There are also gliding vowels (diphthongs)

Diphthongs

There are 3 different approaches:

VV – a union of 2 vowel sounds one after one without a break

VG – a union of a vowel and a glide (=przesunięcie)

one vowel whose quality is changing during its articulation (as opposed to pure vowels)

Diphthongs are treated as long vowels. There are 8 of them.

There are two divisions of diphthongs:

1. Based on the prominence of elements

   1. falling – is one in which the first element is more prominent

   2. raising – is one in which the second element is more prominent

   3. sustained (levelled) – the elements are equally prominent ()

2. Based on the position of tongue

   1. closing (they end in  or ) – they have the highest position

   2. centring (they end in )

In English the second element of diphthong is not very prominent and should be kept short and rather weak.

Important:

a diphthong occupies one syllable, whereas in a normal sequence of vowels the two vowels occupy two syllables e.g. vain, chaos.

Triphthongs

• triphthongs – the most complex sounds in English

• it’s a glide from one vowel to another and then still another one, all pronounced without interruption

• they consist of the 5 closing diphthongs plus the shwa. Some phoneticians believe they are diphthongs followed by shwa.

  • layer 

  • liar 

  • hour 

  • lower 

Classification of vowels

nasal vowels (Polish ą, ę) the air is released through the nose

nasalized vowels – part of the air is released through the nose and the rest of it through the mouth (like in France ã)

Consonants

consonantal type

• a sound whose articulation involves some kind of obstruction, friction, stoppage or closure. There is an obstacle to the air somewhere. Some consonants cannot be pronounced on their own.

To describe a given sound we need to consider:

1. Type of the stream (ingressive/egressive)

2. State of the glottis (voiced/voiceless)

3. Position of the velum (oral/nasal)

4. Place of articulation (the position of tongue, lips, teeth, etc. – where the sound is produced)

5. Manner of articulation – the type of friction, obstruction – how is produced)

Two major groups

1. sonorants – these are louder and voiced (they don’t have a voiceless counterpart ) little obstruction involved

2. obstruents – these are quieter and come in pairs of voiced-voiceless sounds; some sort of obstruction is involved

Another basic division

1. fortis consonants – are voiceless more muscular effort is needed to pronounce them

2. lenis consonants – are voiceless and usually less effort is needed to pronounce them

Places of articulation:

1. bilabial sounds – the 2 lips are primary articulations: p, b, m

2. labio-dental – the lower lip articulates with the upper teeth: f, v

3. dental/interdental – the tongue tip articulates with the upper teeth ,

4. alveolar – the blade or the tip and blade of the tongue articulates with the alveolar ridge: s, z, t, d, l, n

5. post-alveolar – the tip and rims of the tongue articulate with the rear part of the alveolar ridge , 

6. palato-alveolar – the blade or the tip the blade of the tongue articulate with the alveolar ridge and at the same time the front of the tongue is raised towards the hard palate: , 

7. palatal – the front of the tongue articulates with the hard palate: j

8. velar – the back of the tongue articulates with the soft palate k, g, 

9. glottal – there is obstruction or narrowing in the glottis causing friction but not vibration between the vocal cords: , 

10. retroflex (shape) – tip of the tongue is curled back to articulate with the part of the hard palate immediately behind the alveolar ridge: (r)

11. uvular – back of the tongue + uvula (French r): 