VOWEL SOUNDS

OPEN VOWELS

An open vowel is defined as a vowel sound in which the tongue is positioned as far as possible from the roof of the mouth. Open vowels are sometimes also called low vowels in reference to the low position of the tongue. The open vowels identified in the International Phonetic Alphabet are:

§  open front unrounded vowel [a]

§  open front rounded vowel [ɶ]^[1]

§  open central unrounded vowel [ä]

§  open back unrounded vowel [ɑ]

§  open back rounded vowel [ɒ]

    

  

http://www.readinga-z.com/book.php?id=481

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open-mid_back_rounded_vowel

CLOSE VOWELS

A close vowel is a type of vowel sound used in many spoken languages. The defining characteristic of a close vowel is that the tongue is positioned as close as possible to the roof of the mouth without creating a constriction that would be classified as aconsonant.

This term is prescribed by the International Phonetic Association. Close vowels are often referred to as high vowels, as in the Americanist phonetic tradition, because the tongue is positioned high in the mouth during the articulation of a close vowel.

The six close vowels identified within the International Phonetic Alphabet are:

§  close front unrounded vowel [i]

§  close front rounded vowel [y]

§  close central unrounded vowel [ɨ]

§  close central rounded vowel [ʉ]

§  close back unrounded vowel [ɯ]

§  close back rounded vowel [u]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Close_vowel

http://www.mailxmail.com/curso-introduccion-fonetica-fonologia-inglesa/the-english-vowels

  

MID VOWELS

A mid vowel is a vowel sound used in some spoken languages. The defining characteristic of a mid vowel is that the tongue is positioned mid-way between an open vowel and a close vowel. The only mid vowel with a dedicated symbol in the International Phonetic Alphabet is the mid central vowel [ə], a symbol which is also used for the vowel     schwa.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mid_vowel