phonetics and phonology
for these videos can observe the different pronunciation of the vowels, for example: Front Vowels, back vowels, central vowels, diphthongs. jenniferESL. (2011, 01 06). Learn pronunciation of english vowel sounds 1 - introduction. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMM_hwyHxaI
INTRODUCTION
FRONT VOWELS:
The front vowels are pronounced in the front of the mouth with the front part of the tongue muscle. The tongue is arched high in the mouth and moves up toward the gum ridge for the vowel /iy/ as in see. It lowers slightly with each front vowel. The tip of the tongue remains low and behind the lower front teeth for each front vowel. JenniferESL. (2011, 01 21). Pronunciation of english vowel sounds 2 - front vowels, part 1. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haZVOZr48N0&feature=youtu.be
example:
beat keen leak seen
bit kin lick sin
bait cane lake sane
bet Ken wreck send
bat can rack sand
BACK VOWEL:
A back vowel is a type of vowel sound used in spoken languages. The defining characteristic of a back vowel is that the tongue is positioned as far back as possible in the mouth without creating a constriction that would be classified as a consonant. Back vowels are sometimes also called dark vowels because they are perceived as sounding darker than the front vowels. JenniferESL. (2011, 02 11). Pronunciation of english vowel sounds 3 - back vowels - part 1 (with captions). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0T8Q3dJ3uc&feature=youtu.be
CENTRAL VOWEL:
The mid central vowel (also known as schwa) is a type of vowel sound, used in some spoken languages. The symbol in the International Phonetic Alphabet that represents this sound is ə, a rotated lowercase letter e. The same symbol may be used for both the unrounded and the rounded forms of the mid central vowel, although there exist certain other notations that may be used to represent either variant specifically. JenniferESL. (2011, 02 24). Pronunciation of english vowel sounds 4 - central vowels - part 1 (with captions). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTnwyDAz-G0&feature=youtu.be
DIPHTHONGS:
A diphthong, also known as a gliding vowel, refers to two adjacent vowel sounds occurring within the same syllable. Technically, a diphthong is a vowel with two different targets: that is, the tongue (and/or other parts of the speech apparatus) moves during the pronunciation of the vowel.
Diphthongs often form when separate vowels are run together in rapid speech during a conversation. However, there are also unitary diphthongs, as in the English examples above, which are heard by listeners as single-vowel sounds. JenniferESL. (2011, 03 14). Pronunciation of english vowel sounds 5 - diphthongs (with captions). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjYVGAKQMdI&feature=youtu.be