English Phonology

CENTRAL AND BACK

VOWELS

Mia Perlina
(miaperlina@gmail.com)
(dosen00322@unpam.ac.id)
 Central Vowel

Central vowels are made with the tongue stays in its

neutral position
Two central vowels: [ǝ] and [Λ]
However, an additional symbol, which is classified
as central vowel, will also be introduced: [ɜ] or [ɝ]
 6. [ǝ] as in a, upon, and soda
The schwa vowel [ǝ] is a short, quick sound. Your lips
should be completely relaxed and barely move during its
production.
[ǝ] is the sound that results when ANY vowel in English is
unstressed in a word.
The vowel in all unstressed syllables almost sound like [ǝ]
Any letter or combination of letters can represent the
schwa [ǝ]
The schwa [ǝ] can occur more than once and can be
represented by different letters in the same word
president elephantaccident
 6. [ǝ] as in a, upon, and soda

eo, ou, iou, io, and ai.

Other spellings of [ǝ] include
pigeon famous deliciousnation certain
Exercise 1. Circle the schwa vowel [ǝ] in each word
 7. [Λ] as in up, but, and come

Pronouncing [Λ]:
 Lips: relaxed and slightly parted
 Jaw: relaxed and slightly lowered

 Tongue: relaxed and midlevel in the mouth

The vowel [Λ] may not exist in your language and may be
difficult for you to hear and pronounce; it is easy to become
confused by irregular English spelling patterns and to substitute
sounds that are more familiar to you
For instances:
If you say [a] instead of [Λ]: color will sound like collar
If you say [oƱ] instead of [Λ]: come will sound like comb
If you say [ɔ] instead of [Λ]: done will sound like dawn
 7. [Λ] as in up, but, and come

The vowel [Λ] does not occur at the end of words in

English

Less frequent spelling patterns for [Λ] consist of the

letters ou, oo, oe, and a
Cousin trouble flood does
Hint: [Λ] is a vowel that occurs only in stressed syllables
of words; it does not occur in unstressed syllables
Exercise 2. work with a partner. Circle the words pronounced
with the vowel [Λ]. Practice reading the dialogue together
 [ɜ] or [ɝ] as in turn, first, and serve
Pronouncing [ɜ] or [ɝ]:
 Lips: protruded and slightly parted
 Jaw: slightly lowered

 Tongue: midlevel in the mouth

[ɜ] or [ɝ] is a sound that occurs only in a stressed syllables of

words when followed by an ‘r’
Pronunciation problem:
The vowel [ɜ] or [ɝ] does not exist in most languages. Just
remember that [ɜ] or [ɝ] always receives strong emphasis and is
found only in stressed syllables; it is produced with slightly
protruded lips and tense tongue muscles

Be sure to practice and you’ll be certain to learn [ɜ] or [ɝ]!

 [ɜ] or [ɝ] as in turn, first, and serve

[ɜ] or [ɝ] spelled

Less frequent spelling patterns for [ɜ] or [ɝ]consist of

the letter ear, our, and or
heard journey work
Exercise 3. The boldfaced words in the following sentences contain
the vowel [ɜ] or [ɝ]. Read the sentences aloud, filling in each blank
with a word from the box.
 Back vowels

While central vowels are articulated with the tongue

stays in its neutral position, back vowels are
produced with the body of the tongue moving
backward from its neutral position
The back vowels include: [u], [Ʊ], [o], [ɔ], and [ɑ]
The vowel [ɒ]* will also be introduced
 8. [u] as in you, too, and rule

 Pronouncing [u]:
 Lips: tense and in a ‘whistling’ position
 Jaw: almost completely raised
 Tongue: high, near the roof of the mouth
 Pronunciation problems occur because of confusing English
spelling patterns and the similarity of [u] and [Ʊ]
For examples:
when you substitute [Ʊ] for [u]: pool becomes pull
suit becomes soot
You can do it! If you remember to protrude your lips when
producing [u], you’ll never confuse “pull with “pool”!
8. [u] as in you, too, and rule
 8. [u] as in you, too, and rule

