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Semi-vowel

From Teflpedia
(Redirected from Semi-vowels)

A semivowel is a sound that acts as both a vowel and a consonant. The two main semivowels in English, /w/ and /j/,[1] as in wet and yet, are known as “glides", but there are others, such as /r/ and /l/, known as "liquids.”[2]

Glides[edit | edit source]

Glides occur before or between vocalic nuclei.[2]

As /w/[edit | edit source]

  • what - west - war;
  • way;

As /j/[edit | edit source]

  • yacht - yes - your;
  • music;

Liquids[edit | edit source]

Liquids occur after vocalic nuclei and before consonants.[2]

As /r/[edit | edit source]

  • car

As /l/[edit | edit source]

  • full - pool

References[edit | edit source]

  1. “semivowel" Collins English Dictionary
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Lawrence J. Raphael, Gloria J. Borden, Katherine S. Harris (2007) Speech Science Primer: Physiology, Acoustics, And Perception of Speech, p. 133. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. At Google Books.

External links[edit | edit source]