English Vowel Sounds: Long Vowels, Diphthongs, and Spelling Rules

Chapter 8

Long Vowels

Vowels that are pronounced longer than their short counterparts.

Long a

[eɪ] stressed syllable, 1-syllable word, word ending [keɪk]

Long e

[i] he [hi]

Long i

[aɪ] ice [aɪs]

Long o

[oʊ] stressed syllable, 1-syllable word, word ending [koʊt]

Long u

[u] ooze [uz]

[e] vowel

Represents the unstressed long ā

[eɪ] vowel

Represents the stressed long ā

Tongue position for [eɪ]

Height: (Upper) Mid, Depth: Front, Tension: Tense, Lips: Unrounded

Diphthong

A complex vowel sound that begins with one vowel sound and glides into another.

Sound Production for [eɪ]

Produced as the sound progresses from the [e] position to the [ɪ] position.

Unstressed [e] Sound Example

Used in words like roʊtet.

Stressed [eɪ] Sound Example

Used in words like keɪk.

Spelling Rule for [e]

When [e] is the only vowel in a syllable or word, it usually is pronounced as a long ā.

Silent Consonants Following [e]

Some consonants that follow the [e] sound are silent as in weigh, day, and Faye.

Different Spellings for Long 'a'

a (gate), ai (gain), ay (say), ea (steak), ey (hey), e (mesa), au (gauge), uet (bouquet), et (sachet), ei (neighbor)

Minimal Pairs Contrast [eɪ] and [ɪ]

Examples include Lake / lick, Break / brick, Case / kiss.

Minimal Pairs Contrast [eɪ] and [i]

Examples include Male / meal, Great / greet, Wave / weave.

Competency Quiz Example 1

Aid

Competency Quiz Example 2

Cable

Competency Quiz Example 3

Base

Competency Quiz Example 4

Maybe

Competency Quiz Example 5

Native

Competency Quiz Example 6

Pay

Competency Quiz Example 7

Grade

Competency Quiz Example 8

Skate

Competency Quiz Example 9

State

Phonetic Symbol [i]

Long ē

Sound Class

Long e

Tongue Position

Position: High-Front, Depth: Front, Tension: Tense

Lips

Unrounded

How the Sound is Produced

Airflow from the lungs activates the vibration of the adducted vocal folds (voiced). Sound enters the oral cavity (VP port is closed). Tongue is in a forward position (front) and the blade of the tongue is elevated (high) toward the hard palate.

Highest Tongue Position

The [i] has the highest tongue position of the front vowels.

Tongue Contact

Sides of the tongue are in contact laterally with the alveolar ridge. The tip of the tongue is positioned behind the lower front teeth and exerts tension (tense) during the production of the [i] sound.

Rules for Spelling and Pronunciation of the [i] Sound

When the 'e' is the only (vowel) letter in a syllable or word, it is pronounced as either the long vowel ē (me [mi]) or the short vowel ĕ (get [gԑt]).

Different Ways the Long "e" Sound is Spelled

i machine, pizza, ski; e me, even; ee beet, see; ei deceive; ie chief, cookie; ea meat; ey monkey; y tidy, dirty.

Practice Words

Each, Sweet, City, Equator, Beat, Me, Erupt, Deceive, Candy, Event, Seat, Teepee, Elongate, Ravine, See.

Practice: Auditory Discrimination (minimal pairs)

[i] / [ɪ]: Least / list, Meet / mitt, Week / wick; [i] / [ԑ]: Seal / sell, Teen / ten, Keep / kept, Heed / head, Lead / lid.

Summary of [i]

The [i] is the highest in both tongue position & resonance frequency. Produced with the tongue in the high-front position. Tongue is tense & lips unrounded. 'Long' vowel. More than 11 different spelling combinations. Occurs in all positions of words. Considerable variations in the allophones & dialects.

Competency Quiz

1. Bean, 2. Clean, 3. Eat, 4. Seem, 5. Dream, 6. Scream, 7. Bleed, 8. East.

Phonetic Symbol [aɪ]

the long ī

Jaw Position

Jaw is lowered and the mouth is open in the posture of the [a] sound and then it closes somewhat for the ending [ɪ]

Tongue Movement

The middle and front sections of the tongue are raised from low, back as the tongue rises in front to a mid-front or high-front

Tongue Tension

During the process, the tongue tension begins rather lax and becomes tense

Lips Movement

Lips begin in an unrounded position and usually move from a slight to a moderate closing during production

Different Spellings of the [aɪ] Sound

i time, sign; ie pie; y dry; igh might; i-e nice; uy buy; ei height; ai aisle; oi choir; ui guide

[aɪ] The Most Common Diphthong

Initial Position: Idle; Final Position: Sky; Medial Position: Die, Pine, Shine, Myself, Ice, Item, Ivory, Eyes, Fry, July, Buy, Style, Height

Contrast Minimal Pairs [aɪ] / [eɪ]

Time / tame

Contrast Minimal Pairs [aɪ] / [ɑ]

Night / not

Contrast Minimal Pairs [aɪ] / [ᴐɪ]

Sigh / soy, Imply / employ

Contrast Minimal Pairs [aɪ] / [ɪ]

Bite / bit, Type / tip, Try / Troy, Fire / far, Type / top, Like / lick, I'll / ale, Wise / ways

Phonetic Symbols [o] and [oʊ]

Phonetic Symbol [o] unstressed [oʊ] stressed

Sound Class [o] and [oʊ]

Long Vowel, Back Vowel

Tongue Position [o] and [oʊ]

Height: Mid, Depth: Back, Tension: Tense

Lips [o] and [oʊ]

