CLOSE FRONT AND CLOSE BACK VOWELS

In strong syllables it is
one close front (in the
comparatively easy to
general region of i:, I) and the
distinguish i: from I or u: from
other close back rounded (in
u, but in weak syllables the
the general region of u: de ʊ).
difference is not so clear.

EXAMPLES
• “Beat” and “Bit” it is quite easy to decide which vowel is heard in these words
• “Easy” and “busy” it is much less easy to decide which vowel one hears in the second syllable of words.
the two distinctions (i:, u:), which undoubtedly exist within
strong syllables, are neutralised in weak syllables of BBC
pronunciation.

How should we transcribe the

words 'easy' and 'busy'?

“easy”
i:zi:
i:zɪ
“Busy”
ˈbɪzi
bɪzɪ
 VOWELS CLOSE FRONT UNROUNDED
ONES
A. In word-final position in words spelt with final 'y' or 'ey' after one or more consonant letters
EXAMPLE:
HAPPY  /hæpi/
in morpheme-final position when such words have suffixes beginning with vowels.
EXAMPLE:
HAPPIER /hæpiər/
B. In a prefix such as those spelt 're','pre','de' if it precedes a vowel and is unstressed
EXAMPLE:
REACT  /riækt/
CREATE  /krieɪt/
C. In the suffixes spelt 'iate', 'ious' when they have two syllables.
EXAMPLES:
APPRECIATE/Əpri:ʃieɪt/
HILARIOUS  /hɪleəriəs/

D. We can assign the vowel to the I phoneme, as in the first, in the middle and the final syllable
of each word.
EXAMPLE:
RESIST /rɪzɪst/
ORCHESTRA  / ɔ:kɪstrə/