Vowel Acoustics and Cardinal Vowels

Study Notes

Vowels are made with a fairly open vocal tract and exist in a single continuous space where you can move continuously from one vowel to another.
The vowel space is roughly triangular with three maximally distinct corner vowels and a colorless vowel "schwa" at the center.
Different languages have varying numbers of vowels, similar to how they differ in basic color terms.
The primary Cardinal vowels, originally proposed by Daniel Jones, map out the edge of the auditory acoustic space and go from unrounded to rounded as you move around the space.
The International Phonetic Association (IPA) still uses a tongue diagram to represent vowels, focusing on the highest point of the tongue, which is not entirely accurate.
The primary Cardinal vowels can be standardized using modern technology and measured formant frequencies to ensure consistency across different voices.
ER, a distinctive rotic vowel, is characterized by a drastically low F3 formant frequency, which sets it apart from other vowels.
The text emphasizes the importance of using science and technology to advance phonetics beyond articulatory approximation and guesswork.
Brilliant.org is mentioned as a platform offering courses in science, technology, and math to develop analytical skills, with specific courses on color space and quantum objects that may help in understanding the parallels between colors and vowels.
The author recommends trying out courses on Brilliant.org for a more structured and comprehensive learning experience in various subjects, including phonetics and beyond.

Description

Explore the concept of vowels in phonetics, including the triangular vowel space, primary Cardinal vowels, and the use of technology to standardize vowel measurements. Discover the distinctive ER rotic vowel and the importance of scientific advancements in phonetics. Learn about Brilliant.org courses that delve into color space, quantum objects, and more for a structured learning experience.