What is the defining characteristic of a mid vowel in terms of tongue position?

A mid vowel is defined by the position of the tongue, which is approximately midway between the position for an open vowel and a close vowel. This means the tongue is neither as high as it would be for a close vowel nor as low as for an open vowel.

What are alternative names used to describe mid vowels?

Mid vowels are also referred to as lowered close-mid vowels and raised open-mid vowels. However, these descriptive terms can sometimes overlap with the actual close-mid and open-mid categories depending on the specific phonetic context.

What is the primary IPA symbol designated for a mid central vowel?

The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) has a dedicated symbol for the mid central vowel, which is represented as [ə]. This symbol is commonly known as the schwa.

How does the IPA chart divide the vowel space in relation to close-mid and open-mid vowels?

The IPA vowel space is divided into thirds based on vowel height. Close-mid vowels, like [e] or [o], and open-mid vowels, like [ɛ] or [ɔ], are positioned equidistant in formant space between the open vowels (like [a]) and the close vowels (like [i] or [u]). True mid vowels fall precisely in between these established categories.

What are the two ways to transcribe a true mid front unrounded vowel using IPA diacritics?

A true mid front unrounded vowel can be transcribed in the IPA in two ways: either as a lowered close-mid vowel, indicated by a lowering diacritic (e.g., e̞), or as a raised open-mid vowel, indicated by a raising diacritic (e.g., ɛ̝).

What is the IPA symbol for a mid front unrounded vowel, and what diacritic might be used to indicate it's truly mid?

A mid front unrounded vowel can be represented by the IPA symbol 'e' with a lowering diacritic (̞), resulting in e̞, or by the symbol for an open-mid front unrounded vowel (ɛ) with a raising diacritic (̝), resulting in ɛ̝. Both notations aim to specify a vowel sound positioned at the mid height.

What is the IPA symbol for a mid front rounded vowel, and what diacritic might be used to indicate it's truly mid?

A mid front rounded vowel can be transcribed as 'ø' with a lowering diacritic (̞), resulting in ø̞, or as the open-mid front rounded vowel 'œ' with a raising diacritic (̝), resulting in œ̝. These transcriptions denote a vowel sound at the mid height with rounded lips.

What is the IPA symbol for a mid central unrounded vowel, and what is its common transcription?

The IPA symbol for a mid central unrounded vowel is [ɘ̞] or [ɜ̝]. However, it is most commonly written using the symbol [ə], which is the symbol for the mid central vowel (schwa).

What is the IPA symbol for a mid central rounded vowel?

The IPA symbol for a mid central rounded vowel is [ɵ].

What is the IPA symbol for a mid central protruded vowel, and what is its common transcription?

The IPA symbol for a mid central protruded vowel is [ɵ̞] or [ɞ̝]. It is commonly written as [ɵ], which is typically associated with a close-mid central rounded vowel.

What is the IPA symbol for a mid central compressed vowel?

The IPA symbol for a mid central compressed vowel is [əᵝ].

What is the IPA symbol for a mid back unrounded vowel, and what diacritic might be used to indicate it's truly mid?

A mid back unrounded vowel can be transcribed as [ɤ] with a lowering diacritic (̞), resulting in [ɤ̞], or as the open-mid back unrounded vowel [ʌ] with a raising diacritic (̝), resulting in [ʌ̝]. These notations specify a mid-height back unrounded vowel.

What is the IPA symbol for a mid back rounded vowel, and what diacritic might be used to indicate it's truly mid?

A mid back rounded vowel can be transcribed as [o] with a lowering diacritic (̞), resulting in [o̞], or as the open-mid back rounded vowel [ɔ] with a raising diacritic (̝), resulting in [ɔ̝]. These symbols represent a mid-height rounded vowel produced at the back of the mouth.

Is it common for languages to contrast all three heights of mid vowels?

No, it is not common for languages to phonemically contrast all three heights of mid vowels (close-mid, mid, and open-mid). This is because most languages do not distinguish more than four heights for true front or back vowels.

Which language is noted for its unusual phonemic contrast of true-mid vowels with close-mid and open-mid vowels?

The Kensiu language, spoken in Malaysia and Thailand, is highlighted as highly unusual for phonemically contrasting true-mid vowels with close-mid and open-mid vowels, without relying on other phonetic differences like backness or roundedness.

Where are the Kensiu people, who speak this unusual language, located?

The Kensiu language is spoken by the Kensiu people in Malaysia and Thailand.

