Phonology and Phonetic Transcription Part 14 Back Vowels

Summary

This 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.