VOWEL VOCAL PHONEMES

i: see, unique, feel

High, front, tense.

ɪ wit, mystic, little

High, front, lax

e set, meant, bet

Mid, front, tense

æ pat, cash, bad

Low, front, lax

ɑ: half, part, father

Low, central, lax

ɒ not, what, cost

Low, back lax

ɔ: port, caught, all

Mid, back, lax

ʊ wood, could, put

High, back, lax

u: you, music, rude

High, back, tense

ʌ bus, come, but

Mid, central, lax

ɜ: beard, word, fur

Mid, central, lax

ə alone, butter

Mid, central, lax.

Height refers to the relative height of the relevant part of the tongue when producing a sound: high, mid, low. Frontness and backness refers to the part of the mouth part of the
tongue move toward: front, central, and back. Tenseness refers to whether the lip/tongue muscles are relatively tensed or relaxed when producing a vowel sound: tense and lax.