87681984 english short vowels and long vowels ph 2012

7/30/2019 87681984 English Short Vowels and Long Vowels Ph 2012

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- English short vowels and long vowels - Vowels are sounds in which there is no obstruction to

the flow of air as it passes from the larynx to the lips.

We need to know in what ways vowels differ from eachother. The first matter to consider is the shape andposition of the tongue:

- the vertical distance between the upper surface of thetongue and the palate,

- and the part of the tongue, between front and back,which is raised highest


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There is another important variable of vowel quality,

and that is lip-rounding Rounded: the corners of the lips are brought towards each

other and the lips pushed forward into the shape of a circle.

Example sound: /u:/

Spread: the corners of the lips moved away from each other,

as for a smile. Example sound: /i:/.

Neutral: the lips are not noticeably rounded or spread.

Example sound: //.


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Lip-rounding


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According to the length of the vowels

English has 12 vowels (7 short vowels and 5 long

vowels)

English short vowels //, /e/, //, //,//,//,//

English long /i:/, /3:/, /a:/, /:/, /u:/


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ACCORDING TO THE SHAPE and POSITION of theTONGUE1.Close vowels: the tongue is quite high in the mouth.

Unrounded front vowel

The front of the tongue is slightly behind and below the closefront position.

The close position is where the tongue is closest to the roof ofthe mouth.

Lips are spread. The tongue is tense, and the sides of the tonguetouch the upper molars.


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The part of the tongue slightly nearer the centre is raised to

a point between the close and mid-close position .

The tongue is more relaxed and the sides of the tongue

may just touch the upper molars.

The lips are slightly spread.


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Rounded back vowel

The back of the tongue is raised just below the close

position.

Lips are rounded.

The tongue is tense.


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2. Mid vowels: For mid vowels the tongue is neitherhighnor low in the mouth.


The front of the tongue is between the mid-open and mid-close positions.

The tongue is tenser than for/ /, and the sides of thetongue may touch the upper molars.

Lips are loosely spread.


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Unrounded central vowel

The centre of the tongue is between the mid-close and mid-

open positions.

Lips are relaxed, and neutrally spread.


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Rounded back vowel

The back of the tongue is raised between the mid-open and

mid-close positions.

This vowel is almost fully back and has quite loosely lip-

rounding.


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The centre of the tongue is between the mid-close and mid-

open positions.

Lips are relaxed, and neutrally spread.

It is commonly used by English speakers as a hesitation

sound.


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3. Open vowels: For open vowels, the tongue is lowin the mouth.


The front of the tongue is raised just above the open

position.

The lips are slightly spread.


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The centre of the tongue is raised just above the open

position.

The lip position is neutral.


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Rounded back vowel

This is an open vowel. The tongue, between the centre and

the back is in the fully open position.

The lip position is neutral.


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Rounded back vowel

This vowel is not quite fully back, and between open-mid

and open in tongue height.

The lips are slightly rounded.

87681984 english short vowels and long vowels ph 2012

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