Unit 3 Vowels

Contents I. Lead-in II. What Are Vowels III. Classification of Vowels IV. Pronunciation of Vowels

I. Lead-in 44 phonemes in English: 24 consonants & 20 vowels

II. What Are Vowels VowelsVowels are sounds produced without

obstruction of the air passage in the mouth but with the vibration of the vocal cords.

III. Classification of Vowels 1. Monophthongs 1. Monophthongs 单元音 单元音 /i:, /i:, II, e, æ,Λ, ɜ: , ə, ɑ: , ɔ: , ɒ , u: , ʊ/, e, æ,Λ, ɜ: , ə, ɑ: , ɔ: , ɒ , u: , ʊ/ 4 different classification principles

of monophthongs:

1) 1) the part of the tongue raisedthe part of the tongue raised 舌隆起的部位舌隆起的部位 front vowels 前元音 / i: , / i: , II, e, æ /, e, æ / central vowels 中元音 // ɜ: , ə, Λ / ɜ: , ə, Λ / back vowels 后元音 / u: , ʊ, ɔ: , ɒ, ɑ: // u: , ʊ, ɔ: , ɒ, ɑ: /

2) the length of vowels 2) the length of vowels 元音的长度元音的长度 long vowels 长元音 / i: , ɜ: , ɑ: , ɔ: , u:// i: , ɜ: , ɑ: , ɔ: , u:/ short vowels 短元音 / / II, e, æ, Λ, ə, ɒ, ʊ /, e, æ, Λ, ə, ɒ, ʊ /

3) the shape of the lips 3) the shape of the lips 唇形唇形 rounded vowels 圆唇元音 / / ɒɒ, ɔ:, , ɔ:, ʊʊ, u: / , u: / unrounded/spread vowels vowels 非圆唇元音 /扁唇元音 / ɑ:, Λ, / ɑ:, Λ, ɜ: , ɜ: , ə, i:, ə, i:, II, e, æ /, e, æ /

4) the degree of tenseness of the 4) the degree of tenseness of the muscles muscles 肌肉的紧张度肌肉的紧张度

tense vowels 紧元音 //i: , i: , ɜ: ɜ: , ɔ: , u:/, ɔ: , u:/ lax vowels 松元音 //II, e, æ, Λ, ə, , e, æ, Λ, ə, ɒɒ, , ʊʊ , ɑ: / , ɑ: /

2. Diphthongs2. Diphthongs 双元音 /e/eI, əʊ, a, əʊ, aII, aʊ, ɔ, aʊ, ɔII, , IIə, eə, ʊə/ə, eə, ʊə/ The 8 diphthongs can be classified asThe 8 diphthongs can be classified as 1) closing/rising diphthongs 合口 /上升双元音

/ e/ eII, əʊ, a, əʊ, aII, aʊ, ɔ, aʊ, ɔII// 2) centring diphthongs 集中双元音 //IIə, eə, ʊə/ə, eə, ʊə/

IV. Pronunciation of Vowels 1. Monophthongs 1) Features in Common 1) Features in Common a. There is no obstruction of the air pass

age in the mouth; b. There is vibration of the vocal cords; c. The tongue, jaws and lips do not move

from one position to another. 2) Pronunciation and Practice2) Pronunciation and Practice (to be continued)