Vowels

  1. All vowels are articulated with an unobstructed vocal tract
  2. Source of sound is the resonance created by the shape of the vocal tract
  3. Vowels are always voiced

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  • vowels are articulated in the ‘vowel space’   * tongue position     * high v low     * front v back   * lip position     * unrounded v rounded
  • round lips lengthen the oral track and dampen certain frequencies
  • back vowels always rounded
  • BOR labels for vowels: Backness, Openness, Rounding
  • monophthongs: tongue is unmoving during articulation [i, æ, a, u, ɚ]
  • diphthongs: tongue transitions from one vowel quality to another during articulation   * ei: way, play, say, day   * ai: why, ply, sigh, die   * au: wow, pow, ow   * oi: boy, joy
  • vowels and nasals: the early opening of the velum will cause nasalization on the vowel   * use tilde to represent nasalization
  • r can be a consonant or a vowel   * [ɹ]: consonant. alveolar approximant. (car, red)   * [ɚ]: vowel. ‘schwar.’ (bird, girl)

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