Vowels Principles of Classification Andronik N. P. ,

Vowels Principles of Classification Andronik N.P., 2013

A vowel is a speech sound, in the articulation of which the air passes freely through the mouth cavity and the pharynx, meeting no obstruction on its way. the air passage is wide the stream of air is weak the tongue and the vocal cords vibrate and voice prevails over noise.

All English vowels are classified according to the following principles: stability of articulation; position of the tongue; position of the lips; length of vowels; degree of tenseness.

According to the stability of articulation: monophthongs (10) – vowels, the articulation of which is almost unchanging. [ɪ], [e], [æ], [ɑː], [ɔː], [ʌ], [ɒ], [ɜː], [ə], [ʊ] diphthongs (8)– vowels, in the articulation of which organs of speech glide from one vowel position to another within one syllable. The starting point, the nucleus (ядро) is strong and distinct. The glide (глайд) is very weak. [eɪ], [aɪ], [ɔɪ], [aʊ], [əʊ], [ɪə], [ɛə], [ʊə] diphthongoids (2) – vowels, the articulation of which is slightly changing but the difference between the starting point and the end is not so distinct as in the case of diphthongs. [i], [u]

According to the horizontal movements of the tongue: front (переднього ряду), when the tongue is in the front part of the mouth and the front part of it is raised to the hard palate: [i], [e], [æ]; front retracted (переднього відсунутого назад ряду), when the tongue is in the front part of the mouth but slightly retracted: [ɪ]; central / mixed (середнього / змішаного ряду), when the front of the tongue is raised towards the back part of the hard palate: [ʌ], [ə], [ɜː]; back (заднього ряду), when the tongue is in the back part of the mouth and the back of it is raised towards the soft palate: [ɑː], [ɒ], [ɔː], [u]; back advanced (заднього, просунутого вперед ряду), when the tongue is in the back part of the mouth but slightly advanced, and the central part of it is raised towards the front part of the soft palate: [ʊ]. According to the position of the tongue

According to the position of the tongue According to the vertical movements of the tongue: close (високого підйому), when the front or the back of the tongue is raised high towards the palate [i], [ɪ], [ʊ], [u]; open (низького підйому), when the front or the back of the tongue is as low as possible in the mouth cavity: [æ], [ɑː], [ɒ], [ɔː]; mid-open (середнього підйому), when the highest part of the tongue occupies the position intermediate between the close and the open one: [e], [ʌ], [ɜː], [ə].

Broad and narrow variants of close, open and mid-open vowels

According to the position of the lips rounded (округлені), when the opening between the lips is more or less round: [ɒ], [ɔː], [ʊ], [u]; unrounded (неокруглені), when the lips are neutral or spread: [i], [ɪ], [e], [æ], [ɑː], [ʌ], [ɜː], [ə].

According to the length vowels long (довгі): [i], [ɑː], [ɔː], [u], [ɜː]; short (короткі): [ɪ], [e], [æ], [ʌ], [ə], [ʊ], [ɒ].

According to the degree of tenseness tense (напружені) - when the organs of speech (tongue) are tense: long monophthongs; lax (ненапружені) - when the organs of speech are lax: short monophthongs.