What specific characteristic makes the Kensiu language phonemically distinct regarding its mid vowels?

The Kensiu language is phonemically distinct because it contrasts true-mid vowels with close-mid and open-mid vowels. This distinction is made without differences in other vowel parameters such as backness or roundedness, which is rare among languages.

According to the Kensiu oral vowels table, what is the IPA symbol for the close front unrounded vowel?

According to the provided table of Kensiu oral vowels, the close front unrounded vowel is represented by the IPA symbol 'i'.

In the Kensiu oral vowels table, what IPA symbol represents the close-mid front rounded vowel?

The IPA symbol listed for the close-mid front rounded vowel in the Kensiu oral vowels table is 'ø̝'.

What IPA symbol is listed for the mid central vowel in the Kensiu oral vowels table?

In the Kensiu oral vowels table, the mid central vowel is represented by the IPA symbol 'ə'.

What IPA symbol represents the open front unrounded vowel in the Kensiu oral vowels table?

The open front unrounded vowel in the Kensiu oral vowels table is represented by the IPA symbol 'a'.

According to the Kensiu nasal vowels table, what is the IPA symbol for the close-mid back rounded nasal vowel?

According to the Kensiu nasal vowels table, the close-mid back rounded nasal vowel is represented by the IPA symbol 'õ̝'.

What IPA symbol is listed for the mid back rounded nasal vowel in the Kensiu nasal vowels table?

The mid back rounded nasal vowel in the Kensiu nasal vowels table is represented by the IPA symbol 'õ'.

What IPA symbol represents the open front unrounded nasal vowel in the Kensiu nasal vowels table?

The open front unrounded nasal vowel in the Kensiu nasal vowels table is represented by the IPA symbol 'ã'.

What are the seven main height categories for vowels presented in the IPA vowel chart?

The seven main height categories for vowels presented in the IPA vowel chart are: Close, Near-close, Close-mid, Mid, Open-mid, Near-open, and Open.

What are the three main backness categories for vowels presented in the IPA vowel chart?

The three main backness categories for vowels presented in the IPA vowel chart are: Front, Central, and Back.

What does the dot symbol (•) represent in the context of the IPA vowel chart legend?

In the context of the IPA vowel chart legend, the dot symbol (•) signifies an unrounded vowel. Its presence indicates that the vowel sound is produced without rounding of the lips.

What are the primary manners of articulation listed for pulmonic consonants in the IPA chart?

The primary manners of articulation listed for pulmonic consonants in the IPA chart include Nasal, Plosive, Sibilant affricate, Non-sibilant affricate, Sibilant fricative, Non-sibilant fricative, Approximant, Tap/flap, Trill, Lateral affricate, Lateral fricative, Lateral approximant, and Lateral tap/flap.

What are the primary places of articulation listed for pulmonic consonants in the IPA chart?

The primary places of articulation listed for pulmonic consonants in the IPA chart are: Labial (further divided into Bilabial, Labiodental, Linguolabial), Coronal (further divided into Dental, Alveolar, Postalveolar, Retroflex), Dorsal (further divided into Palatal, Velar, Uvular), and Laryngeal (further divided into Pharyngeal/epiglottal, Glottal).

What do the shaded areas in the IPA consonant chart signify?

The shaded areas within the IPA consonant chart denote articulations that are judged to be impossible to produce. These regions represent combinations of place and manner of articulation that are not phonetically feasible.

How are voiced and voiceless consonants typically distinguished in the IPA chart?

In the IPA consonant chart, voiceless consonants are typically represented by symbols on the left side of a cell, while their voiced counterparts are represented by symbols on the right side of the same cell. This convention applies to most consonant categories.

What is the IPA symbol for a voiced bilabial nasal consonant?

The IPA symbol for a voiced bilabial nasal consonant is 'm'.

What is the IPA symbol for a voiceless alveolar plosive?

The IPA symbol for a voiceless alveolar plosive is 't'.

What is the IPA symbol for a voiced velar fricative?

The IPA symbol for a voiced velar fricative is 'ɣ' (gamma).

What is the IPA symbol for a voiceless postalveolar affricate?

The IPA symbol for a voiceless postalveolar affricate is 'tʃ'.

What is the IPA symbol for a voiced uvular implosive?

The IPA symbol for a voiced uvular implosive is 'ʛ'.

What is the IPA symbol for a voiceless bilabial trill?

