Vowels & Consonants

Vowels and Consonants in English:

alphabet:26 letters

There are 26 letters in the English alphabet, from "A" to "Z." Vowels and consonants make up the two categories of these letters.

Vowels in English: In English, there are five vowels letters:

A
E
I
O
U

Consonants: 

The remaining 21 letters of the alphabet are considered consonants:

b, c, d, f, g, h, j, k, l, m, n, p, q, r, s, t, v, w, x, y, z.

Semi-Vowels In English, the letters "Y" and "W" are known as semi-vowels

When "Y" or "W" occurs at the beginning of a word, they are considered consonants. For example,

Water, work
Young, your

However, if "Y" or "W" appears at the end or in the middle of a word, they are considered vowels. For example,

Saw (آرا), Paw (پنجہ)
Cry, fly, by

It's crucial to remember that vowels are necessary for the formation of words in English. There are a select few extraordinary words, according to some linguists, that can still be referred to as "words" even though they lack vowels. Examples of these words, which function more like interjections, are "hmm," "shh," "nth," and others.

It may be easier to recall the vowels if you use a word like "EDUCATION," which has all five English vowels.

Two English words that alphabetically contain each vowel  are:

Abstemious

Facetious

The key to mastering the English language is knowing the difference between vowels and consonants, which can help students get better at reading and pronouncing words.


Phonemes - Consonants and Vowels

Each letter in the English alphabet corresponds to one or more unique sounds known as phonemes. The fundamental units of spoken language, phonemes are crucial for comprehending pronunciation and enhancing communication abilities. Let's explore vowel and consonant sounds as we go deeper into the world of phonemes.

Consonant Sounds:

Consonants are speech sounds produced when the airflow through the vocal tract is somehow restricted or blocked. There are numerous consonant sounds in the English language, each made with a distinct portion of the mouth. Consonant sounds can be divided into groups according to how and where they are pronounced.

Manner of Articulation:

a. Plosives (Stops): 

These sounds are formed by briefly stopping the airflow and then releasing it. Examples include /p/, /b/, /t/, /d/, /k/, and /g/.

b. Fricatives: 

These sounds are produced by forcing the airflow through a narrow gap, resulting in a hissing sound. Examples include /f/, /v/, /s/, /z/, /sh/, and /zh/ (as in "measure").

c. Affricates: 

These sounds combine the characteristics of plosives and fricatives. They begin with a brief stop and then release into a fricative sound. Examples include /ch/ (as in "church") and /j/ (as in "judge").

d. Nasals: 

These sounds are produced by letting air pass through the nose while blocking the mouth. Examples include /m/, /n/, and /ng/ (as in "sing").

e. Lateral Approximant: 

The sound /l/ is formed by allowing air to flow along the sides of the tongue.

f. Approximants: 

These are sounds where the articulators come close together, but not enough to create turbulence. Examples include /r/ (as in "run") and /w/ (as in "win").Place of Articulation:

According to where the vocal tract's airflow blockage occurs, consonant sounds are likewise divided into several categories.

a. Bilabial: 

Sounds produced by bringing both lips together, as in /p/ and /b/.

b. Labiodental: 

Sounds formed by placing the upper teeth against the lower lip, as in /f/ and /v/.

c. Dental:

 Sounds produced by placing the tongue against the upper front teeth, as in /t̪/ and /d̪/.

d. Alveolar:

 Sounds formed by raising the tongue tip to the alveolar ridge (the area just behind the upper front teeth), as in /t/ and /d/.

e. Palatal: 

Sounds produced by raising the tongue to the hard palate, as in /ʃ/ (as in "she") and /ʒ/ (as in "measure").

f. Velar:

 Sounds formed by raising the back of the tongue against the soft palate or velum, as in /k/ and /g/.

Vowel Sounds:

Vowels are speech sounds produced with an open vocal tract, allowing air to flow freely. English has a relatively large number of vowel sounds, and they can be classified based on their tongue height, tongue position, and lip rounding.

Tongue Height:

a. High Vowels: 

Tongue is close to the roof of the mouth. Examples include /i/ (as in "see") and /u/ (as in "too").

b. Mid Vowels:

 Tongue is positioned midway between high and low. Examples include /e/ (as in "bed") and /o/ (as in "go").

c. Low Vowels:

 Tongue is low in the mouth. Examples include /æ/ (as in "cat") and /ɑ/ (as in "father").

Tongue Position:

a. Front Vowels:

 Tongue is positioned towards the front of the mouth. Examples include /i/, /e/, and /æ/.

b. Central Vowels: 

Tongue is in a central position. Examples include /ə/ (as in "about") and /ʌ/ (as in "cup").

c. Back Vowels: 

Tongue is positioned towards the back of the mouth. Examples include /u/, /o/, and /ɑ/.

Lip Rounding:

a. Rounded Vowels:

 Lips are rounded. Examples include /u/, /ʊ/ (as in "book"), and /ɔ/ (as in "thought").

b. Unrounded Vowels:

 Lips are not rounded. Examples include /i/, /e/, /æ/, and /ɑ/.

For proper pronunciation and comprehension in English, it is crucial to comprehend the differences between consonant and vowel phonemes. Learning new sounds and how to articulate them might help students communicate more effectively by developing their speaking and listening abilities. These phonemes can be mastered and spoken English proficiency increased dramatically with practice and exposure to a variety of words and settings.