a voiceless stop. Then,
release the closure gradually to create a fricative sound. It's like
combining the /t/ and /ʃ/ sounds: "t" followed by "sh."
• Voiced A ricate (/ʤ/):
• Symbol: /ʤ/
• Example: "judge"
• Production: The voiced a ricate /ʤ/ is produced similarly to the
voiceless a ricate, but with vocal cord vibration. Begin with a complete
closure like a voiced stop, then release it smoothly into a fricative
sound. It's like combining the /d/ and /ʒ/ sounds: "d" followed by "zh."
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 Key Characteristics of A ricates:
• Transitional: A ricates have a transitional quality because
they start with a momentary stop-like blockage of air ow
and then continue into a hissing fricative sound.
• Single Phoneme: In phonetics, a ricates are considered
single phonemes, even though they involve two distinct
articulatory phases. This is because they function as a
single sound unit in the language.
Examples of A ricates in English:
• Voiceless A ricate (/ʧ/): "cheese," "church," "chocolate"
• Voiced A ricate (/ʤ/): "judge," "badge," "edge"
A ricates add a unique and recognizable sound quality to
many languages, including English. Their distinctive
combination of stop and fricative elements can be found in
various words and contribute to the richness of speech
sounds.
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4. Nasals Nasals are sounds that come out of your nose, like when you say "mmm"
or "nnn."
1. /m/ as in "mother"
- When you say "mmm," you close your lips and let the sound come out
through your nose. It's a bit like humming with your mouth closed.
More Examples: "mom," "time," "climb"

2. /n/ as in "nice":
- Saying "nnn" involves touching your tongue to the roof of your mouth
near the front and letting the sound go through your nose.
More Examples:** "no," "sun," "pen"

3. /ŋ/ as in "song":
- This one is like saying "ng" as in "song." You close the back of your
mouth, and the sound comes out through your nose.
More Examples:** "sing," "long," "king"

Nasal sounds are a bit di erent from other consonants because they
involve letting the sound travel through your nose while blocking some
part of your mouth. They're found in many words in English and add to the
variety of sounds we use when speaking.
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5. Liquids
Liquids are sounds that ow smoothly, almost like water, without any hard
stops or hissing sounds. They're smooth and relaxed.

1. /l/ as in "love":
- When you say "l," you touch the tip of your tongue to the roof of your
mouth just behind your front teeth. The sound ows gently, like a smooth
wave.
**More Examples:** "little," "table," "apple"

2. /ɹ/ as in "red":
- This one is like a soft "r" sound. You don't roll your tongue; instead, you
lightly tap it against the roof of your mouth at the back. It's a bit like a gentle
purring sound.
**More Examples:** "river," "bird," "forever"

Liquids are calm and owing sounds in language. They add a sense of
smoothness to words and make them pleasant to listen to. You'll nd them in
various words in English, and they're an essential part of clear and expressive
speech.
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6. Glides Glides are speech sounds that are like quick and smooth transitions
(semivowels) between vowels and consonants. Here's a simple way to understand glides:
• Vowel-Gliding: Glides are a bit like vowels because they start with a
very open and relaxed vocal tract. When you say a glide, your tongue
and lips are in a position that allows air to ow smoothly, like when you
say "ee" or "oo."
• Quick Movement: What makes glides special is that they don't stay in
that vowel-like position for long. They move quickly into the next sound,
which could be another vowel or a consonant. It's as if they're gliding or
sliding into the next sound.
• Examples: In English, common glide sounds include /w/ (like the "w"
in "we") and /j/ (like the "y" in "yes"). When you say these sounds, notice
how they start with a vowel-like quality and smoothly transition into the
next part of the word.
• Transitional Role: Glides act like connectors in words. They help us
move smoothly from one sound to another. For example, in the word
"yellow," the /j/ glide links the "ye" to the "l."
So, think of glides as the smooth operators of speech—they help us
smoothly transition from one sound to the next, making our words ow
more naturally.
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 Approximants are a group of speech sounds in phonetics that are produced with a
narrowing of the vocal tract, but not to the extent that air ow is signi cantly blocked, as in
stops and fricatives. Instead, with approximants, the articulatory organs are close
together, allowing air to ow through with minimal turbulence. They create a more open
and smooth sound.

