Vowel
Vowel
A vowel is a phonetic sound used in spoken languages that is produced by the vocal cords. It is a type of phoneme that is characterized by an open configuration of the vocal tract, allowing more airflow than consonants.
Types of Vowels[edit | edit source]
There are several types of vowels, including:
- Monophthongs: These are simple, or "pure," vowels with a single perceived auditory quality.
- Diphthongs: These are complex vowels composed of a sequence of two different configurations of the vocal tract.
- Triphthongs: These are complex vowels composed of a sequence of three different configurations of the vocal tract.
Vowel Length[edit | edit source]
In some languages, such as Finnish and Japanese, vowel length can distinguish words. This is known as a phonemic difference.
Vowel Systems[edit | edit source]
Different languages have different vowel systems. For example, the English language has a complex vowel system with many different vowel sounds, while the Spanish language has a simpler system with only five vowel sounds.
Vowel Modification[edit | edit source]
Vowels can be modified in various ways, including:
- Nasalization: This occurs when the air escapes through the nose as well as the mouth.
- Rounding: This occurs when the lips are rounded during the production of the vowel.
- Tenseness: This refers to the muscular tension involved in producing the vowel.
See Also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
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Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD