[Menvi-discuss] formulating vowels

[Karen Gearreald]

Kelsey, it is easy to become too worried about placing your lips and tongue
and jaw in exactly the right position for French vowels.  I had a similar
problem in college when I was learning to speak French.  Of course you will
need to know the various positions for your phonetics class.  I think,
however, that in actually producing the vowels, you will most easily learn
to relax and remember if you imitate the correct sounds, just as you would
if you were a baby in France.  Little blind children in France learn the
vowels by sound through imitation and repetition; so can we.  

The big exception may be the front, rounded "u" vowel.  As Bettie Downing
said, you can learn much by touching your tutor's mouth when this vowel is
being pronounced.  Without undue tension, remember to round your lips as you
bring them forward.  This is not a position that we use in English.
Observing the forward rounding of the lips for the "u" vowel, someone once
comically said:  "You look as if a rooster could perch on your lips."  Not a
bad concept.  Your lips can still be soft and flexible, but give that silly
rooster a place to stand.

					Karen Gearreald

-----Original Message-----
From: menvi-discuss-bounces at menvi.org
[mailto:menvi-discuss-bounces at menvi.org] On Behalf Of Kelsey Nicolay
Sent: Tuesday, February 21, 2012 8:58 PM
To: menvi-discuss at menvi.org
Subject: [Menvi-discuss] formulating vowels

Hello,
I am taking a French phonetics course this semester and am 
currently working with a tutor.  We are learning about vowel 
height, vowel roundedness, and vowel backness.  How does a tutor 
explain how the mouth is supposed to form these vowels?
Thanks,

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