183 Creating Vowels Exercise 4: Listen to these two vowels
Which is made with the tongue higher in the mouth and which is lower? Answer
Exercise 5: Listen to these two vowels
Which is made with the tongue more forward in the mouth and which is more backwards? Answer
The numbers on the grid show the furthest points the tongue can move to without creating a consonant sound. For example, for number 1 the middle of the tongue arches forward and upwards. The tip of the tongue is relaxed down.
Move the tongue to the different positions and feel how you create different vowels. Use the audio to help you.
The vowels represented by positions 1-4 aren’t necessarily vowels in a particular language – but they can help you understand how vowels work in your mouth. Vowel 1 is approximately /iː/
like in “FLEECE”. Vowel 2 is much further back as /uː/ like in “GHOUL”. Vowel 3 is approximately /ɑː/ like in “START”, and Vowel 4 is approximately /a/ like in “TRAP”.
