[Menvi-discuss] formulating vowels

[Bettie Downing]

Wonderful explanation.  Thanks.


On Feb 22, 2012, at 10:00 AM, Data wrote:

> All the French vowels should be kissing vowels. Look at how the French use
> "grunt words". When Americans don't know what to say, we say "uh". When
> French speakers don't know what to say, they say "uh" with the mixed vowel.
> Get used to kissing all the French vowels; it is a romantic language, after
> all, right?
> 
> Also, it's helpful to know that these vowels can be classified as both a
> tongue vowel and a lip (and/or nasal) vowel.
> So, a "U" in French is an "ee" through "oo" lips. And, the "oe" ligature is
> an "er" through "oo" lips, without the "r"--it's got "r" flavor in it, but
> doesn't quite phonate the [r] phoneme.
> 
> There are three glides inherent in French, the [w] and [j] and the French
> glide, which is the shortened form of the mixed vowel [y]. The symbol is an
> upside-down "h", and occurs in words like "lui" and "nuage". These are also
> called "semi-vowels".
> 
> Also note that IPA transcriptions are always enclosed within brackets.
> 
> Very important to have in your library: "International Phonetic Alphabet
> (IPA) for Singers" by Joan Wall.
> 
> I've attached the French IPA in braille for your convenience.
> 
> Sincerely,
> -Andy
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: menvi-discuss-bounces at menvi.org
> [mailto:menvi-discuss-bounces at menvi.org]On Behalf Of Bettie Downing
> Sent: Wednesday, February 22, 2012 8:34 AM
> To: This is for discussing music and braille literacy
> Subject: Re: [Menvi-discuss] formulating vowels
> 
> 
> When I was studying French the teacher told me to say the French "u" as if I
> were kissing someone.
> 
> 
> On Feb 22, 2012, at 12:22 AM, Julie McGinnity wrote:
> 
>> We had a specialist come from France last year, and she described the
>> vowels to me and drew the shapes on my hand.  I am not a visual
>> learner though, so I learned the way Karen did.  I found it much
>> easier to listen and repeat what I heard spoken or sung.  French
>> vowels can be taught in a way so that they seem very difficult, but
>> the rule with French has always been: if you feel like you're over
>> doing it, you're probably just getting it right.  The mouth is a
>> contortionist.
>> 
>> This is why I stick to German if I can.  :)
>> 
>> On 2/21/12, Brandon Keith Biggs <brandonboy13 at comcast.net> wrote:
>>> Hello,
>>> Ask your teacher for visualization exercises as well. My teacher said to
>>> form an ooh vowel, sing ooh, pinch your index finger and thumb together
> and
>>> pull them out away from your mouth. It is to signify pulling the sound
> from
>>> your mouth, like you would pull wire or string. I think of there being a
> big
>>> block of gold in my mouth and I want only a perfect spirally bar coming
> out
>>> of my lips. When you pinch right as the attack happens and start pulling
>>> perfectly strait forward out of your mouth you get the luscious rich
> closed
>>> ooh sound almost all languages love.
>>> If you're talking about one of the weird sounds that are unique to
> French,
>>> just imitate the best you can. I'd also suggest listening to some Foust
> to
>>> hear what those singers do.
>>> Thank you,
>>> 
>>> Brandon Keith Biggs
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Karen Gearreald
>>> Sent: Tuesday, February 21, 2012 7:34 PM
>>> To: 'This is for discussing music and braille literacy'
>>> Subject: Re: [Menvi-discuss] formulating vowels
>>> 
>>> 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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>> 
>> 
>> --
>> Julie McG
>> Lindbergh High School class of 2009, participating member in Opera
>> Theater's Artist in Training Program, and proud graduate of Guiding
>> Eyes for the Blind
>> 
>> "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that
>> everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal
>> life."
>> John 3:16
>> 
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> 
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