Week 7: Vowel Lengthening in English

Vowel Lengthening

The concept of vowel lengthening refers to making vowel sounds longer that they actually are. This phonological phenomenon takes place in English as a way to prevent ambiguity in speech. That is, vowel lengthening is a mechanism the language has to clarify meaning for native speakers, who are not aware of what they are actually pronouncing.

The EFL or ESL language learner must learn how to use this lengthening of the vowels in English to help his/her listeners understand the real meaning of what it is said. He/she must learn how to use it to make him/her understood correctly and to avoid misunderstandings. That is why ambiguity needs to be gotten rid of in speaking and listening.

Vowel lengthening is not an optional rule in the language; it is mandatory! This mechanism is not noticed by the native speaker who learned it as part of his language background through constant exposure to the language since birth. The native speaker does not think of this because it is used by him or her mechanically and without being sure of what is actually happening, phonologically speaking, while having a conversation or reading.

Although this is an unconscious phonological process, it is the EFL/ESL student’s task to learn it consciously. Practicing vowel lengthening, over and over again, will make you reduce your accent in English much more. Not applying this mechanism will mar one’s pronunciation in the foreign language. Needless to mention, what the consequences will be if the vowel lengthening rule is not applied on a transcription exercise, or while giving a speech in a language class at the university level.

Vowel Lengthening Rules

To start with, the lengthening of the vowels only takes place in one-syllable words. Words containing two or more syllables will not be affected by this phenomenon. And this phonological mechanism is intrinsically related to the use of voicing in English.

1. Apply vowel lengthening when the one-syllable word ends in a voiced consonant:

a. eyes /ay:z/

b. red /rƐ:d/

c. pain /p^hey:n/

d. stand /stæ:nd/

e. air /Ɛ:ǝr/

2. Do not apply vowel lengthening when the one-syllable word ends in a voiceless consonant:

a. back /bæk/

b. both /bowϴ/

c. fists /fɪsts/

d. stuck /stʌk/

e. trapped /t^hræpt/