English Vowel Articulation and Phonetics

Vowel Articulation: Lip Position and Quantity

Lip Shape and Vowel Length

The position of the lips or shape of the lips can be rounded ( ) or unrounded ( ). Vowel quantity is determined by length: RP 5 long vowels ( ) versus 7 short vowels ( ).

Vowel Length Conditions

• So-called long vowels occur in syllables closed by a voiceless consonant ( ), where they become shorter or halflong (pre-fortis clipping).
• Vowels can be checked or free depending on their phonological distribution.
• Short vowels ( ) are checked because they cannot occur in final stressed syllables.
• Long vowels and diphthongs have no such restriction and are labeled free. The short vowel ( ) falls into this class.

Pure Vowels: Stress and Contrast

Stressed vs. Unstressed Vowels

Pure vowels are determined by the context in which they occur: stressed vs. unstressed ( ). This contrast represents pairs of words like leave and live.

Word-Final Opposition

No words distinguish by these vowels in the final position. The opposition between ( ) and ( ) does not normally operate word-finally in words like happy and very.

Mid-High Vowel Realization

Most RP speakers do not use a mid-high vowel ( ) type in the following contexts:

1. Word & stem finally.
2. Word medially, usually before a strong vowel.
3. Words ending in –ia, –ear, –erior, –ient.
4. Words starting with unstressed de-, be-, re-, pre-.

High Back Vowel /u/

The high back vowel /u/ falls halfway between / / and / / in certain positions:

• Word & stem finally.
• Word medially, usually a strong vowel, in words ending in –ua, –uate, –uent, –ueary.

Vowel Erosion in Weak Stress

English language shows a marked tendency to erode the quality of vowels in weak stressed syllables, resulting in weak vowels [ ]. It is no surprise that / / (schwa) is the most common vowel of RP, occurring over 10% of vowel phonemes.

Schwa Realization and Variation

The / / (centralized vowel) can make it difficult to decide whether a certain syllable is pronounced with / / or / /; both can be pronounced side by side.

Schwa is invariably used in words ending in –berry and –pence, and most words ending in –man and –land. After /r/, endings –ily, –ible, –ace, –let, –less, –ness, –em show variation between / / and / /.

Alternations between / / and / / can also be found in the endings –ed and –es, although the / / forms are clearly becoming more common.

Diphthongs: Glides Between Vowel Qualities

Characteristics of Diphthongs

A glide into another form defines diphthongs (vowel glides), where the tongue begins in one place and moves to another. This movement, however smooth, results in a change of vowel quality.

Diphthongs share some characteristics with long vowels: the same length and are also subject to the shortening effects of voiceless consonants.

Diphthong Classification

Diphthongs can be wide and narrow, according to the movement of the tongue from the first to the second target. They can be front or back, depending on the quality of the starting point.

Specific Diphthong Examples

• / / is followed by a single consonant + e, followed by another vowel letter as in biology, or followed by the letter nd, occurring in later plurals.
• / / letter 'a' typically pronounced /ei/ followed by a single consonant + e. There are a number of words ending in –ate where the grammatical function depends on whether the suffix is pronounced with / / or / /.
• / / letter 'o' is typically pronounced / / followed by a single consonant + e. This also occurs in some French words.
• / / letter 'e' or 'i' is sometimes pronounced / / followed by r + vowel letter 'y'.
• / / letter 'a' is pronounced / / followed by r + vowel or 'y' (e.g., ear = / / in present-day RP, differing from long open e).
• / / is often preceded by a semivowel represented by 'e'.
• / / movement of the tongue is sometimes so rapid and slight that they become indistinguishable from diphthongs or long monophthongs.
• / / have the second element left out completely, and therefore result in 'nondiphthongal glides'.