The vowel [u] does not occur at the beginning of words in

English (Exception: ooze)
Less frequent spelling patterns for [u] consist of the
letters ui, ou, oe, ieu, and ough
fruit group shoe lieutenant through
The letters oo followed by l, m, or n are usually
pronounced [u]
school boom moon
When the letter u follows t, d, n, or s, some Americans
pronounce it [ju]
Tuesday duty new suit
Exercise 4
 9. [Ʊ] as in cook and put

Pronouncing [Ʊ]:
 Lips:relaxed and slightly parted
 Jaw: slightly lower than [u]

 Tongue: high, but lower than for [u]

Remember NOT to protrude your lips and tense them as you
would for [u]
[Ʊ] is a short, quick sound; your lips should barely move while
saying it
The vowel [Ʊ] occurs ONLY in the middle of words in English

Practice [Ʊ] as you should, and you’ll be understood!

 9. [Ʊ] as in cook and put

A less frequent spelling pattern for [Ʊ] is the letter o.

wolf woman
The letter oo followed by d or k are usually pronounced [Ʊ]
Good hood wood book look
The letter u followed by sh is usually pronounced [Ʊ]
Bush push cushion
Practice for [Ʊ]
Exercise 5. Read the sentences aloud. Write the phonetic
symbol[u] or [Ʊ] above each boldfaced word
 10. [o]

The upper-mid back vowel represented by a Roman

alphabet lower case /o/ is the sound in German Boot
‘boat’ or French eau ‘water’, chaud ‘hot’.
But it does not exist as a monophthong in most
dialects of English, only as the beginning point of a
diphthong, the sound found in, for example, boat.
 11. [ɔ] as in all, caught, and saw

Pronouncing [ɔ]:
 Lips: in a tense oval shape and slightly protruded
 Jaw: open more than for [oƱ]

 Tongue: low, near the floor of the mouth

The vowel [ɔ] is another troublemaker; confusing English

spelling patterns can cause you to substitute more familiar
vowels
For examples:
If you say [a] instead of [ɔ]: caller will sound like collar
If you say [oƱ] instead of [ɔ]: bought will sound like boat
If you say [Λ] instead of [ɔ]: bought will sound like but
 11. [ɔ] as in all, caught, and saw

[ɔ] spelled

Less frequent spelling patterns for [ɔ] consist of the letters oa

and ou
broad tought
The letters aw are usually pronounced [ɔ]
Lawn draw awful
The letter a followed by ll, lk, lt, and ld is usually pronounced [ɔ]
Ball talk salt bald
Exercise 6
 12. [ɑ] as in arm and father
Pronouncing [ɑ]:
 Lips: completely apart in a ‘yawning’ position
 Jaw: lower than for any other vowel

 Tongue: flat, on the floor of the mouth

Pronunciation problem:
Irregular English spelling patterns are the main reason you may have
pronunciation problems with the vowel [ɑ].
For instances:
If you say [οƱ] instead of [ɑ]: not* will sound like note
If you say [Λ] instead of [ɑ]: not* will sound like nut
If you say [ɔ] instead of [ɑ]: cot* will sound like caught
If you have [ɒ] (the sound to be discussed next), it is likely that [ɑ] is
restricted to the position before [r], as in part, and to the word father
The vowel [ɑ] does not occur at the end of words in English (exception:
schwa)
*GA (General American)
 [ɒ] as in hot and bomb*

[ɒ] is described as low back rounded lax vowel

Speakers of British and Canadian English may have this sound,
as in hot, bomb, shop, on, want, and wallet
Like [ɑ], the vowel [ɒ] does not occur at the end of words
English spelling patterns for both [ɑ] and [ɒ] consist of the
letters a and o
want off top option
watchodd block honest
HINT: Say the above words and try to determine whether your
vowel is the rounded version [ɒ] or the unrounded version [α].

* RP (Received Pronunciation)
Exercise 7. Read the dialogue. Circle the words that
contain the vowel [ɑ] or [ɒ].
Exercise 7. Read the dialogue. Circle the words that
contain the vowel [ɑ] or [ɒ].