4.2.3 Nasalized vowels
- English vowels and diphthongs are nasalized when they occur before a nasal
consonant. This predictable allophonic rule of English:
e.g.) bean, bone, congress
[ĩ] [õ] [ã]
4.2.4 Length
- Length of vowels(diphthongs) varies predictably according to the context.
(a) Vowels are longer before voiced consonants than before their voiceless
counterparts. Thus, the phonetic realization of the vowel /æ/ in bag [bæg]
is longer than its realization in back [bæk].
(b) Vowels are longer before sonorant consonants than before obstruents. Thus
the phonetic realization of the vowel /o/ in goal [gol] is longer than its
realization in goad [god]
(c) Vowels are longer in open syllables than in closed syllables. Thus, the
phonetic realization of the vowel /e/ in bay [be] is longer than its realization
in bait [bet]
4.2.3 Nasalized vowels
- English vowels and diphthongs are nasalized when they occur before a nasal
consonant. This predictable allophonic rule of English:
e.g.) bean, bone, congress
[ĩ] [õ] [ã]
4.2.4 Length
- Length of vowels(diphthongs) varies predictably according to the context.
(a) Vowels are longer before voiced consonants than before their voiceless
counterparts. Thus, the phonetic realization of the vowel /æ/ in bag [bæg]
is longer than its realization in back [bæk].
(b) Vowels are longer before sonorant consonants than before obstruents. Thu
the phonetic realization of the vowel /o/ in goal [gol] is longer than its
realization in goad [god]
(c) Vowels are longer in open syllables than in closed syllables. Thus, the
phonetic realization of the vowel /e/ in bay [be] is longer than its realization
in bait [bet]
Vowel Length: open syllable (knee [ni]) longer
closed with sonorant consonant coda (kneel [nil])
closed with voiced obstruent coda (need [nid])
closed with voiceless consonant coda (neat [nit])
(d) Vowels are longer in stressed syllables than in unstressed syllables:
e.g.) appreciate [ə.prí.ʃɪ.et]
↑ ↑
longer shorter
4.2.5 Vowels before /r/
(1) When /r/ after a vowel is the same syllable, the vowel takes on some
retroflex quality, which is commonly known as “r-coloring.”
e.g.) ear [ɪər], cure [kjʊər], work [wə:rk], party [pa:rti]
(2) When this happens, several otherwise well-established vowel contrast of
English are neutralized. Thus, the contrast between /i/ and /ɪ/ seems to
disappear in words such as ear, fear, beard, pier, etc., transcribed as [ir].
Vowel Length: open syllable (knee [ni]) longer
closed with sonorant consonant coda (kneel [nil])
closed with voiced obstruent coda (need [nid])
closed with voiceless consonant coda (neat [nit])
(d) Vowels are longer in stressed syllables than in unstressed syllables:
e.g.) appreciate [ə.prí.ʃɪ.et]
↑ ↑
longer shorter
4.2.5 Vowels before /r/
(1) When /r/ after a vowel is the same syllable, the vowel takes on some
retroflex quality, which is commonly known as “r-coloring.”
e.g.) ear [ɪər], cure [kjʊər], work [wə:rk], party [pa:rti]
(2) When this happens, several otherwise well-established vowel contrast of
English are neutralized. Thus, the contrast between /i/ and /ɪ/ seems to
disappear in words such as ear, fear, beard, pier, etc., transcribed as [ir].
(3) Neutralization of vowel quality with /r/:
[ʊɚ]: tour, mature, endure,
[ɛɚ]: Mary, merry, marry
[ɔɚ]: pork, bore, horn, fork
(4) The r-coloring is present in the following two diphthongs, resulting in
triphthongs such as /eɪɚ, aɪɚ, ɔɪɚ, aʊɚ, oʊɚ/:
e.g.) [aɪɚ] : fire, entire, inspire
[aʊɚ] : sour, devour
(5) The central vowel schwa has two r-colored manifestations:
[ɚ] in unstressed syllables and [ɝ] in stressed syllables as in
herder[hɝdɚ];
the r-colored vowels with the tautosyllabic /r/.
cf) score, shore, organized, storm : tautosyllabic [ɔr]
(3) Neutralization of vowel quality with /r/:
[ʊɚ]: tour, mature, endure,
[ɛɚ]: Mary, merry, marry
[ɔɚ]: pork, bore, horn, fork
(4) The r-coloring is present in the following two diphthongs, resulting in
triphthongs such as /eɪɚ, aɪɚ, ɔɪɚ, aʊɚ, oʊɚ/:
e.g.) [aɪɚ] : fire, entire, inspire
[aʊɚ] : sour, devour
(5) The central vowel schwa has two r-colored manifestations:
[ɚ] in unstressed syllables and [ɝ] in stressed syllables as in
herder[hɝdɚ];
the r-colored vowels with the tautosyllabic /r/.
cf) score, shore, organized, storm : tautosyllabic [ɔr]
4.2.6 Vowels before /l/
Postvocalic /l/ is highly velarized (dark) in American English, and this
has a retracting effect on the front vowels. As a result, we have a
more
centralized vowel in the second words of each pair below:
centralized vowel before /l/
/i/ meat - meal
/ɪ/ Mick - milk
/e/ pay - pale
/ɛ/ bet - belt
/æ/ tack - talc
4.2.6 Vowels before /l/
Postvocalic /l/ is highly velarized (dark) in American English, and this
has a retracting effect on the front vowels. As a result, we have a
more
centralized vowel in the second words of each pair below:
centralized vowel before /l/
/i/ meat - meal
/ɪ/ Mick - milk
/e/ pay - pale
/ɛ/ bet - belt
/æ/ tack - talc
