CHAPTER IV

THE SOUNDS OF THE LANGUAGE (VOWELS)

With the vocal motor-power provided for, we may proceed to the sounds of the language. Broadly classified, these fall into three divisions: vowels, diphthongs, and consonants. The vowel sounds are those which are produced by vocalization in the larynx, modified in the case of each sound by the position of the larynx and by a specific adjustment in the shape of the pharynx and mouth. The diphthongs are combinations of two vowel sounds closely linked together. The consonants are produced by forcing the breath, sometimes vocalized and sometimes unvocalized, against mouth obstructions which are more marked than those employed for the vowels.

These sounds of the language are the materials of speech, just as the breathing apparatus, the voice-box, the resonance cavities, and the organs of articulation are the tools of speech. It is, therefore, desirable to know specifically what these sounds are, how they are made, the errors most common in their production, and, since most of them are indicated in more than one way, how they are represented by the letters of the alphabet. In studying and practicing the production of the sounds, the student is urged to think, to feel, and, with the aid of a mirror, to see what he is doing. We shall first examine the vowel sounds.

Italian ä, (as in ah, father)

This sound is represented also, in some cases, by ea (heart), au (aunt), ua (guard).

In making this sound, the throat is opened widely, as in yawning; the teeth are placed about three quarters of an inch apart; the lips are slightly drawn from the teeth; the tongue is completely relaxed.

Broad a, (as in all, talk, water)

This sound is represented also by au, (haul), aw (saw), o (long), ou (bought).

In making this sound, the throat opening is slightly narrowed from the position for the sound above; the teeth are placed about an inch apart; the lips are thrust forward; the tongue is relaxed.

Short ă, (as in hat, cat)

In making this sound, the voice-box is slightly raised (notice this by placing the finger over the voice-box, and making the Italian a, followed by the short a); the tongue is slightly raised and thrust forward a little; the lips are slightly drawn back at the corners of the mouth; the teeth are placed about a quarter of an inch apart.

Long a, (as in ate, cake)

This sound is represented also by ai (rain), au (gauge), ay (day), ea (break), ei (veil), ey (they).

In making this sound, the teeth are placed about half an inch apart; the lips are well drawn back at the corners of the mouth; the tongue is considerably raised and thrust forward so that the edges of the blade are pressed against the upper grinders.

Intermediate ȧ, (as in ask, bath, class)

In making this sound, the tongue is placed midway

between its low position for Italian a, and its higher position for short a; the lips are closer than for Italian a, but slightly farther apart than for short a; the same is true of the teeth. Practically, the organic position and the resulting sound are in every respect midway between those of the Italian and short a. Pronounce bär, båth, băt, noting particularly the shift in lip and teeth positions.

The student should strive to acquire an easy habitual use of this intermediate a as it suggests affectation if it sounds like the a in father, and lack of culture if it sounds like the a in hat. Words in common use which take this sound are: advantage, after, answer, basket, blast, branch, brass, chance, chant, clasp, class, contrast, dance, draft, example, fast, gasp, glance, glass, grant, grasp, grass, last, mask, mass, nasty, pass, rasp, shaft, staff, vast.

Long ē, (as in mete, eve)

7 This sound is represented also by ee (beet), ea (beat), ei (receive), ie (believe), eo (people), ey (key), ae (Caesar), i (machine), uay (quay), oe (phoenix), ue (Portuguese).

In making this sound, the voice-box is raised very high; the teeth are brought almost together; the corners of the lips are drawn far back and turned upward; the edges of the blade of the tongue are raised against the soft palate, leaving only a small central groove for the passage of the air.

Short ě, (as in met, bet)

This sound is represented also by ea (feather), ei (heifer), eo (leopard), ie (friend), ae (diaeresis), oe (asafoetida), u (bury), ue (guess), a (any), ai (said).

In making this sound, the position is the same as for long a, except a slight dropping of the lower jaw, which lowers the tongue a little.

Long i, (as in bite, ice)

This sound is represented also by ie (die), ui (beguile), ei (height), ai (aisle), y (fly), uy (buy), ye (rye).

This sound is what is known as diphthongal, i. e., it combines the Italian a and the long e sounds. It is produced by a quick shift during vocalization from the position for the former to the position for the latter component sound.

Short i, (as in fit, ship)

This sound is represented also by y (hymn), ui (guilt), ie (sieve), ee (been), u (business), o (women). The sound is produced as is the long e, except more rapidly, and with the lower jaw and tongue dropped just a trifle lower.

Long ō, (as in open, wrote)

This sound is represented also by oo (floor), eau (bureau), au (hautbois), eo (yeoman), ew (sew), ow (low), ou (boulder), oe (toe), oa (foam).

In making this sound, the teeth are placed about three quarters of an inch apart; the lips are drawn over them into circular form; the cheeks are drawn in slightly; the tongue is relaxed.

Short ŏ, (as in on, hot)

This sound is represented also by a (was), ow (knowledge).

The sound is produced the same as the Italian a, except that it is of shorter duration.

Long oo, (as in boot, brood)

This sound is represented also by o (do), oe (canoe), ou (soup), u (rule), ue (rue), ui (fruit), ew (flew), eu (rheum).

In making this sound, the teeth are placed about a quarter of an inch apart; the lips are thrust forward, making a small circular opening; the blade of the tongue is slightly raised.

Short oo, (as in book, look)

This sound is represented also by o (wolf), u (pull). In making this sound, the circle of the lips is slightly larger, and the teeth are a little farther apart than for the long oo sound.

Long ū, (as in use, tune)

This sound is represented also by eau (beautiful), eu (feudal), ieu (lieu), iew (review), ue (rescue), ui (suit), yu (yule), you (your).

Like the long i, this sound is diphthongal. It begins with the organs in the long e position and proceeds through a rapid shift to the long oo position.

Short u, (as in but, nut)

This sound is represented also by o (some), oe (does), oo (blood), ou (touch).

In making this sound, the teeth are placed almost together, as for long e; the lips are drawn back from the teeth; the tongue lies flat, with the tip just touching the base of the lower front teeth.

Especial attention is called to the fact that this short u sound is approximately the one used for the so-called neutral vowel sound in unstressed syllables, such as the a in amount, extra, the e in father, linger, the second i in agility, sir, the o in instructor, actor, etc.