The IPA symbol for a voiceless bilabial trill is 'pʙ̥'.

What is the IPA symbol for a voiced palatal approximant?

The IPA symbol for a voiced palatal approximant is 'j'.

What is the IPA symbol for a voiceless labiodental fricative?

The IPA symbol for a voiceless labiodental fricative is 'f'.

What is the IPA symbol for a voiced alveolar lateral approximant?

The IPA symbol for a voiced alveolar lateral approximant is 'l'.

What is the IPA symbol for a voiceless velar ejective stop?

The IPA symbol for a voiceless velar ejective stop is 'kʼ'.

What is the IPA symbol for a tenuis bilabial click?

The IPA symbol for a tenuis bilabial click is 'kʘ' (top) and 'qʘ' (bottom).

What is the IPA symbol for a voiced labial-velar nasal?

The IPA symbol for a voiced labial-velar nasal is 'ŋ͡m'.

What is the IPA symbol for a velarized alveolar lateral approximant?

The IPA symbol for a velarized alveolar lateral approximant is 'ɫ'.

Mid Vowel Wiki: The Articulation of Mid Vowels: A Phonetic Exploration

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Understanding Mid Vowels

Defining Characteristic

A mid vowel is a classification of vowel sounds found in various spoken languages. The defining feature of a mid vowel is the position of the tongue, which is situated approximately halfway between the articulation points of an open vowel (where the tongue is low) and a close vowel (where the tongue is high).^[1]^[2]

Terminology Nuances

Alternative designations for mid vowels include lowered close-mid vowel and raised open-mid vowel. It is important to note that the former term can also describe a vowel that is as low as an open-mid vowel, and the latter can describe a vowel as high as a close-mid vowel. This indicates a spectrum of articulation rather than absolute positions.^[1]^[2]

Global Prevalence

While the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) has a dedicated symbol for only one mid vowel, the concept is crucial for understanding vowel systems across languages. Many languages utilize vowels that fall within this mid-height range, contributing to the rich diversity of human speech sounds.

IPA Representation

The Mid Central Vowel

The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) designates a specific symbol for the mid central vowel: [ə]. This symbol represents a vowel sound where the tongue is positioned centrally and at a mid height.

Diacritics for Precision

The IPA system employs diacritics to denote finer distinctions in vowel articulation. For vowels that fall precisely between the standard close-mid and open-mid categories, specific diacritics are used. For instance, a mid front unrounded vowel can be transcribed either as a lowered close-mid vowel ([e̞]) or a raised open-mid vowel ([ɛ̝]). These notations allow for precise phonetic transcription.

Transcription Conventions

Understanding the use of brackets is essential for phonetic transcription. Square brackets [ ] are used for narrow phonetic transcription, indicating precise sounds as they are produced. Forward slashes / / are used for broader phonemic transcription, representing the abstract sound system of a language.

IPA Vowel Chart Overview

Visualizing Vowel Space

The IPA vowel chart visually organizes vowel sounds based on two primary articulatory dimensions: tongue height (close, close-mid, mid, open-mid, open) and tongue backness (front, central, back). Rounding of the lips is also a critical factor, particularly for back vowels.

Mid vowels occupy the central row of this chart, representing a tongue position intermediate between the extremes of high and low vowels.

Key Mid Vowel Categories

The IPA chart includes several categories that fall under the "mid" classification, often requiring diacritics for precise representation:

Mid Front Unrounded: Represented by [e̞] or [ɛ̝].
Mid Front Rounded: Represented by [ø̞] or [œ̝].
Mid Central Unrounded: Represented by [ə] (schwa) or [ɘ].
Mid Central Rounded: Represented by [ɵ] or [ɜ].
Mid Back Unrounded: Represented by [ɤ̞] or [ʌ̝].
Mid Back Rounded: Represented by [o̞] or [ɔ̝].

The specific symbols used often depend on whether the vowel is considered closer to the close-mid or open-mid category.

Linguistic Contrasts

Contrasting Vowel Heights

Most languages do not phonemically contrast all three vowel heights (close, mid, open) for front or back vowels simultaneously. This is because the perceptual distinctiveness between adjacent height categories can diminish as more distinctions are added. However, some languages exhibit minimal pairs that highlight these subtle differences.

The Kensiu Exception

The Kensiu language, spoken by the Kensiu people in Malaysia and Thailand, presents a rare case. It phonemically contrasts true-mid vowels with close-mid and open-mid vowels without significant variation in other phonetic parameters like backness or roundedness. This linguistic feature makes Kensiu particularly noteworthy for phonetic study.

