Phonology and Phonetic Transcription Part 14 Back Vowels

Andy McMillin
11 Jan 201605:00

Summary

TLDRThis video explores back vowels in English phonetics, highlighting their distinct characteristics and pronunciation patterns. It discusses the low-back vowel [ɑ] and its neutralization with [ɔ] in American English, particularly among West Coast speakers. The mid-back vowel [ɔ] is presented as a lax vowel produced with lip rounding, while the tense-lax pair of high-back vowels [u] and [ʊ] is analyzed, emphasizing the challenges in distinguishing them due to English spelling. Overall, the content illustrates the dynamic nature of language and the importance of recognizing pronunciation variations.

Takeaways

  • 📏 The vowel quadrilateral includes various back vowels, starting with the low-back vowel [ɑ] (as in 'bot').
  • 🔄 [ɑ] is a script-a and distinct from the typewriter-a; it is important to differentiate between the two.
  • 🔍 The mid-back vowel [oʊ] is a non-phonemic diphthong, characterized by tongue raising at its end.
  • 🤔 The vowel [ɔ] (as in 'bought') is increasingly neutralized in American English, especially on the West Coast.
  • 🗣️ Many speakers now pronounce 'cot' and 'caught' as homonyms, reflecting a shift in pronunciation.
  • 📚 Understanding personal pronunciation patterns is vital, as well as recognizing variations in others' speech.
  • 🔊 A quiz on D2L helps assess the ability to distinguish between the vowels [ɑ] and [ɔ].
  • 🔄 The vowel [ɔ] is a mid-back lax vowel produced with lip rounding, whereas [ɑ] is not rounded.
  • 👥 For many West Coast speakers, using [ɑ] for both [ɑ] and [ɔ] is acceptable in transcription.
  • 📖 The high-back tense vowel [u] (as in 'boot') and the lax vowel [ʊ] (as in 'book') are often confused due to English spelling.

Q & A

  • What is the focus of this video regarding vowel sounds?

    -The video focuses on the back vowels in the vowel quadrilateral.

  • What is the low-back vowel mentioned in the video?

    -The low-back vowel discussed is [ɑ], as in the word 'bot'.

  • How is the character for the sound [ɔ] described?

    -The character for the sound [ɔ] is called open-o, and it is represented by the sound as in the word 'bought'.

  • Why are [ɑ] and [ɔ] represented by different symbols despite sounding similar in some dialects?

    -They are represented by different symbols because they are historically distinct vowels in American English, although their pronunciation is changing in some regions, leading to a neutralization of the distinction.

  • What is a significant change in pronunciation regarding the words 'cot' and 'caught'?

    -In some dialects, particularly on the West Coast, speakers no longer differentiate between [ɑ] and [ɔ], so 'cot' and 'caught' are pronounced the same.

  • What should students know about the mid-back vowel [ɔ] for this course?

    -[ɔ] is considered a mid-back lax vowel produced with lip rounding, and students should recognize its position in the vowel chart.

  • What are the high-back vowels discussed in the video?

    -The high-back vowels are [u], which is a tense vowel as in 'boot', and [ʊ], which is a lax vowel as in 'book'.

  • What challenges do students face in distinguishing between [u] and [ʊ]?

    -Students often struggle to remember which symbol corresponds to which vowel, partly due to the fact that English spelling uses the 'oo' digraph for both sounds.

  • How can students test their ability to hear the difference between [ɑ] and [ɔ]?

    -Students can take a quiz available on D2L to assess their ability to hear the difference between these two vowels.

  • What is the significance of understanding pronunciation patterns in phonetics?

    -Recognizing one's own pronunciation patterns and how they differ from others is crucial in phonetics, as it enhances understanding of language variation and change.

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Etiquetas Relacionadas
PhoneticsVowel SoundsEnglish LanguageLanguage ChangeDialect VariationLinguisticsPronunciationBack VowelsTeaching ResourcesEducational Video
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