There are three main types of approximants:

1. Central Approximants (or Glides): Central approximants are sounds produced with a
slight constriction in the vocal tract, but the air ow is not fully obstructed. They create a
more open and smooth sound. Examples include:
/w/ (as in "wonder") - Central Glide
/j/ (as in "yes") - Central Glide
2. Lateral Liquids: Lateral liquids are produced with a partial closure in the vocal tract,
allowing air to ow around the sides. These are not central but lateral. An example is:
/l/ (as in "love") - Lateral Liquid
3. Rhotic Liquids: Rhotic liquids are produced with a retro exed tongue and are typically
not central. An example is:
/ɹ/ (as in "red") - Rhotic Liquid
Central approximants, like glides, are characterized by their central air ow, while lateral
liquids and rhotic liquids involve speci c tongue con gurations that are not central but
rather a ect the sides or the back of the vocal tract.
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 1. /b/ - Voiced Bilabial Stop
Voiced - "bat"
- "bubble"
consonants - "cabbage"

2. /d/ - Voiced Alveolar Stop

- "dog"
- "ladder"
- "sudden"

3. /g/ - Voiced Velar Stop

- "go"
- "guitar"
- "baggage"

4. /z/ - Voiced Alveolar Fricative

- "zebra"
- "is"
- "cousin"

5. /v/ - Voiced Labiodental Fricative

- "very"
- "over"
- "never"
 6. /ð/ - Voiced Dental Fricative
- "this" (like "th" in "the")
- "weather"
- "clothes"

7. /ʒ/ - Voiced Postalveolar Fricative

- "measure" (like "su" in "leisure")
- "television"
- "genre"

8. /ʤ/ - Voiced Postalveolar A ricate

- "judge"
- "edge"
- "adjective"

9. /m/ - Voiced Bilabial Nasal

- "mother"
- "hammer"
- "commute"

10. /n/ - Voiced Alveolar Nasal

- "nice"
- "penny"
- "dinner"
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 11. /ŋ/ - Voiced Velar Nasal
- "song"
- "long"
- "hang"

12. /l/ - Voiced Alveolar Liquid

- "love"
- "hello"
- "tall"

13. /ɹ/ - Voiced Alveolar Liquid

- "red"
- "better"
- "around"

14. /w/ - Voiced Labiovelar Glide

- "wonderful"
- "twelve"
- "swim"

15. /j/ - Voiced Palatal Glide

- "yes"
- "yellow"
- "cute"
 1. /p/ - Voiceless Bilabial Stop
Voiceless - "pen"
- "apple"
consonants - "jump"

2. /t/ - Voiceless Alveolar Stop

- "top"
- "water"
- "cat"

3. /k/ - Voiceless Velar Stop

- "cat"
- "back"
- "kite"

4. /s/ - Voiceless Alveolar Fricative

- "snake"
- "grass"
- "miss"

5. /f/ - Voiceless Labiodental Fricative

- " sh"
- "o "
- "free"
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 6. /θ/ - Voiceless Dental Fricative (like "th" in "thin")
- "think"
- "math"
- "bath"

7. /ʃ/ - Voiceless Postalveolar Fricative

- "shoe"
- "she"
- " sh"

8. /ʧ/ - Voiceless Postalveolar A ricate

- "cheese"
- "watch"
- "church"

9. /h/ - Voiceless Glottal Fricative

- "house"
- "help"
- "hello"
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3. Place of articulation
Place of articulation in phonetics refers to where in your mouth
or vocal tract di erent speech sounds are produced. It's like the
location or point where the sound is created.
In Simple Language:
Imagine your mouth and throat as a musical instrument. When
you play di erent keys or strings on a piano or guitar, they
produce di erent sounds. Similarly, when you change where you
create sounds in your mouth, you produce di erent speech
sounds.
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 Vocal apparatus

English by Rohit
Place of articulation
Types
1. Bilabial
2. Labiodental
3. Dental
4. Alveolaral
5. Palatal
6. Velar
7. Glottal
1. Bilabial Bilabial: This refers to sounds produced when
both of your lips come together. For example,
when you say the sound /p/ (as in "pen"), your
two lips close brie y before releasing the
sound. Similarly, /b/ (as in "bat") and /m/ (as in
"mother") are bilabial because they involve
both lips.