The Kensiu language distinguishes between oral and nasal vowels, with specific mid vowels appearing in both categories. The following tables illustrate these distinctions:

Kensiu Oral Vowels
	Front	Central	Back
Close	[i]	[ɨ]	[u]
Near-close	[ɪ]
Close-mid	[e̝]	[ɘ]	[o̝]
Mid	[e]	[ə]	[o]
Open-mid	[ɛ]	[ɜ]	[ɔ]
Open		[a]
Diphthongs	[ie]

Kensiu Nasal Vowels
	Front	Central	Back
Close	[ĩ]	[ɨ̃]	[ũ]
Near-close	[ɪ̃]
Close-mid	[ẽ̝]		[õ̝]
Mid	[ẽ]		[õ]
Open-mid	[ɛ̃]	[ɜ̃]	[ɔ̃]
Open		[ã]
Diphthongs	[ĩẽ̝]

Kensiu Language Details

Phonemic Contrasts

The Kensiu language is linguistically significant for its phonemic contrast between mid vowels and adjacent vowel heights. This means that distinguishing between a mid vowel and a close-mid or open-mid vowel can change the meaning of a word in Kensiu, a feature not commonly found in many other languages.

Inventory of Sounds

As detailed in the previous section, Kensiu possesses a rich vowel inventory, including distinct mid vowels in both oral and nasal forms. The precise articulation of these sounds, particularly the mid-central and mid-back vowels, requires careful phonetic analysis and transcription using the IPA.

Key IPA Symbols

Essential Mid Vowel Symbols

While the IPA chart is extensive, understanding the core symbols for mid vowels is fundamental:

[ə]: The mid central vowel (schwa), common in unstressed syllables across many languages.
[e]: A mid front unrounded vowel.
[o]: A mid back rounded vowel.
[ɛ]: An open-mid front unrounded vowel.
[ɔ]: An open-mid back rounded vowel.

Diacritics like [e̞], [ø̞], [o̞], [ɛ̝], [œ̝], and [ɔ̝] are used to specify positions between the primary height categories.

Further IPA Resources

The IPA system is comprehensive, covering consonants, vowels, and suprasegmental features. For a deeper understanding of phonetic symbols and their usage, consulting the official IPA charts and related resources is highly recommended. These resources provide detailed explanations and audio examples.

IPA Help
Full IPA Chart
IPA Vowel Template
Transcription Delimiters

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Important Notice

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This is not linguistic advice. The information provided on this website is not a substitute for professional linguistic consultation, analysis, or training. Always refer to authoritative linguistic resources and consult with qualified phoneticians or linguists for specific academic or research needs. Never disregard professional advice because of something you have read on this website.

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The Articulation of Mid Vowels

💡 Dive in with Flashcard Learning! 💡

Understanding Mid Vowels 🗣️

🔊 Defining Characteristic

↔️ Terminology Nuances

🌍 Global Prevalence

IPA Representation 🔠

📍 The Mid Central Vowel

➕ Diacritics for Precision

❓ Transcription Conventions

IPA Vowel Chart Overview 📊

🗺️ Visualizing Vowel Space

➡️ Key Mid Vowel Categories

Linguistic Contrasts 💬

⚖️ Contrasting Vowel Heights

💡 The Kensiu Exception

Kensiu Language Details 🇰🇭

🗣️ Phonemic Contrasts

🗂️ Inventory of Sounds

Key IPA Symbols 🔤

📌 Essential Mid Vowel Symbols

📚 Further IPA Resources

Teacher's Corner 🧑‍🏫

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Disclaimer ⚠️

📜 Important Notice

Dive in with Flashcard Learning!

Understanding Mid Vowels

Defining Characteristic

Terminology Nuances

Global Prevalence

IPA Representation

The Mid Central Vowel

Diacritics for Precision

Transcription Conventions

IPA Vowel Chart Overview

Visualizing Vowel Space

Key Mid Vowel Categories

Linguistic Contrasts

Contrasting Vowel Heights

The Kensiu Exception

Kensiu Language Details

Phonemic Contrasts

Inventory of Sounds

Key IPA Symbols

Essential Mid Vowel Symbols

Further IPA Resources

Teacher's Corner

True or False?

Test Your Knowledge!

Gamer's Corner

Discover other topics to study!

References

Feedback & Support

Disclaimer

Important Notice