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phonetics

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  • What is the schwa /ə/?
    The schwa is the neutral vowel, the most common vowel sound in English, found only in unstressed positions.
  • What is the difference between full vowels and reduced vowels?
    • Full vowels occur in stressed syllables. • Reduced vowels (like /ə/ and /ɪ/) occur in unstressed syllables and have weakened articulation.
  • What are monophthongs?
    Monophthongs are vowel phonemes pronounced with stable, unchanging articulation.
  • How are vowels classified vertically (tongue height)?
    1. Close (high) – /iː, ɪ, u, uː/ 2. Mid – /e, ə, ɜː, ɔː/ 3. Open (low) – /æ, ʌ, ɒ, ɑː/
  • What are diphthongoids?
    Diphthongoids are vowels that are almost monophthongs but have slight glide at the end.
  • Why is vowel length considered non-phonemic by many linguists?
    Because English vowel length changes depending on context (stress, surrounding consonants), and does not reliably change meaning alone
  • ow are vowels classified according to lip position?
    • Rounded: /ʊ, uː, ɔː/ • Slightly rounded: /ɒ/ • Unrounded: /iː, ɪ, e, æ, ʌ, ɑː/ • Neutral lips: /ə, ɜː/
  • How are vowels classified horizontally (tongue movement)?
    1. Front – /iː, e, æ/ 2. Front-retracted – /ɪ/ 3. Mixed (central) – /ɜː, ə/ 4. Back-advanced – /ʊ, u/ 5. Back – /uː, ɑː, ɔː/
  • What is “unstressed vocalism”?
    It is the subsystem of English vowels used in unstressed syllables, including neutral vowels /ə/ and /ɪ/. Example: banana → /bəˈnɑːnə
  • What is the total number of vowel phonemes in English?
    English has 21 vowel phonemes: • 10 monophthongs • 9 diphthongs • 2 diphthongoids
  • What are diphthongs?
    Diphthongs are complex vowel sounds that glide from one vowel position to another within one syllable.
  • What is “stressed vocalism”?
    It is the subsystem that includes vowel phonemes that appear in stressed syllables, usually full vowels such as /iː, uː, e, æ, ɔː/.