- English short vowels and long vowels

Vowels are sounds in which there is no obstruction to the flow of air as it passes from the larynx to the lips. We need to know in what ways vowels differ from each other. The first matter to consider is the shape and position of the tongue: the vertical distance between the upper surface of the tongue and the palate, and the part of the tongue, between front and back, which is raised highest

There is another important variable of vowel quality, and that is lip-rounding

Rounded: the corners of the lips are brought towards each other and the lips pushed forward into the shape of a circle. Example sound: /u:/ Spread: the corners of the lips moved away from each other, as for a smile. Example sound: /i:/. Neutral: the lips are not noticeably rounded or spread. Example sound: //.

Lip-rounding

According to the length of the vowels

English has 12 vowels (7 short vowels and 5 long vowels) English short vowels //, /e/, //, //, //, //, // English long /i:/, /3:/, /a:/, /:/, /u:/

ACCORDING TO THE SHAPE and POSITION of the TONGUE 1. Close vowels: the tongue is quite high in the mouth.
Unrounded front vowel

The front of the tongue is slightly behind and below the close front position. The close position is where the tongue is closest to the roof of the mouth. Lips are spread. The tongue is tense, and the sides of the tongue touch the upper molars.

Unrounded front vowel

The part of the tongue slightly nearer the centre is raised to a point between the close and mid-close position . The tongue is more relaxed and the sides of the tongue may just touch the upper molars. The lips are slightly spread.

Rounded back vowel

The back of the tongue is raised just below the close position. Lips are rounded. The tongue is tense.

Rounded back vowel

The part of the tongue just behind the centre is raised, just above the half-closed position. The lips are rounded, but loosely. The tongue is relatively relaxed

2. Mid vowels: For mid vowels the tongue is neither high nor low in the mouth.

Unrounded front vowel

The front of the tongue is between the mid-open and midclose positions. The tongue is tenser than for / /, and the sides of the tongue may touch the upper molars. Lips are loosely spread.

Unrounded central vowel

The centre of the tongue is between the mid-close and midopen positions. Lips are relaxed, and neutrally spread.

Rounded back vowel

The back of the tongue is raised between the mid-open and mid-close positions. This vowel is almost fully back and has quite loosely liprounding.

Unrounded central vowel

The centre of the tongue is between the mid-close and midopen positions. Lips are relaxed, and neutrally spread. It is commonly used by English speakers as a hesitation sound.

3. Open vowels: For open vowels, the tongue is low in the mouth.

Unrounded front vowel

The front of the tongue is raised just above the open position. The lips are slightly spread.

Unrounded central vowel

The centre of the tongue is raised just above the open position. The lip position is neutral.

Rounded back vowel

This is an open vowel. The tongue, between the centre and the back is in the fully open position. The lip position is neutral.

Rounded back vowel

This vowel is not quite fully back, and between open-mid and open in tongue height.
The lips are slightly rounded.