PHONETICS MANUAL.indd - HumBox

c. The cardinal vowel chart is important because:
it provides a framework for the description of the vowel sounds of any
language
it makes the difference between vowels and consonants clearer
the first eight cardinal vowels are exactly the same as those of Southern
British English.
it shows the most important vowels of any language
17. Without referring back to the text, complete this chart by inserting the symbols
for cardinal vowels 1-8.
18. Write out the schwa symbol a few times, then check that you’ve done it properly
by turning the page upside down. What you’ve written should now look like an
e.
19. For whichever of the languages you know, indicate the cardinal vowels that
correspond to the vowels underlined in the spelling:
French:
bête, foule, premier, patte, été, rose, prêt, pré,
dehors, sortie, petit, sous
German:
sehen, Hände, wenden, ruhen, Sonne, Sohn,
hatte, Vater, Tier, See, wahr
Spanish:
ser, amigo, hombre, hoja, cabo, verde, clase,
hemos, rojo, grande, salir.
22 Vowels