The Vowels Of American English Page 5

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Lip positions for the vowels of English
Vowel
Lip Position
Picture
/iy/
Unrounded, can be stretched a bit
/ɪ/
Unrounded, can be stretched a bit
/ey/
Unrounded, not so stretched
Unrounded, not so stretched
/ɛ/
/æ/
Unrounded, open wide
Unrounded, open wide
/ɑ/
/ʌ/, /ə/
Unrounded, neutral and relaxed
/uw/
Very rounded
/ᴜ/
Moderately rounded
/ow/
Rounded at the end of the vowel
/ɔ/
Open and a bit rounded
A bit rounded
/ɚ/
/ay/
Unrounded → unrounded
→
/aw/
Unrounded → rounded
→
/oy/
Rounded → unrounded
→
Tense and lax vowels
We can also divide vowels into two categories called tense and lax vowels. This is a
distinction that separates pairs of vowels like those in sheep (/iy/) and ship (/ɪ/), late
(/ey/) and let (/ɛ/), fool (/uw/) and full (/ᴜ/). We traditionally think of these as being a
difference in the tension or tightness of the muscles of the tongue or lips while saying the
sound, but again, this is an oversimplification. There is sometimes not a great difference in
physical tension of tense and lax vowels. (Ladefoged, 2006)
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