Rachael-Anne Knight, 2003, University of Surrey - Roehampton
Understanding English Variation, Week 2
Understanding English Variation
Week 2 - Describing Vowels
Aims: To understand how vowels can be described
To be familiar with the concept of the vowel quadrilateral and the
cardinal vowels
To know IPA symbols for the English vowels
Vowels are formed by modifying the shape of the vocal tract above the larynx. The
air is not constricted as much as in the production of consonants. Vowels are always
voiced. In the same way as consonants can be described using voice, place and
manner labels, vowels can be described with reference to the tongue height and
backness and the degree of lip rounding.
Tongue height, tongue backness and lip rounding
If you make the vowels in the words ‘see’ and ‘cat’ you will feel that the tongue is
closer to the roof of your mouth in ‘see’ than in ‘cat’. This is a difference is tongue
height and we describe the vowel in ‘see’ as being relatively close and that in ‘cat’ as
being relatively open. In both of these vowels the front of the tongue is highest in the
mouth.
In both ‘see’ and ‘cat’ it is the front of the tongue that it highest in the mouth. If you
make the vowel in the word ‘calm’, you will feel that the back of the tongue is the
highest in the mouth. This is also the case for the vowel in ‘too’ although this vowel
is closer than the vowel in ‘calm’.
You should also be able to feel that in the vowel of ‘see’ the lips are spread, whilst in
‘too’ they are rounded.
Rachael-Anne Knight, 2003, University of Surrey - Roehampton
Understanding English Variation, Week 2
The vowel quadrilateral and the cardinal vowel.
The vowel quadrilateral is a four sided shape used as a reference chart for describing
vowels. Tongue height is shown on the vertical axis and tongue backness on the
horizontal axis. If two symbols appear together, the one to the right is rounded.
The cardinal vowels are reference points on the vowel quadrilateral. Cardinal 1 for
example is defined as the vowel that is as close and as front as possible without
making friction. Cardinal 4 is the most front and open vowel. Cardinals 2 and 3 lie
roughly equally between cardinals 1 and 4. Cardinal 5 is the most open and back
vowel and cardinal 8 is the closest and backest vowel. Cardinals 6 and 7 lie roughly
equally between 5 and 8. We will not learn about them in any more detail but they
allow us to describe other vowels in relation to them and the quadrilateral.
Front
Close
Close-mid
Open-mid
Open
Central
Back
1. 
8. 
7. 
2. 
3. 
6. 
4. 
5. 
English Short Vowels
(see Roach 2.3 for the position of English vowels on the quadrilateral)
 as in ‘bit’ is more open and central than cardinal 1, the lips are spread
 as in ‘bed’ is between cardinals 2 and 3, the lips are spread
 as in ‘ban’ is a front vowel not quite as open as cardinal 4
 as in ‘but’ is a central vowel, slightly more open than open mid, the lips are neutral
 as in ‘pot’ is less back and less open than cardinal 5, the lips are slightly rounded
 as in ‘pull’ is more open and central than cardinal 8, the lips are rounded
 as in ‘about’ is central and mid, it is only found in weak syllables
Rachael-Anne Knight, 2003, University of Surrey - Roehampton
Understanding English Variation, Week 2
English Long Vowels
 as in ‘beat’, is very close to cardinal 1 but the lips are only slightly spread
 as in ‘bird’ is central and mid with a neutral lip position
 as in ‘card’ is less back than cardinal 5, the lips are neutral
 as in ‘torn’ is between cardinals 6 and 7, the lips are rounded
 as in ‘food’ is like cardinal 8 but not quite as back or close, the lips are rounded
In this course you are also required to transcribe the vowel at the end of ‘happy’
as  (without the length marks).
English Diphthongs
Diphthongs are sounds that consist of a movement from one vowel to another. The
second part is always shorter and quieter than the first part.
Centring Diphthongs
These glide towards a schwa ()
 as in ‘beard’
 as in ‘aired’
 as in ‘moored’
Closing Diphthongs
These glide to a closer position
 as in ‘eight’
 as in ‘tide’
 as in void
 as in ‘load’
 as in ‘loud’