I MA English - Descriptions - Pure Vowels

During the articulation of the pure vowel /i:/ of the RP, the ​ (a)   of the tongue is raised in the direction of the hard palate to a position ​ (b)   . The lips are ​ ​ ​ ​ (c)   .

• front
• close
• unrounded
• rear part
• rounded
• just above half-close

During the articulation of the pure vowel /i/ of the RP, the ​​ (a)   of the front of the tongue is raised in the direction of the hard palate to a position ​ ​ (b)   . The lips are ​ ​ ​ ​ (c)   .

• unrounded
• rear part
• rounded
• just above half-close
• front

During the articulation of the pure vowel /e/ of the RP, the ​​ (a)   of the tongue is raised in the direction of the hard palate to a position ​ ​ (b)   . The lips are ​ (c)   .

• rear part
• rounded
• between half-close and half-open
• front
• unrounded

During the articulation of the pure vowel /æ/ of the RP, the ​​ (a)   of the tongue is raised in the direction of the hard palate to a position ​ ​ (b)   . The lips are ​ (c)   .

• between half-close and half-open
• rounded
• just below hlalf-open
• front
• unrounded
• central

During the articulation of the pure vowel /˄/ of the RP, the ​​ ​ (a)   of the tongue is raised in the direction of the hard palate to a position ​ ​ (b)   . The lips are ​ (c)   .

• between half-close and half-open
• rounded
• just above open
• unrounded
• just below half-close
• centre

During the articulation of the pure vowel /ə/ of the RP, the ​​ ​ (a)   of the tongue is raised in the direction of the hard palate to a position ​ ​ (b)   . The lips are ​ (c)   .

• between half-close and half-open
• rounded
• just below half-open
• unrounded
• just below half-close
• centre

During the articulation of the pure vowel /ə:/ of the RP, the ​​ ​ (a)   of the tongue is raised in the direction of the hard palate to a position ​ ​ ​ (b)   . The lips are ​ (c)   .

• between half-close and half-open
• rounded
• unrounded
• just below half-close
• centre

During the articulation of the pure vowel /a:/ of the RP, the ​​ ​​ (a)   of the tongue is in a position ​​ (b)   . The lips are ​ ​ (c)   .

• unrounded
• just below half-close
• back
• centre of the tongue
• fully open

During the articulation of the pure vowel /ɔ/ of the RP, the ​​ ​ (a)   ​​ of the tongue is in a position ​​ (b)   . The lips are ​ ​ (c)   .

• rounded
• just below half-close
• just above open
• back

During the articulation of the pure vowel /ɔ:/ of the RP, the ​​ ​ (a)   ​​ of the tongue is raised in the direction of the ​ (b)   to a position ​​ ​ (c)   . The lips are ​ ​ (d)   .

• just below half-close
• back
• soft palate
• rounded
• between half-close and half-open