| Abstract | Descriptions of vowels with regard to "vowel quality" require that the linguist locate them within "vowel space." Although this system generally serves its purpose for linguists, some gaps in the system are noted, as in the case where speakers of a language distinguish both front from back & unrounded from rounded. The set of cardinal vowels recorded by Daniel Jones in the 1950s were played for American linguists (N = 22) untrained in the system underlying Jones's recordings, who were asked to identify his 18 distinct vowels. The findings support the importance of being able to view a speaker when judging the quality of his or her vowels. It may not be possible to decide on a strictly auditory basis whether a given vowel was produced with or without lip
rounding. |
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