LinguisticsLesson 4 of 4 in the course Latin phonology and writing

Vowel Length: Contrast, Sound Change, and Notation

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

Vowel length describes how long a vowel sound is heard or produced. This lesson introduces the difference between a vowel’s actual duration and its role in distinguishing words.

A vowel that is perceived or produced for a relatively brief time is often called a short vowel; one perceived or produced for a longer time is called a long vowel. These labels describe duration, but their meaning depends on the language being discussed. They do not necessarily mean that two vowels are versions of the same sound.

All flashcards

Phonemicization
The process by which a context-dependent sound difference becomes a contrast that can distinguish words.
Pre-fortis clipping
The shortening of a vowel before a voiceless consonant.
IPA /ː/
A mark placed after a sound to indicate long duration.
Matres lectionis
Letters used to represent long vowels in Arabic and Hebrew writing.
Classroom “long” and “short” vowels
English teaching labels that often refer to vowel patterns or qualities, not duration alone.

Quiz questions

  1. What change can turn predictable vowel duration into a phonemic contrast?Answer: The conditioning environment disappears while the duration difference remains.
  2. Which pair illustrates a Finnish contrast involving vowel length?Answer: *tuli* (“fire”) and *tuuli* (“wind”)
  3. In some Australian and New Zealand English accents, which pair illustrates a contrast involving vowel length?Answer: *park* /paːk/ and *puck* /pak/
  4. Which language is well known for distinguishing short, long, and overlong vowels?Answer: Estonian
  5. How is vowel length commonly marked in Japanese katakana?Answer: With a special horizontal bar, ー

Based on the Wikipedia article Vowel length, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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