Rounded

How the Sound is Produced as a Vowel [o]

Airflow from the lungs activates the vibration of the closed (adducted) vocal folds (voiced)

Need to Know

ALL Vowels are VOICED

Different Spellings of the [o] and [oʊ]

o vocation, old; oo brooch; oa coat; ow snow; oe toe; ew sew; eau beau; owe owe; ough though; au chauffer; o-e rode

Words that Use the Unstressed [o] Sound

Medial Position: Rotation, Obey, Oasis, Opinion; Vocalic: Telephone, Automatic, Location

Words that Use the Stressed [oʊ] Sound

Medial Position: Open, Ocean; Final Position: October, Program, Moment; Initial Position: Go, Auto, Piano, Hero, Below, Over, Only, Ohio, Total, Broken, Emotion, Monotone

Contrast Minimal Pairs [oʊ] / [ᴐ] or [ɑ]

Home/hum

Contrast Minimal Pairs [oʊ] / [ᴧ]

Low / law

Contrast Minimal Pairs [oʊ] / [ʊ]

Broke / brook

Summary [o]

The [o] is produced with the tongue in the mid, back position

Sound enters the oral cavity

VP port is closed

The [i] has the highest tongue position

of the front vowels

Movement of Tongue

The middle and front sections of the tongue are raised from low, back as the tongue rises in front to a mid-front or high-front

Practice: Different Spellings of the [aɪ] Sound

i time, sign; ie pie; y dry; igh might; i-e nice; uy buy; ei height; ai aisle; oi choir; ui guide

Practice: [aɪ] The Most Common Diphthong

Idle, Sky, Die, Pine, Shine, Myself, Ice, Item, Ivory, Eyes, Fry, July, Buy, Style, Height

Contrast Minimal Pairs

[aɪ] / [eɪ]: Time / tame; [aɪ] / [ɑ]: Night / not, Light / late; [aɪ] / [ᴐɪ]: Sigh / soy, Imply / employ; [aɪ] / [ɪ]: Bite / bit, Type / tip, Try / Troy, Fire / far, Type / top, Like / lick, I'll / ale, Wise / ways

Summary of [aɪ]

[aɪ] diphthong, the on-glide is near the [a] or [ɑ], the off-glide can vary [e] [ɪ] [i] depending on the height of the front of the tongue, 11 different alphabet letter combinations that represent the [aɪ] sound, occurs more frequently than any other diphthong and it occurs in all positions in words

How the Sound is Produced as a Vowel

Airflow from the lungs activates the vibration of the closed (adducted) vocal folds (voiced)

Sound Waves

Sound waves travel through the pharyngeal cavity

Summary of [o]

[o] is produced with the tongue in the mid, back position, the tongue is tense, and the lips rounded, classified as a long vowel, more than 14 different spellings, [o] unstressed syllables, [oʊ] stressed syllables and final positions of words

Phonetic Symbols [u] and [ju]

Phonetic Symbol [u] [ju]

Diphthong [ju]

The initial [j] is produced in one of 2 tongue postures

Different Spellings of the [u]

u truly, ue true, eu feud, ui fruit, o do, oo boot, oe shoe, ou group, wo two, ew grew, eau beauty

Words that Include the [ju] Sound

Ooze, Cruise, You, Use, Unite, Mood, Noodle, Unit, Beauty, Humor, Music, Do, Who, Grew, Cute, View

Summary of [u]

Position of the tongue is high back, the tongue is tense, and the lips are rounded, [u] seldom appears in the initial position in words, but does occur in the medial and final position of words, at least 13 different spellings, the diphthong is required in some words such as fuze [fjuz] otherwise the word would be transcribed [fuz] which is entirely wrong

Tongue Position - Height

Low [a] to high [ɪ]

Tongue Position - Depth

Front [a] to front [ɪ]

Tongue Position - Tension

Lax [a] to tense [ɪ]

Movement

Rapid and smooth

[o] and [oʊ]

Phonetic Symbol [o] unstressed [oʊ] stressed

Sound waves travel through the pharyngeal cavity

Sound enters the oral cavity and exits through the mouth

Tongue Position - Position

High-Back

How the Sound is Produced as a Diphthong [ju]

The initial [j] is produced in one of 2 tongue postures: the tip of the tongue is positioned behind the lower front teeth & the front-middle of the tongue is raised high toward the palate

[o] and [oʊ] Phonetic Symbols

Phonetic Symbol [o] unstressed [oʊ] stressed

Tongue Position for [o] and [oʊ]

Height: Mid, Depth: Back, Tension: Tense

Lips for [o] and [oʊ]

Rounded

How the Sound is Produced as a Diphthong

The position of the tongue moves from mid to high back, lax, and approximates the [ʊ]

Contrast Minimal Pairs for [oʊ]

[oʊ] / [ᴐ] or [ɑ]; [oʊ] / [ᴧ]; [oʊ] / [ʊ]; [oʊ] / [ju]

Sound Class for [u]

Long Vowel

Tongue Position for [u]

Position: High-Back, Depth: Back, Tension: Tense

How the Sound is Produced as a Vowel for [u]

Airflow from lungs activates the closed vocal folds (voiced)

Contrast Minimal Pairs for [u]

[u] / [ᴧ]; [u] / [ʊ]; [u] / [ju]

Summary for [u]

Position of the tongue is high back, the tongue is tense, and the lips are rounded

Sound Class [aɪ]

Long Vowel, Diphthong

Tongue Position [aɪ]

Height: Low [a] to high [ɪ], Depth: Front [a] to front [ɪ], Tension: Lax [a] to tense [ɪ]

Lips [aɪ]

Unround [a] to unrounded [ɪ]