Vowels

City University of Hong Kong
Dept. of Chinese, Translation and Linguistics
Semester A, 1999-2000
Tom Lai, October 1999

CTL5602 General Linguistics

Chapter 2: Phonetics

Articulation of Vowels

(pp. 35-41)

Parameters of Vowel Articulation: Tongue Positon [Figure 2.8, p. 37]
    RP vowels in British English: Figure 2.9 (p.38) and Figure 2.10 (p. 41)
    Tongue height
        High, (mid-high), mid, (mid-low), low. (Cf. close, close-mid, open-mid, open)
    Front/Back
        Front, central, back.
    Vowel length: long short
    Tense/Lax
    Lip rounding: the cardinal vowels, Table 2.28 (p. 57), transcription of American English.
    Diphthongs in English: the nucleus, rising (closing) and centring diphthongs, Table 2.13 (p. 36). American transcriptions.

Demonstration: English vowels and consonants, Figure 2.16 (p.42) and Figure 2.17 (p.43).

Class exercises: Q.7 (g),(h); Q.8, Q.9. (p.66)

Homework: Q10 (p.66). Differentiate between aspirated and unaspirated sounds. (Use a dictionary.)

Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese vowels).