Bilabial:
• /p/ (as in "pen")
• /b/ (as in "bat")
• /m/ (as in "mother")
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 2. Labiodental Labiodental: These sounds are
created by touching your bottom lip
to your upper teeth. The sound /f/ (as
in " sh") is a labiodental sound
because it involves this lip-to-tooth
contact.

Labiodental:
- /f/ (as in " sh")
- /v/ (as in "very")
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3. Dental Dental: In dental sounds,
your tongue lightly touches
your upper front teeth
Dental:
- /θ/ (as in "think")
- /ð/ (as in "this")
4. Alveolar
4. Alveolar: Sounds with alveolar
articulation are produced when the tip or
blade of your tongue taps against the
alveolar ridge, which is the bony ridge
just behind your upper front teeth.
Common alveolar sounds include
/t/ (as in "top")
- /d/ (as in "dog")
- /s/ (as in "snake")
- /z/ (as in "zebra")
- /n/ (as in "nice")
- /l/ (as in "love")
 5. Palatal: Palatal sounds are
created when the middle part of
5. Palatal your tongue makes contact with
your hard palate, which is the bony
part of the roof of your mouth.

/ʃ/ (as in "shoe")

/ʤ/ (as in "judge")
/j/ (as in "yes")

/ʤ/ (as in "judge")

/j/ (as in "yes")

Are mainly considered post-alveolar

6 Velar 6. Velar: In velar articulation, the
back of your tongue touches the
soft part of your palate, known as
the velum. Examples of velar
sounds are

/k/ (as in "cat")

/g/ (as in "go")
/ŋ/ (as in "song")
 7. Glottal Glottal:
A glottal sound or glottal consonant is
produced by manipulating the air ow at the
level of the glottis, which is the space
between the vocal cords in the larynx (the
voice box). Glottal sounds involve the
vibration or closure of the vocal cords, and
they are produced without any signi cant
tongue, lip, or other articulatory movements.
The most common glottal sound in English is
the glottal stop, represented by the symbol /
ʔ/. The glottal stop is a brief closure of the
vocal cords, which momentarily interrupts
the air ow. It's similar to the sound made
when saying "uh-oh," where the glottal stop
occurs between the two syllables.
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1. **uh-oh** - This is a common expression used when something goes wrong or unexpectedly. The
glottal stop is heard between the "uh" and "oh."

2. **bottle** - In some accents, the "t" in "bottle" may be pronounced as a glottal stop. It sounds like
"boh-l."

3. **button** - Similarly, the "t" in "button" can be pronounced with a glottal stop in some dialects.

4. **kitten** - Some speakers may use a glottal stop instead of the "t" in "kitten," making it sound
like "kih-en."

5. **mitten** - The same glottal stop substitution can occur in the word "mitten," where "t" becomes
"h."

6. **mountain** - In certain accents, the "t" sound in "mountain" can be replaced with a glottal stop.

7. **kettle** - Some dialects feature a glottal stop in place of the "t" in "kettle."

8. **guitar** - In some British accents, the glottal stop replaces the "t" in "guitar."

Keep in mind that the use of the glottal stop can vary among dialects and accents, and it's not
universally present in all English varieties.
Discrepancy in glottal sound

B u tt o n

B u tt n

English by Rohit
 Vowels Vowels are a fundamental component of speech
sounds and play a crucial role in forming the core
of spoken words in all languages.
De nition:
Vowels are speech sounds produced with an
open vocal tract, allowing the free ow of air
from the lungs through the vocal cords and out of
the mouth. Unlike consonants, which involve
some degree of constriction or closure in the
vocal tract, vowels are characterized by the
absence of such obstructions. Vowels are the
most sonorous and melodious elements of
speech and serve as the "nucleus" or central
sound of syllables.
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 Key Characteristics of Vowels:

1. Open Vocal Tract: Vowels are produced with an open or

unobstructed vocal tract, which means that the tongue, lips,
and other speech organs do not create any signi cant
constriction.

2. Sonority: Vowels are highly sonorous and resonate well,

contributing to the musical quality of speech. They are often
the loudest and most prominent sounds in syllables.

