The production of vowels takes place in a relatively small area of the mouth. There are two main vocal organs which are highly responsible for the production of vowel sounds: the tongue and the lips. The latter may be rounded to produce vowels like u or unrounded to produce vowels like i. In addition, the vowel is produced depending on the position of the tongue- whether it is higher or lower in the mouth- and the position in the tongue- whether it is further to the front or to the back. Thus, vowels can be described based on their height (position of the tongue), backness (position in the tongue) and rounding (lips shape).

Classification

· Height

o High vowels e.g. i, y, ɯ, u

o Mid-high vowels e.g. e, ø, ɤ, o

o Mid-low vowels e.g. ɛ, œ, ʌ, ɔ

o Low vowels e.g. a, ɶ, ɑ, ɒ

· Backness (Part of the tongue)

o Front vowels e.g. i, y, ɛ, œ, e, ø

o Central vowels e.g. ɨ , ʉ , ə

o Back vowels e.g. ʌ, ɔ, ɤ, o, ɯ, u

· Rounding

o Rounded vowels e.g. y, u, o, œ

o Unrounded vowels e.g. i, ɛ, a, ʌ, ɑ

By Fatima El Hamdi (2020) (inspired by Karim Bensoukas)