Question

Which of the following is a front vowel?

• A. /u:/
• B. /i:/
• C. /ɔ:/
• D. /ɑ:/

Answer 1

Answer:

B. /i:/

Understanding Front Vowels in Phonology

• What are Vowels?

  • Vowels are speech sounds produced with a relatively open vocal tract, meaning there is no significant obstruction of airflow as it exits the mouth.
  • They are typically voiced, meaning the vocal cords vibrate during their production.

• Classification of Vowels

  • Vowels are primarily classified based on three articulatory dimensions related to tongue position and lip shape:
    1. Tongue Height (Vertical Position): How high or low the tongue is in the mouth (e.g., High, Mid, Low).
    2. Tongue Advancement (Horizontal Position): How far forward or back the tongue is in the mouth (e.g., Front, Central, Back).
    3. Lip Rounding: Whether the lips are rounded or unrounded during production.

• What are Front Vowels?

  • Front vowels are a category of vowel sounds produced when the highest part of the tongue is positioned towards the front of the mouth, close to the hard palate.
  • This positioning creates a resonance chamber that gives these vowels their characteristic 'bright' or 'tense' quality.

• Detailed Explanation of /i:/ (High Front Unrounded Vowel)

  • The vowel sound /i:/, as in words like "see," "feel," or "tree," is a classic example of a front vowel.
  • It is specifically classified as a High Front Unrounded Vowel:
    • High: The tongue is raised very high in the mouth, close to the roof.
    • Front: The highest point of the tongue is positioned forward in the mouth.
    • Unrounded: The lips are spread or neutral, not rounded.
  • The colon (:) in /i:/ indicates that it is a long vowel sound in Received Pronunciation (RP) and many other English accents.
  • It is one of the Cardinal Vowels, specifically Cardinal Vowel No. 1, serving as a primary reference point in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) vowel chart.

• Other Common Front Vowels in English (for competitive exams):

  • /ɪ/ (as in "kit," "sit"): A High-Mid Front Unrounded Vowel. It is shorter and more relaxed than /i:/.
  • /e/ (as in "dress," "bed" - common in British English RP, or as part of the diphthong /eɪ/ in "face"): A Mid Front Unrounded Vowel.
  • /æ/ (as in "trap," "cat"): A Low Front Unrounded Vowel. The tongue is low and front, and the mouth is relatively open.