3. Auditory Quality: Vowels are characterized by their

auditory quality, which depends on factors like vowel height
(how high or low the tongue is in the mouth), vowel backness
(the position of the tongue towards the front or back of the
mouth), and lip rounding.
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Types of vowels

2. Diphthongs: These are

1. Monophthongs: These are
complex vowel sounds formed
single, pure vowel sounds that
by blending two vowel sounds
do not change in quality during
together within the same
their pronunciation. In other
syllable. Unlike monophthongs,
words, the tongue and mouth
diphthongs involve a noticeable
remain relatively stable when
change in tongue and mouth
producing monophthongs.
position during pronunciation.

• Say the word company out loud.
You may notice that there are
three different vowel letters, “o, a,
y” which correspond to three
distinct vowel sounds: / ʌ /, / ə /,
and / i /.
These vowels are called
monophthongs because we don't
pronounce them together but as
three distinct sounds. A
monophthong is a single vowel
sound.
• Now say the word tie out
loud. What do you notice?
There are two vowel letters,
“i and e”, and two vowel
sounds: / aɪ /.
Unlike monophthongs, here
there are two vowels joined
together. We say that the word
'tie' contains one diphthong. A
diphthong is two vowels
together.
In English, there are some words
that contain triple vowels, called
triphthongs, as in the word liar /ˈlaɪə
/. A triphthong is a combination of
three different vowels.
Vowels are categorized based on
their lip, jaw, and tongue positioning.
Some vowels are made with rounded
lips and a closed jaw, like the 00 /u/
vowel. And some vowels are made
with wide lips and an open jaw, like
the AH /a/ vowel. So vowels are
made by changing the lips, jaw, or
tongue positions.
Understanding
Monophthongs
 Classi cation of Vowels:
Vowels can be classi ed based on several phonetic features:

1. **Vowel Height:** This refers to how high or low the tongue is

positioned in the mouth when articulating the vowel. Common
distinctions include high vowels (e.g., /i/ as in "see"), mid vowels
(e.g., /e/ as in "red"), and low vowels (e.g., /a/ as in "cat").

2. **Vowel Backness:** This describes the position of the tongue

relative to the back of the mouth. Vowels can be front vowels (e.g., /
i/ as in "see"), central vowels (e.g., /ə/ as in "sofa"), or back vowels
(e.g., /u/ as in "food").
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IPA Chart
1. The front vowels
The front vowels are made with the tongue at the
front of the mouth. This vowel is EE /i/ like in
beat - it is considered a front high vowel,
meaning the tongue is at the front of the mouth
and positioned high in the mouth. The jaw is
closed, and the lips are spread apart.

As you go down the vowel chart, the jaw opens

up more and more. So the next front vowel is IH /
ɪ/, like in bit. This vowel is still made with the
tongue at the front of the mouth, but it is a bit
lower, and the jaw is a bit lower than EE.

The next vowel EH /ɛ/, like in bet - again is a

front vowel, but the jaw is opened even more,
and the tongue is pulled lower in the mouth.

And the bottom corner vowel is AA /æ/ , like in

bat - the jaw is open, the tongue is at the front
and pulled low, and the lips are spread apart.
 Central vowels are a category of vowel sounds that are produced
2. The central vowels with the tongue positioned in the center of the mouth, neither at the
front nor at the back. They are characterized by a neutral tongue
placement and are often close to a mid-central position. Central
vowels can vary in terms of openness, but their distinctive feature is
the central tongue position.

In the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), central vowels are

typically represented by the following symbols:

1. /ə/ - Schwa: The schwa is the most common central vowel. It is

often described as a neutral or mid-central sound and is pronounced
like a quick, relaxed "uh" sound. It occurs in many unstressed
syllables in English and other languages, such as the rst vowel
sound in "sofa."

2. /ɜː/ - Open-mid central unrounded vowel: This vowel is less

common and can be found in certain dialects and accents of English,
such as British English. It is the vowel sound in words like "bird" and
"herd."

Central vowels are distinct from front and back vowels, which have
tongue positions closer to the front or back of the mouth. The neutral
tongue placement of central vowels contributes to their versatility in
various languages and their use in unstressed syllables where vowel
quality is often reduced.
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3. The back vowels Back vowels are a category of vowel sounds produced with the back
part of the tongue raised toward the back of the mouth. These vowels
are characterized by their tongue placement, which is closer to the rear
part of the oral cavity. Back vowels have a distinctive sound quality due
to this tongue positioning.

