Stability of Articulation

Length

Degree of Tenseness and the Character of the End of the Vowel

This principle of vowel classification together with the principle of length provides the basis for the following distinctive oppositions:

Tense vs. lax Checked vs. free

eel —ill steel — still done — darn knit — need
peel—pill sead — sit fun — farm cut — card

deed — did feed — fit come — calm fit — feed

There are long vowel phonemes in English /i:, а:, о:, u:, ə:/ and short /ı, u, æ, Λ, υ, ə/. But the length of the vowels is not the only distinctive
feature of minimal pairs like: Pete — pit, beet — bit, Bart — bud. In other words, the difference between /i: — ı/ /a: — Λ /, etc. is not only quantitative but also qualitative, which is conditioned by different positions

of the bulk of the tongue. E.g. in the words bead — bid not only the length of the vowels /i:, ı/ is different but in the /i:/ articulation the bulk of the tongue occupies a more front and high position, than in the articulation of /ı/; similarly in stay — stays — state the nucleus of /eı/ shortens followed by /d/ and /t/, changes its quality.

Qualitative difference is the main relevant feature that serves to differentiate long and short vowel phonemes because quantitative char­acteristics of long vowels depend on the position they occupy in a word:'

(a) they are the longest in the terminal position: bee, bar, coo, her,
law, car;

(b) they are shorter before voiced consonants: bead, bard, cool, term,
lard, card;

(c) they are the shortest before voiceless consonants: beet, Bart,
hoot, Turk, loose, cart.

To observe the quantity, or length of vowels in different positions, it is advisable to do contrast exercises, e.g.

bee — bead — beet bar — Bard — Bart car — card — cart

The principle provides the basis for the following distinctive opposi­tions:

(1) Monophthongs vs. diphthongs

bit — bait bid — beard dead — dared cot — coat

In these pairs the monophthongs /ı, e, o/ are opposed to the diph­thongs /eı, ıə, εə, əu/.

kit — kite debt — doubt John — join

In these pairs the monophthongs /ı, e, o/ are opposed to the diph­thongs /aı, аu, oı/

(2) Diphthongs vs. diphthongoids /i: / /u:/

bite — bee bait — beet boat — boot pail — pool

lake — leek beard — bead raid — rude care — coo

In these pairs the diphthongs /aı, eı, əı, əu, εə/ are opposed to the /i:, u:/.

According to the movement of the tongue within the articulation of the diphthong from the nucleus to the glide, diphthongs are subdivided into closing and centring.

The method of minimal pairs helps to establish 20 vowel phonemes in the phonological system of English vowels:

12 monophthongs: /ı, e, æ, a:, υ, o:, u, Λ, з:, ə, i:, u:/;

8 diphthongs: /eı, aı, εə, ıə, oı, uə, аu, əu/.

Дата добавления: 2014-01-06