English Vowel TriangleIt’s not as easy as you think.
Description of VowelsThey are unrestricted
The teeth, tongue, and lips do not prevent airflow
They are normally voiced
It has pitch – and can be whispered.
They can be sustainedAs long as you have breath, you can sustain a vowel sound
They have shape or form
And they are the core of the syllable
Four Factors that Affect Shaping and Coupling of Resonators1. Jaw position – opening of mouth
and throat2. Lip position – spreading or
rounding3. Tongue position – arching forward
or backward4. Raised Soft Palate
Raised soft palate1. Resonates: enhances the
vibration and magnifies the sound2. Resonator of Human voice is oral
cavity, pharynx, throat, and chest3. (resonator of violin is the box)
Back pure vowels: tongue is thickened in the back while producing these sounds
Back
Vowe
ls
Back pure vowels: tongue is thickened in the back while producing these sounds
Front pure vowels: tongue is thickened in the front while producing these sounds
Front Vowels
English Pure Vowels
Ɔ
u
ɑ
oƱ
i
eƐæ
I
English Back Pure Vowels
Ɔ
u
ɑ
oƱ
English Back Pure Vowels
Ɔ
u
ɑ
oƱ
blueBrown sugar
opaqueauburn
aqua
English Front Pure Vowels
i
eƐæ
Igreenindigo
redblack
[u]Potential Problems
(see p. 56 in book) Nasal Insufficient lip rounding Insertion [kul] vs. [kuəl]
Practice phrases: Were you there when they crucified my
Lord? I love you, truly. Fools, through and through.
Spellings:1. Grew2. You3. Too4. To5. Two6. Blue
English Pure Back Vowels
[ʊ]Potential Problems
Substitution (diphthong) [ə, u]
Practice phrases: The crooked straight. My faith looks up to Thee. Man is made for the woman and the
woman for the man.
Spellings:1. sugar2. took3. could
English Pure Back Vowels
[o]Potential Problems
Substitution (diphthong)
Practice phrases: For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth Come, every soul by sin oppressed. Memory, hither come and tune your merry
notes.
Spellings:1. Violet2. Opaque
In American English, the sound [o] is only used in unstressed, rhythmically short syllables.
“Soul” and “notes” do not contain the [o] sound because they only have one syllable, and therefore, are stressed.
English Pure Back Vowels
[Ɔ]Potential Problems
Insertion of diphthong Inadequate mouth
opening
Practice phrases: That they may offer unto the Lord an
offering in righteousness I saw the cross of Jesus Autumn leaves are now falling
Spellings:1. Auburn2. Moss3. Fall4. Awkward
English Pure Back Vowels
[ɑ]Potential Problems
Insufficient lowering of jaw Spreading lips, as in a grin Retracting the body of tongue Substitution of briɡht [a] for back [ɑ]
Practice phrases: Sing alleluia to the Lord Stir thy church, O God, our Father Tis the season to be jolly, fa la la la
la . . . . .
Spellings:1. aqua2. got
English Pure Back Vowels
English Front Pure Vowels
Ɔ
u
ɑ
oƱ
i
eƐæ
I
[i]Potential Problems
Diphthongs: we’ll, heeled, yield, seal
Practice phrases: He shall speak peace unto the heathen Free to be me, God, I really am free. Beautiful dreamer, wake unto me
Spellings:1. Quay2. She3. Breathe4. Green5. Conceive6. People7. Key8. believe
English Pure Front Vowels
[I] Potential Problems
Substitution: been, beautiful, pretty, eternal, women
Vowel reduction: This sound is typically a schwa [Ə], although there are other vowels that can be unstressed or reduced. A reduced vowel is a vowel that can only occur in unstressed syllables, like schwa, and an unstressed vowel is a vowel that can be stressed but is not. Before “ng”, “I” {I} is pronounced [I], as in bring, sing, and think
Typical spellings for vowel reduction of [I} is ly, -y, -ies, and –ing. Any words with these suffixes
have reduced vowels
Practice phrases: Because I have been given
much, I too must give That her iniquity is pardoned Sure on this shining night
Spellings:1. indigo2. Busy3. behold
English Pure Front Vowels
Vowel ReductionVowel reduction: This sound is typically a schwa [ə],
although there are other vowels that can be unstressed or reduced. A reduced vowel is a vowel that can only occur in unstressed syllables, like schwa, and an unstressed vowel is a vowel that can be stressed but is not. Before “ng”, “I” {I} is pronounced [I], as in bring, sing, and think
Typical spellings for vowel reduction of [I] is -ly, -y, -ies, and –ing. Any words with these suffixes have reduced vowels
ʌƏ
ɛ
[ʌ] This sound occurs only in stressed syllables. This includes those
instances where “un” is a prefix emphasizing negation of the root word Spellings: above, us, plum, fuzzy, undone, blood, trouble Potential problems: substitution of [ɑ] ̤ fuzzy/fozie, was, love, one, son PRACTICE PHRASES
Unto us a Son is givenWhat wondrous love is thisI wonder as I wander out under the sky
Above = [Ə.bʌv]
[Ə] This sound occurs only in unstressed syllables. This includes those instances
where “un” is a prefix emphasizing negation of the root word Spellings: magenta, angel, evil, a, of the, cotton, passion, upon The sound only occurs in unstressed syllables or words Because in singing every syllable must have a vowel sound, [Ə] is used in
singing certain syllables which are spoken without a vowels sound, as in little and people
The schwa is a variable, weakly-defined sound. Other sounds in unstressed syllables: [ɪ] happiness, prepare, remember, receive, rejoice
PRACTICE PHRASES Unto us a Son is given Hark! The herald angels sing When I think upon the maidens
Angel and EvilAngel:Evil:
[3] Spellings: bird, purple, ever, counselor, forward, earth,
journey, timbre, martyr Potential problems: Some authorities avoid this sound,
preferring [ʌ] in stressed syllables and [Ə] in unstressed syllables: Bud-bird; but-Bert
Bird = [b3d] vs. bud = [bʌd] Bert = [b3t] vs. but [bʌt] Practice phrases:
Wonderful Counselor, the everlasting Father Let all the world in every corner sing I wonder as I wander out under the sky
Words from TextbookBillPitPetHid HeadPin Pen
LentLintTenTentTinTintTwin
TwentyRinserents
Words from TextbookBillPitPetHid HeadPin Pen
LentLintTenTentTinTintTwin
TwentyRinserents
Words from TextbookEdAddPestPastMenManBed
BadSadSaidThenThan
Words from TextbookBootBookBoatBoughtBoxPoolPull
PolePaulpot