english vowels 2012 plc
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English Vowel TriangleFall 2012
How many vowel sounds do you think are in
standard American English?
How many vowel sounds do you think are in
standard American English?
22 !
English Pure Vowels - Guess
English Pure Vowels
Ɔ
u
ɑ
oƱ
i
eƐ
æ
I
Joan Wall, International Phonetic Alphabet for Singers (1989), p. 15
Joan Wall, International Phonetic Alphabet for Singers (1989), p. 15
Its approximate present form came from Daniel Jones of University College. London. and is known as the Vowel Diagram. It was developed by superimposing X-ray images of the position of the tongue when articulating various vowels. The Vowel Diagram indicates the position of the high point of the tongue during thearticulation of each vowel.
Forward vowels: [i] beet [ɪ] bit [e] chaotic [ɛ] bet [æ] bat [a] bright ah (mostly used in diphthongs)
Back vowels: [u] boot [ʊ] book [o] obey (pure [o] seldom used) [ɔ] saw [ɑ] father
Central vowels: [ʌ] up (stressed 'uh') [ə] about (unstressed 'uh,' schwa) [ɝ] herd (stressed, r-colored vowel) [ɜ] herd (NOT r-colored) [ɚ] butter (unstressed, r-colored vowel)
Diphthongs: [eɪ] bait[difθɔŋ] [oʊ] boat [aɪ] bite [aʊ] ouch [ɔɪ] boy [ju] use
We begin with vowels because they are harder to comprehend and execute than consonants!
Remember: a pure vowel = one sound
But in English we have diphthongs too!!
A pure vowel sound consists of only one distinct vowel sound; a diphthong is a distinct vowel until made up of two pure vowel sounds.
Joan Wall, International Phonetic Alphabet for Singers (1989), p. 14
Description of Vowels
They are unrestrictedThe teeth, tongue, and lips do not prevent airflow
They are normally voiced
It has ‘pitch’ – and can be whispered.
They can be sustainedAs long as you have breath, you can sustain a vowel sound
They have shape or form
And they are the core of the syllable
Four Factors that Affect Shaping and Coupling of Resonators1. Jaw position – opening of mouth
and throat
2. Lip position – spreading or rounding
3. Tongue position – arching forward or backward
4. Raised Soft Palate
Raised soft palate1. Resonates: enhances the
vibration and magnifies the sound
2. Resonator of Human voice is oral cavity, pharynx, throat, and chest
3. (resonator of violin is the box)
Back pure vowels: tongue is thickened in the back while producing these sounds
Bac
k Vo
wel
s
Front pure vowels: tongue is thickened in the front while producing these sounds
Front Vowels
English Pure Vowels
Ɔ
u
ɑ
oƱ
i
eƐ
æ
I
English Back Pure Vowels
Ɔ
u
ɑ
oƱ
English Back Pure Vowels
Ɔ
u
ɑ
oƱ
blue
Brown sugar
opaqueauburn
aqua
English Front Pure Vowels
i
eƐ
æ
I
English Front Pure Vowels
i
eƐ
æ
Igreenindigo
red
black
grey
Things to note from the reading:
Feel/hear the difference in similar words:pin [pɪn] and pen [pɛn] or marry [mærɪ] and merry [mɛrɪ]
Look to pages 14 and 15 for a discussion on how the vowel triangle was created. Cool right?
