Vowel Diagram (Teaching ESL)

We all do our research and put an effort in making a clear and an accurate presentation, but I'd be glad if this could help especially for those who are taking major in English and/or teaching pronunciation. Good luck!

A proper credit would be appreciated.
• Jay-ar A. Padernal, BSEd Major in English, University of Mindanao

1. Vowel Diagram Teaching ESL

2. /i/  or /iː/ see

3. vowel /i/  - the position of " front " & " close ( high )“ - the tip of the tongue still touches the bottom teeth, but the front of the tongue will be placed high and touch the very front roof of the mouth. - the lips are very spread out when saying /i/.

4. /ɪ/   hit

5. vowel /ɪ/ - the position of between " front " & " central “, also in " close-mid " position - the tip of the tongue still touches the bottom teeth, but the front of the tongue is placed high and in the position between the front & the central roof of the mouth. - the front of the tongue does not touch the roof of the mouth. - the lips are still spread out but less so than with /i/.

6. /u/ blue

7. vowel /u/ - the position of " back " & " close (high) “ - the tip of the tongue still touches the bottom teeth, but the back of the tongue is raised very high and touches the very far back of the roof of the mouth - the lips are very rounded in this position

8. /ʊ/ put

9. vowel /ʊ/ - the position somehow between " central " & " back “, also in the position " close-mid “ - the tip of the tongue still touches the bottom teeth, but the back of the tongue is raised high and somehow between the middle and the back of the roof of the mouth - the lips are rounded in this case but less rounded than /u/

10. /ə/ put

11. vowel /ə/ - the " central " position, also in between " close-mid " & " open-mid “ - the tip of the tongue still touches the bottom teeth, but the middle of the tongue is raised right to the middle of the mouth - the tongue does not touch the middle of the roof of the mouth - the lips are neutral in this position

12. /æ/ cat

13. vowel /æ/ - the middle of " open-mid " & " open (low) “, also stays between " front " and " central “ - the tip of the tongue still touches the bottom teeth, but the whole tongue is low but not really low like /a/ - the front of the tongue somehow stays in the position between the front and the middle of the roof of the mouth, but the front of the tongue is closer to the middle of the roof of the mouth than to the front of the roof of the mouth - the lips are spread out in this case

14. /ə/ vs. /ʌ/ In English, the only real difference between these two is that [ʌ] occurs in stressed syllables, and [ə] occurs in unstressed syllables. There is a slight acoustic difference between the two ( [ʌ] is supposed to be a tiny bit lower and possibly backer than [ə] ), but it is so slight that it is virtually indistinguishable.

15. Presented by: Jay-ar A. Padernal, BSEd Major in English, University of Mindanao