The following diagrams are offered as
132 examples of representations of the
basic systems of simple (no diphthongs or nasal vowels) vowel contrasts in a
wide variety of languages from
many geographical locations all over the world. In almost every case
there is no question of their being based on observations of the
languages by the compiler who has merely used various sources available
in the phonetic literature. The diagram form used is that currently
recognised by the International Phonetic Association but with the
addition in feint form intermediately of three extra horizontal lines
and four others so that a grid is presented as a guide to the eye of
approximately 30 squares etc. Each vowel is represented by an indicator
which is either circular and represents a rounded value or square
representing an unrounded value. The indicator for each front unrounded
vowel and each open-mid or more open back unrounded back vowel is green
and for each front rounded one is red; that for each back rounded vowel
is blue and for each back unrounded vowel closer than open-mid is
yellow. The explanation for the irregularity just mentioned has been
neatly put by Professor John Wells in his
phonetic blog of Saturday 1 July
2006
which commented on these diagrams saying "Vowels of the [ɑ] type are
sensibly treated as systemically front, even if phonetically back, so
shown in green". All indicators are the same size ie about one
thirtieth
of the total area of the diagram. Each is centred in one of the
squares, quadrilaterals
etc of the diagram or on one of the lines of the grid in order to
emphasise that the placings are schematic and symbolic and to convey
the
judgement that more delicate positionings or indicators of smaller
sizes
would undesirably suggest what should be considered inappropriate not
to
say spurious precision.