Okay, so I still pronounce alveolar not quite right. Look to page 16 to help me out! [ˌæl ˈviəlɚ]
Also, get = [gɛt] not [gɪt]
Fun practice (from pg 17):[i] [ɪ] [eɪ] [ɛ] [æ]beet bit bait bet batmeet mitt mate met matDean din dane den Dan
[i] Potential Problems Diphthongs created by adding
a schwa [ə]: feel, meal, yield
Feel = [fil] not [fiəl]
Meal = [mil] not [miəl]
Yield = [jild] not [jiəld]
(this problem usually occurs when an [i] is followed by an “l”)
Practice phrases: He shall speak peace unto the heathen Free to be me, God, I really am free. Beautiful dreamer, wake unto me
Spellings:1. Quay
2. She
3. Breathe
4. Green
5. Conceive
6. People
7. Key
8. believe
English Pure Front Vowels
[I]
Potential Problems Substitution of [i]: been,
beautiful, pretty, eternal Vowel reduction: When
this sound is unstressed, sometimes American singers turn it into a schwa [Ə]
Before “ng” “m” or “n”, an “i” is almost always pronounced [I], as in bring, simple, and thin. Sometimes the [I] becomes over nasalized.
Practice phrases: Because I have been given
much, I too must give That her iniquity is pardoned Sure on this shining night
Spellings:1. indigo
2. Busy
3. behold
English Pure Front Vowels
[e]
Potential Problems Creating triphthongs
where you only want diphthongs
wait = [weɪt] not [wɛeɪt] sail = [seɪl] not [seɪəl]
male = [meɪl] not [meɪəl]Practice phrases:
Embraceable You I’ll Build a Stairway to Paradise Who Cares?
[e] rarely appears in English by itself. It is almost always part of the diphthong [eɪ]
Examples for [e]: chaotic, vacation, fatality
Examples for [eɪ]:1. aim
2. Came
3. bay
4. made
5. ate
6. Ale
7. sailEnglish Pure Front Vowels
[ɛ] Potential Problems Substitution of [ɪ] for [ɛ] Substitution of [ɝ] for [ɛ]
(as in ’Amuhrica’) Insertion of [ə] between [ɛ] and
[l] (as in [wɛəl] for ’well’) Substitution of [eɪ] for [ɛ]
(as in [heɪd] for head,
or [leɪg] for leg)
Practice phrases: Let’s Kiss and Make Up The Best of Everything Heaven on Earth [hɛvən ɑn ɝθ]
Examples:1. red
2. death
3. twenty
4. head
5. get
6. treasure
7. guess
English Pure Front Vowels
[æ]Potential Problems
The insertion of a schwa [ə] after [æ] before a final consonant. As in [hæət] for ‘hat’
Nasalizing [æ] when it proceeds m, n, or ng. (This is my main problem!)
Practice phrases: Sam and Delilah Little Jazz Bird Fascinating Rhythm
Examples:1. add
2. lamb
3. sang
4. Pan
5. plaid
6. black
7. Sad
English Pure Front Vowels
Reminder of Vowel chart:
Ɔ
u
ɑ
oƱ
i
eƐ
æ
I
[u]
Potential Problems (see p. 56 in book) Nasal Insufficient lip rounding Insertion [kul] vs. [kuəl]
Practice phrases: Were you there when they crucified my
Lord? I love you, truly. In a sentimental mood.
Spellings:1. grew
2. you
3. too
4. to
5. two
6. blue
English Pure Back Vowels
[ʊ]
Potential Problems Substitution (diphthong)
[ə, u]
Practice phrases: The crooked straight. My faith looks up to Thee. Man is made for the woman and the
woman for the man.
Spellings:1. sugar
2. took
3. could
English Pure Back Vowels
[o]
Potential Problems Substitution (diphthong)
Practice phrases: For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth Come, every soul by sin oppressed. Memory, hither come and tune your merry
notes.
Spellings:1. Violet
2. Opaque
In American English, the sound [o] is only used in unstressed, rhythmically short syllables.
“Soul” and “notes” do not contain the [o] sound because they only have one syllable, and therefore, are stressed.
