Phonetics: Vowel Length and Nasalization

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Questions and Answers

In which syllable type is a given vowel longest?

Syllable closed by a voiced consonant
Open syllable (correct)
Syllable closed by a voiceless consonant
Closed syllable

What is the factor that affects vowel length according to Rule 2?

Stress pattern (correct)
Consonant type
Syllable type
Dialectal variation

What happens to vowel length as extra syllables are added to a word?

It becomes longer
It becomes shorter (correct)
It varies randomly
It remains the same

When can a reduced vowel become voiceless?

After a voiceless stop (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of syllable closure by a nasal consonant on a vowel?

Vowel nasalization (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between vowel length and syllable type according to Rule 1?

Vowels are longest in open syllables, next longest in syllables closed by voiced consonants, and shortest in syllables closed by voiceless consonants (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the phenomenon described in Rule 4?

Vowel devoicing (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a word where vowel length decreases from left to right?

Bee, bead, beat (C) Signup and view all the answers

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Study Notes

Vowel Length and Nasalization

Vowels are longest in open syllables, next longest in syllables closed by a voiced consonant, and shortest in syllables closed by a voiceless consonant.
Vowel length can vary depending on syllable stress, with vowels being longer in stressed syllables and shorter in unstressed syllables.
In general, vowels are longest in monosyllabic words, next longest in words with two syllables, and shortest in words with more than two syllables.
A reduced vowel may be voiceless when after a voiceless stop (and before a voiceless stop), especially in unstressed syllables.

Vowel Nasalization

Vowels are nasalized in syllables closed by a nasal consonant, with the degree of nasalization varying extensively.
The velum is lowered throughout a syllable beginning and ending with a nasal, making the vowel fully nasalized, as in the example of "man".