Character of vowel end

The quality of all English monophthongs in the stressed position is strongly affected by the following consonant of the same syllable. If a stressed vowel is followed by a fortis voiceless consonant, it is cut off (відсікається) by it. In this case the end of the vowel is strong and the vowel is called checked (усікнена=скорочена). Such vowels are heard in stressed closed syllables ending in a strong voiceless consonant (better, cart).

If a vowel is followed by a lenis voiced consonant or by no consonant at all, the end of it is very weak. In this case the vowel is called free (вільна, повна) (before, money, begger, bead).

NB: All Ukrainian/Russian vowels are free.

1. VOWEL LENGTH

Vowels can be pronounced during a longer or a shorter period.

a) short monophthongs: [ ], [ ], [ ], [ ], [ ], [ ].

b) long monophthongs: [ ], [ ], [ ], [ ], [ ].

NB: The vowel [ ] is not included in the category of short vowels because of its specific length.

In stressed position all English vowels are fully long when they are final (see, bar, sore, fur, play, toy, fear).

They are almost as long as that when a lenis/weak voiced consonant follows them (seed, arm, form, bird, big, bed, song, played, toys, fears).

They are considerably shorter before fortis/strong voiceless consonants (seat, lark, look, first, bit, set, plate, voice, fierce).

In diphthongs variations of length affect mainly the nucleus, not the glide, like play [ ] – plays [ ] – plate [ ].

All English vowels are longer when they are stressed, esp. primary stress (compare: inform – uniform - granddaughter).

All English vowels are longer in the nuclear syllable: It is six o’clock now. They are only six.

NB: In similar phonetic contexts (у схожому фонетичному оточенні) long vowels are always longer than short ones (see – sin, calm – come, cord – cod).

NB: All Ukrainian/Russian vowels are equally long in similar phonetic contexts.

MONOPHTHONGS монофтонги [ ], [ ], [ ], [ ], [ ], [ ], [ ], [ ]

[ ] see Merkulova, p. 46.

This vowel doesn’t occur (не зустрічається) in open syllables.

Recommendations: Take a mirror and check the position of the lips. They should not cover the teeth. Do not open the mouth too wide. To make the vowel front keep the tip of the tongue against the lower teeth.

[ ] see Merkulova, p. 47

This vowel doesn’t occur in open syllables.

The vowel [ ] appears to be much longer before lenis consonants, especially [ ]. In this position it is almost the same in quantity with [ ].

It is checked and much shorter before fortis voiceless consonants.

Recommendations: Take a mirror and check the position of the jaws. They should be considerably separated значно розімкнуті. Keep the tip of the tongue by the lower teeth. The body of the tongue is advanced. Take care to keep the front of the tongue very low in the mouth (as low as possible).

[ ] see Merkulova, p. 58

Recommendations: Take a mirror and check the position of the tongue. The mouth should be open. Withdraw the tip of the tongue from the lower teeth. Keep the whole body of the tongue as low as possible to see the back part of the soft palate quite clearly (it is not possible with the Ukrainian/Russian sound because it is more advanced). The sound should come from the back of the mouth.

[ ] see Merkulova, p. 68

This vowel doesn’t occur in open syllables.

Recommendations: “Dropping jaw” exercise + slight lip-rounding. Take a mirror and check the position of the jaws and the lips. The sound should come from the back of the mouth. The tip of the tongue should be kept away from the lower teeth. The whole body of the tongue should be kept low in the back part of the mouth. The back of the tongue is only slightly raised.

[ ] see Merkulova, p. 68

Recommendations: Take a mirror and check the position of the lips. They should be well rounded but not protruded. The tip of the tongue should be kept away from the lower teeth. The tongue should be kept rather low in the mouth. The mouth must not be too much open. The sound should come from the back of the mouth. Take care not to change the position of the organs of speech while the vowel lasts.

[ ] see Merkulova, p. 68

Recommendations: To make the vowel [ ] advanced enough give it the shade of the neutral vowel [ ]. If the English vowel [ ] is replaced by the Ukr./Russ. [ ] the tongue must be slightly retracted and the central part of the tongue should be raised higher.

[ ] see Merkulova, p. 59

Recommendations: Three things may help: try to keep the tongue flat, bring the teeth rather close together and do not round the lips at all. Smile when you say it! Keep approximately the same lip position as for the vowel [ ]. Check it with the mirror. Lip-spreading is especially important after the consonant [w].

[ ] see Merkulova, p. 62-63

This vowel occurs in all unstressed positions in the word.

Recommendations: Ukr./Russ. learners often replace the English neutral sound by the strong Ukr./Russ. vowels [ ] or [ ]. That is quite unacceptable in English. Make the sound very weak and short.

QUESTIONS AND TASKS:

1. According to the stability of articulation there are three groups of vowels. Do you think it is enough to distinguish only two groups; monophthongs and diphthongs?

2. Clarify the difference between:

a) front and back vowels;

b) front and front-retracted vowels;

c) back and back-advanced vowels;

d) central and front vowels.

3. What makes close vowels unlike mid and open ones?

4. Is it necessary to distinguish narrow and broad variants of close, mid and open vowels?

5. What is the difference between free and checked vowels?

6. How do different phonetic contexts modify vowel length in English?

7. Can the location of word stress and intonation influence vowel length?

8. Are there any historically long and short vowels?

9. Is the vowel [ ] longer in lit or lid? Give your examples.

10. We call [ ] close and [ ] open. Can you explain why?

11. How would you help your fellow-student if he says set instead of sat? Is this mistake phonetic or phonological?

12. Give examples where [ ] is the longest.

13. What articulatory features of the vowel sounds differentiate the meaning of the words sit – set – sat?

14. We call [ ] front and [ ] back. Can you explain why?

15. Give examples to illustrate that [ ] is not equally long in different phonetic contexts.

16. What articulation exercises would you recommend for the vowels [ ]; [ ]?

17. We call [ ] open and [ ] close. Why?

18. Is [ ] checked and shorter in nod or not?

19. What advice regarding length would you give a fellow-student who is to pronounce the following word sequence bore – board – bought?

20. If the word port sounds as [ ], is the mistake phonetic or phonological? What articulatory features of the vowel differentiate the words port and pot?

21. Suppose your fellow-student pronounces the word luck as [ ]. Is this mistake phonetic or phonological? Tell him/her what articulatory features differentiate the words lark and luck?

22. What is the difference between the neutral vowel in the final and the non-final position?

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