Vowels sounds.
Wendi Yesenia Martinez Cruz Universidad Tecnolรณgica de El Salvador 15/10/2017
What are vowel sounds? English has twenty vowel sounds represented by the letters a, e, i, o, and u. The letters y, w and gh are also commonly used in vowel sound spellings. Vowel sounds are produced with a relatively open vocal tract. Consonant sounds, in contrast, are created by pushing air through a small opening in the vocal tract or by building up air in the vocal tract, then releasing it.
Categories of vowel sounds. Vowel sounds are divided into the following three categories: Long vowels (vowels that sound like the letter name) Short vowels (the most common sound for a single vowel spelling) Other vowels (the remaining vowel sounds) The long vowel sounds are not pronounced for longer time than short vowel sounds! It is important for ESL/ELL/EFL students to realize that the terms "long" and "short" are not describing the length of time a vowel sound is said. These archaic terms are still in popular use in American classrooms and online. They are used here to give a name to a vowel sound so when the sound is discussed, the name and not the sound (which many beginner students cannot yet hear correctly) is used.
As indicated by the /:/ part of its symbol, /i:/ is a longer sound than /ɪ/ and pronouncing it this way can help distinguish between the two in the pairs of words below. You will also notice, however, that /ɪ/ does not have a dot over it, making it a different mouth position from /i:/. The sound /i:/ is said with the mouth much more spread, something like a broad smile. /i:/ is long sound and high - front – unrounded – tense. /ɪ/ is short sound and high – front – unrounded – lax.
Examples:
Below is a list of words that vary only by one having the vowel sound /e/ and the other the vowel sound /eɪ/. // is a short single sound that is pronounced without your mouth moving, whereas /eɪ/ is a diphthong (a merging of two sounds) and your mouth gets smaller as you are making the sound.
/eɪ/ is long sound and mid – front – unrounded – tense. // is short sound and mid – front – unrounded – lax.
Examples.
Below is a list of words that vary only by one having the vowel sound /e/ and the other the vowel sound /ɪ/. Both sounds are short, with /ɪ/ being pronounced with a wider mouth, almost in a kind of smile. This makes it much closer to the long sound /i:/ than it is to the short sound /e/. /Ɛ/ is mid – front – unrounded – lax. /ɪ/ is high – front – unrounded – lax.
Examples:
How to make the sound To make /æ/, put your tongue low and pushed forward a little. Spread your lips slightly, and keep your jaw open. The sound is voiced so there should be no vibration when it is produced. It occurs only initial and medial positions. / æ/ is low – front – unrounded – lax.
Examples: