Vowels

Most sonorant (audible) sounds, which is caused by vocal fold vibrationl. Its usual function as syllable.

- Tongue height: high/mid/low

- Tongue backness: front/central/back

- Lip rounding: round/ unround

- Tenseness: tense/lax

Tongue Height

Put your hand under youu chin and say seat, set, sat.

High: leak, lick, luke, look

        - [í:][I][u:][u]

Mis: bait, bet, but, bought, boat

        - [eI][e][^][]

Low: cat, car

         -[][a:]

Tongue Advancement

Front: seek, sick, sake, sec sack

         - [i:] [I] [ei] [e] [ae]

Central: luck

          - [^]

Back: look, road, law, dot

          - [u] [] [] []

Tenseness

- Tense vowels: the tongue is at an extreme height or backness.
- Lax vowels
            The tongue is not an extreme position.
                  Compare Pete and pit.

Voiced/ Voiceless

The level of vibration of the vocal cords determines wheter a sound is voiced or unvoicd. If the vocal cords are apart, the air can escape unimpeded. Sounds produced in this way are said to be voiceless. If the vocal cords are very close together, the air will blow them apart as it forces its way through. This makes the cords vibrate, producing a voiced sound