Unit 7: The Phonological System of the English Language - Vowels

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts related to the English vowel system, phonetics, phonology, transcription systems, and contrastive considerations from Unit 7.

Phonetics

The study of speech processes from an acoustic and physiological standpoint, including the perception, transmission, and reception of sounds, without regard to meaning.

Phonology

The branch of linguistics that discovers the rules organizing sounds into a specific language system, including sound inventories and combination rules.

Minimal Pairs

Pairs of words that differ only in their central sound and consequently in meaning (e.g., heed/hid/head), proving that each sound functions as a distinct phoneme.

Semi-vowels

Sounds such as /l/, /r/, /w/, and /j/ that are phonetically consonants but possess vowel-like acoustic properties.

Monophthongs

Pure vowels whose auditory quality remains constant throughout their production within a syllable.

Diphthongs

Vowels that involve a glide where the tongue moves from one articulatory position to another within the same syllable.

Falling Diphthongs

Diphthongs in which acoustic prominence decreases from the first element to the second element.

Rising Diphthongs

Diphthongs in which prominence increases toward the second element, occasionally occurring in compressed words such as lenient or influence.

Closing Diphthongs

Diphthongs in which the tongue glide ends in a closer position towards the top of the mouth (e.g., /aɪ/, /aʊ/).

Centring Diphthongs

Diphthongs in which the tongue glide moves towards the central position of the mouth, ending in a schwa /ə/ (e.g., /ɪə/, /eə/, /ʊə/).

Triphthong

A vocalic element created by adding a schwa /ə/ to any of the five closing diphthongs, producing sequences like /eɪə/, /aɪə/, /ɔɪə/, /aʊə/, and /əʊə/.

Daniel Jones' Trapezoid Diagram

A theoretical diagram used to classify pure vowels visually based on tongue height (vertical axis) and tongue part (horizontal axis: front/back).

EPD-14

The simplified transcription system used by Gimson in the 14th edition of the English Pronouncing Dictionary, which uses /ː/ for quantity and unique symbols for quality.

Gradation

The historical or synchronic process in which strong vowels in unaccented syllables are gradually weakened to central vowels or omitted entirely.

Strong Form

The full, unreduced pronunciation pattern of a structural word, used when it is accented, prominent, placed before a pause, or located at the end of a clause.

Weak Form

The reduced pronunciation pattern of a structural word in an unaccented position, characterized by vowel centralization or elision.

Segmental Features

The individual, discrete building blocks of speech, including pure vowels, consonants, semi-vowels, and consonant clusters.

Suprasegmental Features

Prosodic features of speech that extend over segments or words, including stress, rhythm, and intonation.