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Principles of classification.

There are the following criteria: 1. stability of articulation; 2. tongue position; 3. lip position; 4. character of the vowel end; 5. length; 6. tenseness.

1. Stability of articulation. It specifies the actual position of the articulating organ in the process of the articulation of a vowel. There are three possible varieties: a) monophthongs: the tongue position is stable; the articulated vowel is relatively pure. The English monophthongs are [i, e, a:, u, æ, ə, ə:, o, o:, ].

b) diphthongs: the tongue position changes, i.e. a vowel consists of two perceptible elements. The starting point, the nucleus, is strong and distinct. The glide which shows the direction of the quality change is very weak. There are no diphthongs in Russian. The English diphthongs are: [ei, ai, oi, au, iə, əu, eə, uə].

c) diphthongoids: the change in the tongue position is fairly weak, the difference with the starting point and the end is not so distinct as in the case of diphthongs. There are two diphthongoids in English: [i:, u:].

2. The position of the tongue. According to the horizontal movement phoneticians distinguish 5 classes of English vowels. They are: front: [i:], [e], [ei], [æ], [eə], [ai]; front-retracted: [i], [iə]; central: [ ], [ə:], [ə], [au], [əu]; back: [o], [o:], [u:], [a:], [oi]; back - advanced: [u], [uə]. According to the vertical tongue movement the following six groups of vowels are distinguished: 1. close: a) narrow variant: [i:], [u:]; b) broad: [i], [u], [iə], [uə]; 2. Mid: a) narrow: [e], [ə:], [ə], [ei], [əu]; b) broad: [ə], [ ]; 3. Open: a) narrow: [eə], [o:], [oi]; b) broad: [æ], [ai], [au], [o], [a:]. The phonological relevance of the criterion under discussion can be easily discovered in the following oppositions: pen – pan, pen – pin, bin – been, cap – carp, cap – cup, bun – barn.

3. Lip rounding. Two lip positions are distinguished: rounded and unrounded (or neutral). In English lip rounding is not a relevant phonologically since no two words can be differentiated on its basis.

4. Character of the vowel end. It is traditionally termed checkness. This quality depends on the character of the articulatory transition from a vowel to a consonant. It’s very close in English. As a result all English short vowels are checked when stressed. All long vowels are free. This characteristic has no phonological value.

5. Length. The English monophthongs are traditionally divided into two varieties: a) short vowels: [i], [e], [o], [u], [ ], [æ], [ə]; b) long vowels: [i:], [a:], [o:], [u:], [ə:].

The [æ] vowel being classed as historically short tends to be lengthened in Modern English, especially before lenis consonants. In this position it has the same quantity as long vowels.

6. Tenseness. Traditionally long vowels are defined as tense and short as lax. The term “tense” was introduced by H.Sweet, who stated that the tongue is tense when the vowels of narrow variety are articulated G.P.Torsuyev defines all long English vowels as tense as well as [æ], all short vowels are considered by him as lax.