Re: Vowel systems & German phonetics


Ruud Harmsen wrote:
> 12 Nov 2005 15:11:19 -0800: "ranjit_mathews@xxxxxxxxx"
> <ranjit_mathews@xxxxxxxxx>: in sci.lang:
>
> >> > I now have 16:
> >> > a a: E E: e: i i: 9 2: y y: @ O o: u u:
> >> I Y U
> >
> >On this, I see U and u: but not u.
> >http://www.phon.ucl.ac.uk/home/sampa/german.htm
>
> Even if [U] and [u] may be different, are /u/ and /U/?

Ah, so [U] and [u] are allophones of /u/!

> Length is
> essential, I think, so /u/ and /u:/ would do.
>
> The vowel in 'wird' often doesn't sound like [I] or [i] at all either,
> but it can still be /i/, can't it?

Yes, to my ear, it's [i] enough to be /i/; it sounds somewhat like
"wierd".

.