Vowels and Diphthongs

• Charts of the vowel space
• Front vowels
• Back vowels
• Central vowels
• Diphthongs
  • Phonemic
  • Non-phonemic
• Vowels in unstressed syllables
• Tense and lax vowels
• Phonological rules for vowels
  • Vowel length rules
  • Reduced vowels
  • Influence of following consonants

Objectives

• Describe the difference between vowels and consonants
• Locate vowels in the vowel quadrilateral
• Describe height, front-back location, and lip rounding for each English vowel
• Define phonemic diphthong and describe the production of the three phonemic diphthongs in English
• Define nonphonemic diphthong and describe the two nonphonemic diphthongs in English
• Explain the differences between tense and lax vowels in English
• Use IPA symbols to transcribe consonants and vowels in short phrases

Resources

• English and Spanish Vowels
• Vowels in American English
• Vowel Production Animations
• Videos for Making English Vowels
• American and British Vowels
• Vowel allophones (Canadian)
• Vowels in stressed and unstressed syllables
• Tense and lax vowels
• Vowel Practice (click on "Feedback" for answers)