Wordsmith Talk |
About Us | What's New | Search | Site Map | Contact Us | |||
Register Log In Wordsmith.org Forums General Topics Q&A about words When did pronunciation /sp. of Neanderthal change?
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
inselpeter contends: On the matter of the three additional vowels, in fact they are, of course, diphthongs
This is not quite true as *I understand it. They are vowels unto themselves. The fact that descriptions to English speakers of the production of them involves reference to two different vowels is irrelevant. The ä is, in normal speech, indistinguishable from the e. The ö is pronounced with the lips formed as to pronounce an o but with the tongue in more of an e position. The ü is pronounced with the lips forming a u but the tongue trying to say i.
As for pure vowels vs. diphthongs, this is a matter that varies from language to language. Speaking also as a singer, I'll say that one of the more difficult tasks of an amateur choral director is that of getting singers to sing pure vowels when singing in a language such as Church Latin that has the pure vowels. Another difficult task is to get the singers to change the vowel sound in diphthongs at the right place.
Moderated by Jackie
Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Statistics Forums16Topics13,913Posts229,374Members9,182 Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
Newest Members Ineffable, ddrinnan, TRIALNERRA, befuddledmind, KILL_YOUR_SUV
9,182 Registered Users
Who's Online Now 0 members (), 162 guests, and 0 robots. Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters(30 Days) A C Bowden 26
Top Posters wwh 13,858Faldage 13,803Jackie 11,613wofahulicodoc 10,562tsuwm 10,542LukeJavan8 9,919Buffalo Shrdlu 7,210AnnaStrophic 6,511Wordwind 6,296of troy 5,400
Forum Rules · Mark All Read Contact Us · Forum Help · Wordsmith.org