theoretical_phonetics / Welsh vowels

RP

Welsh articultary modifications

Auditory

Phonological

Reasons

[i:]

• All the vowels can be lengthened by the addition of a circumflex (ä), known in Welsh as “to bach” (little roof). Welsh words: Tän (taan), län (laan)

• Unstressed “a” tends to be [ǽ] rather than to [ə]. E.g. part [pǽt]

• long “a” tends to be [ǽ] rather than [a:]

• Monophtongisation of [ei] and [əu]. E.g. bake [bε:k], boat [bo:t].

[o:]

[a:]

[a:] tends to be changed to [ǽ]. E.g. part [pǽt], last, dance, chance

[e]

[u:]

In words like tune, few, used there we find [ju:] in RP, there is [iu] in Welsh. E.g. tune [tiun].

[ə:]

Is pronounced with rounded lips approaching [ב:]. E.g. girl, burn, learn.

[i]

[i] is long in final position. E.g. city [siti] – [siti:].

[ǽ]

[o]

[ai]

[ə]

Unstressed orthographic “a” tends to be [ǽ] rather than [ə]. E.g. sofa [so:fǽ]

[ei]

[ei] may become a monophtong. E.g. bake [bε:k]

[ei] – [ε:]

[oi]

[ou]

[au]

• “aw” as in the English cow. Welsh words: mawr (mour), prynhawn (prinhown), lawr (lour)

• “au” is pronounced as English eye: ninau (nineye), mae (my), henaid (henide), main (mine), craig (crige).

[εə]

May become monophtong. E.g. boat [bב:t]

[εə] – [ב:]

[iə]

[iə] doesn’t occur in many variants of Welsh English. E.g. fear [fi:jə]

[בu]

[uə]

[uə] doesn’t occur in many variants of Welsh English. E.g. poor [pu:wə].

[בə]

“oə” is similar to the English “oy” or “oi”. Welsh words: croeso (croyso), troed (troid), oen (oin).

[əu]

[əu] may become a monophtong. E.g. boat [bo:t]

[əu] – [o:]

[٨]

No contrast between [ə] and [٨]. E.g. rubber [rəbə]

[u]

“u”: Welsh words: ganu (ganee), cu (key), Cymru (Kumree), tu (tee), un (een)

[w]

W as in Zoo or bus. Welsh words:cwm (koom), bws (bus), yw (you), gawl (galoo).