English vowels: distinctive dimensions

Applied Linguistics March 09, 2023

 Describe English vowels focusing on their distinctive dimensions.

English vowels can be described in terms of their distinctive dimensions, which include:

  1. Height: This dimension refers to the position of the tongue in the mouth when pronouncing a vowel. English vowels can be high, mid, or low. High vowels are pronounced with the tongue raised towards the roof of the mouth, while low vowels are pronounced with the tongue lowered towards the bottom of the mouth.

  2. Frontness/backness: This dimension refers to the position of the tongue in the mouth from front to back. English vowels can be front, central, or back. Front vowels are pronounced with the tongue towards the front of the mouth, while back vowels are pronounced with the tongue towards the back of the mouth.

  3. Tenseness/laxness: This dimension refers to the degree of muscle tension used in the tongue and other articulators when pronouncing a vowel. English vowels can be tense or lax. Tense vowels are pronounced with greater muscular tension, while lax vowels are pronounced with less tension.

  4. Lip rounding: This dimension refers to whether or not the lips are rounded when pronouncing a vowel. English vowels can be rounded or unrounded. Rounded vowels are pronounced with the lips protruding outward, while unrounded vowels are pronounced with the lips relaxed and flat.

Examples of English vowels with distinctive dimensions:

  • /i:/ (high-front-tense-unrounded), as in "feet"
  • /É›/ (mid-front-lax-unrounded), as in "bet"
  • /æ/ (low-front-lax-unrounded), as in "cat"
  • /ÊŒ/ (mid-central-lax-unrounded), as in "cup"
  • /É”:/ (mid-back-tense-rounded), as in "law"
  • /u:/ (high-back-tense-rounded), as in "boot"

Understanding these distinctive dimensions can help learners of English to produce and distinguish between different vowel sounds and can also aid in the analysis and description of English vowel phonology.

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