3.2 Vowels

The analysis of the two speakers' vowel qualities leads to two completely different vowel charts (cf. Appendix). After using the Gerstman normalisation process, only one vowel can be seen at roughly the same position in both charts. Both speakers pronounce their /iː/ sound at a close-fronted position.

The /ɪ/ is articulated at a fairly central, close-mid position by both the native speaker and the learner. In the latter's case, however, the sound is more fronted.

The /e/ sound in informant A's vowel chart is located in a central, open-mid position, whereas in informant B's case it is more fronted and more open.

Both speakers' /æ/ sounds are nearly located at the same open, central position, except that for informant B the /æ/ is slightly more fronted.

One interesting aspect is that the informant A's /ɔː/ is almost located at the exact same position as informant B's /ɒ/ and vice versa.

The /ʌ/ sound is at an open position in both cases, however, it seems that the learner tends to raise the central part of her tongue while the native speaker raises the back part.

The /uː/ sound of informant A has a very low F1 frequency which indicates a high raising of the tongue (close = high). However, the F2 frequency is relatively high so the /uː/ sound must be considered to be located at a close and central position. Informant B's /uː/ sound, on the other hand, is in a fronted and more close-mid position.

The native speaker's /ʊ/ sound is located next to his /ɪ/ in a close-mid, central position. This closeness is also represented in informant B's chart, but here the two vowels are more fronted.

We can say that the average normalized formant values of informant A have lower frequencies, while the values of informant B are more widely spread in the chart.

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