1. /u/ - High back rounded vowel:

- Example: "food"

2. /ʊ/ - High back rounded lax vowel:

- Example: "put"

3. /o/ - Mid-high back rounded vowel:

- Example: "go"

4. /ɔ/ - Low-mid back rounded vowel:

- Example: "thought"

5. /ɑ/ - Low back unrounded vowel:

- Example: "father"

Back vowels are characterized by the tongue being raised toward the
rear part of the oral cavity, creating a distinct sound quality that is
different from front and central vowels. They play a signi cant role in
the pronunciation of words in many languages.
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Example chart
What is Round Vowel?
The rounded vowels are letters that make our lips
form an ‘o’ when it’s pronounced.
How Can We Identify a Rounded Vowel?
1. When we articulate the letter, our lips tend to
form into a circle.
2. It makes a huger amount of roundness from our
lips when we spell it.
Type of Rounding Vowel :
There are two kinds of rounding when we’re spelling
a word. These are the explanation
1. Protruded Round
In protruded rounding, the tip of the lips are drawn to
each other so, it will protrude like a tube with the
inner surface visible.
2. Compressed Round
In compressed rounding, the tip of the mouth will be
merged horizontally, so it’s compressed but didn’t
protrude, and only the outer lips surfaces are visible.
What are Unrounded Vowels?
The unrounded vowels are letters that
are spelled with more relaxed lips.
How Can We Identify an
Unrounded Vowel?
1. When we articulate the letter, our
lips will be more wide horizontally
2. Our lips are more relaxed when we
pronounce a word with unrounded
vowels.
3. It makes a smaller amount of
roundness from our lips when we
spell it.
Tenseness and laxness of vowels refer to how tight or relaxed the tongue and mouth muscles are when
producing a vowel sound. It affects the quality and duration of the vowel sound. Let's break it down:

1. **Tense Vowels:** Tense vowels are produced with a relatively tense tongue and mouth muscles. This
means the tongue is held in a more stretched or extended position when pronouncing the vowel. Tense
vowels are typically longer in duration and often occur in stressed syllables. They have a clearer and more
distinct sound.

**Example:** The vowel in "heed" /iː/ is tense because your tongue is stretched high and forward in your
mouth when you say it.

2. **Lax Vowels:** Lax vowels are produced with a more relaxed tongue and mouth muscles. This means the
tongue is in a more neutral or central position when pronouncing the vowel. Lax vowels are usually shorter
in duration and often occur in unstressed syllables. They have a less distinct and somewhat "softer" sound.

**Example:** The vowel in "hid" /ɪ/ is lax because your tongue is in a more relaxed position compared to
the tense /iː/ sound.

In summary, tenseness and laxness refer to how tight or relaxed your tongue and mouth muscles are when
making vowel sounds. Tense vowels are produced with tighter muscles and are usually longer and clearer,
while lax vowels are produced with more relaxed muscles and are typically shorter and softer in sound.The
length of the vowel refers to the duration of a vowel sound. Vowels can be long or short.
 Diphthongs are complex vowel sounds that consist
Diphthongs of two distinct vowel qualities within a single syllable.
Unlike pure vowels, which have a single, stable
tongue position, diphthongs involve a smooth glide
or transition from one vowel sound to another in a
single syllable. Diphthongs are often represented
using two vowel symbols.
A diphthong is a vowel that contains two different
vowel sounds in one syllable. The word diphthong
comprises di, which means
'two' in Greek, and phthong, which means
'sound'. Therefore, diphthong means two sounds.
Feedback
Diphthongs are gliding vowels, created when a
speaker glides from one vowel sound glides into
another. The rst vowel is usually longer and
stronger than the second one in the English
language.
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Point to remember

Careful! Just because a word has two

vowels
next to each other does not mean it
will produce a diphthong sound. For
example, the word feet / t/ doesn't
have a diphthong but contains the
monophthong/i:/ (the longer e sound).
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List of diphthongs (8 types)
English by ROHIT
Monophthongs
Diphthongs
IPA symbols and
names
IPA symbols and
names
More examples of
Monophthongs
More examples of
Diphthongs