English Pure Back Vowels
Joan Wall, International Phonetic Alphabet for Singers (1989), p. 65
[Ɔ]
Potential Problems Insertion of diphthong Inadequate mouth
opening
Practice phrases: That they may offer unto the Lord an
offering in righteousness I saw the cross of Jesus Autumn leaves are now falling
Spellings:1. Auburn
2. Moss
3. Fall
4. Awkward
English Pure Back Vowels
[ɑ]Potential Problems
Insufficient lowering of jaw Spreading lips, as in a grin Retracting the body of tongue Substitution of briɡht [a] for back [ɑ]
Practice phrases: Sing alleluia to the Lord Stir thy church, O God, our Father Tis the season to be jolly, fa la la la
la . . . . .
Spellings:1. aqua
2. got
English Pure Back Vowels
Vowel Reduction
Vowel reduction: This sound is typically a schwa [ə], although there are other vowels that can be unstressed or reduced. A reduced vowel is a vowel that can only occur in unstressed syllables, like schwa, and an unstressed vowel is a vowel that can be stressed but is not. Before “ng”, “I” {I} is pronounced [I], as in bring, sing, and think
Typical spellings for vowel reduction of [I] is -ly, -y, -ies, and –ing. Any words with these suffixes have reduced vowels
[ʌ] This sound occurs only in stressed syllables. This includes those
instances where “un” is a prefix emphasizing negation of the root word
Spellings: above, us, plum, fuzzy, undone, blood, trouble
Potential problems: substitution of [ɑ] j fuzzy/fozie, was, love, one, son
PRACTICE PHRASES
Unto us a Son is givenWhat wondrous love is thisI wonder as I wander out under the sky
Above = [Ə.bʌv]
[Ə] This sound occurs only in unstressed syllables. This includes those instances
where “un” is a prefix emphasizing negation of the root word
Spellings: magenta, angel, evil, a, of the, cotton, passion, upon
The sound only occurs in unstressed syllables or words
Because in singing every syllable must have a vowel sound, [Ə] is used in singing certain syllables which are spoken without a vowels sound, as in little and people
The schwa is a variable, weakly-defined sound. Other sounds in
unstressed syllables: [ɪ] happiness, prepare, remember, receive, rejoice
PRACTICE PHRASES Unto us a Son is given Hark! The herald angels sing When I think upon the maidens
Angel and Evil
Angel:
Evil:
Ə
ʌɛɚ
[3] Spellings: bird, purple, ever, counselor, forward, earth,
journey, timbre, martyr
Potential problems: Some authorities avoid this sound, preferring [ʌ] in stressed syllables and [Ə] in unstressed syllables: Bud-bird; but-Bert
Bird = [b3d] vs. bud = [bʌd]
Bert = [b3t] vs. but [bʌt]
Practice phrases: Wonderful Counselor, the everlasting Father Let all the world in every corner sing I wonder as I wander out under the sky
[3]Spellings: bird, purple, earth, journey, service, word, purse
[bɜrd] [pɜrpl] [ɜrθ] [jɜrni] [sɜrvɪs] [wɜrd] [pɜrs]
This sound only appears in stressed syllables!
This sound is called the “r-less” ur. It is preferred by many singing teachers, and they substitute the sound often instead of [ɝ].
The main difference between an “r-colored” ur [ɝ] and an “r-less” ur [ɜ] is that the [ɝ] is produced with the tip of the tongue raised and suspended in the center of the mouth and the [ɜ] is produced with the tip of the tongue down behind the bottom front teeth.
Southerners sometimes even drop the r’s out of words: Bird = [b3d] Herd = [hɜd] Learn = [lɜn] (look to board)
[ɚ]Spellings: giver altar murder actor summer
[gɪvɚ] [ɔltɚ] [mɝdɚ] [æktɚ] [sʌmɚ]
This sound only appears in unstressed syllables!
Although the unstressed ur [ɚ] has the same sound as the stressed ur [ɝ], it is more lax and shorter in duration, and used only in unstressed syllables. Sometimes it is called a hooked schwa.
Some voice teachers will have you transcribe like this (kenning):giver altar murder actor summer[gɪvər] [ɔltər] [mɜrdər] [æktər] [sʌmər]
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