Vowel Chart

  Front Central Back  
C
l
o
s
e 		H
i
g
h
M
i
d 		M
i
d

O
p
e
n 		L
o
w
  Unrounded Rounded Unrounded Half rounded Rounded Unrounded Rounded  
The 'close' in this case is that of the 'Close Enconters of the Third Kind' type of close; not the open and shut kind of close.

The tongue positons are close to the roof of the oral cavity, middle, and with the mouth fully open. Alternatively they are called high, mid, and low.

The vowel are felt to be pronounced at the front of the mouth, the center or back of the oral cavity. Compare "peat" [pi:t] and "boot" [bu:t].

The left column of each of the 3 sections (front, central, back) is pronounced with unrounded lips. Likewise, the right column of each three sections is pronounced with the lips rounded.

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© Dylan W.H. Sung 1999 onwards.
This page was first created on Tuesday 3rd August 1999,
and was recently updated on Thursday 25th April 2002.

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