English Phonetics and Phonology – Vowels, Consonants and Diphthongs | PGTRB, NET, SET Notes

English Phonetics and Phonology (Vowels, Consonants and Diphthongs)

Phonetics is the study of the production, transmission and reception of human speech sounds. Phonology studies how these sounds function within a particular language. English has a rich and complex sound system represented using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA).

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1. English Vowels

Vowels are speech sounds produced without any significant obstruction in the vocal tract. English has 20 vowel sounds: 12 pure vowels (monophthongs) and 8 diphthongs.

1.1 Pure Vowels (Monophthongs)

These are simple vowel sounds with a single, steady quality.

IPA	Example	Type
/iː/	see, beat	Long front vowel
/ɪ/	sit, bit	Short front vowel
/e/	get, bed	Front vowel
/æ/	cat, man	Front vowel
/ɑː/	father, calm	Back vowel
/ɒ/	hot, not	Short back vowel (British)
/ɔː/	law, thought	Long back vowel
/ʊ/	put, book	Short back vowel
/uː/	food, blue	Long back vowel
/ʌ/	cup, luck	Central vowel
/ɜː/	bird, learn	Long central vowel
/ə/	ago, teacher	Schwa (weakest vowel)

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2. English Consonants

Consonants are produced with noticeable blockage or narrowing in the vocal tract. English has 24 consonant sounds.

2.1 Consonants Chart (Manner × Place of Articulation)

Manner of Articulation describes how the airflow is modified.

• Plosives – complete closure and release (p, b, t, d, k, g)
• Fricatives – narrow passage forcing air (f, v, θ, ð, s, z, ʃ, ʒ, h)
• Affricates – plosive + fricative (tʃ, dʒ)
• Nasals – air flows through nose (m, n, ŋ)
• Lateral – air flows around sides of tongue (l)
• Approximants – no friction, speech-glides (r, j, w)

2.2 Place of Articulation

• Bilabial – both lips (p, b, m)
• Labio-dental – lip + teeth (f, v)
• Dental – tongue + teeth (θ, ð)
• Alveolar – tongue + ridge (t, d, s, z, n, l)
• Post-alveolar (ʃ, ʒ, tʃ, dʒ)
• Palatal – (j)
• Velar – (k, g, ŋ)
• Glottal – (h)

2.3 Full IPA Consonant Table

IPA	Example	Type
/p/	pen	Voiceless bilabial plosive
/b/	bat	Voiced bilabial plosive
/t/	ten	Voiceless alveolar plosive
/d/	dog	Voiced alveolar plosive
/k/	cat	Voiceless velar plosive
/g/	go	Voiced velar plosive
/f/	fun	Voiceless labiodental fricative
/v/	van	Voiced labiodental fricative
/θ/	thin	Voiceless dental fricative
/ð/	this	Voiced dental fricative
/s/	sit	Voiceless alveolar fricative
/z/	zoo	Voiced alveolar fricative
/ʃ/	she	Voiceless post-alveolar fricative
/ʒ/	measure	Voiced post-alveolar fricative
/h/	hat	Voiceless glottal fricative
/tʃ/	chin	Voiceless affricate
/dʒ/	judge	Voiced affricate
/m/	man	Bilabial nasal
/n/	no	Alveolar nasal
/ŋ/	sing	Velar nasal
/l/	lip	Lateral approximant
/r/	red	Post-alveolar approximant
/j/	yes	Palatal approximant
/w/	we	Bilabial/velar approximant

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3. English Diphthongs

Diphthongs are vowel glides—two vowel qualities produced together in one syllable. English has 8 diphthongs. They are divided into closing diphthongs and centring diphthongs.

3.1 Closing Diphthongs

These glide towards /ɪ/ or /ʊ/.

IPA	Example	Direction
/eɪ/	day, say	Towards /ɪ/
/aɪ/	my, time	Towards /ɪ/
/ɔɪ/	boy, noise	Towards /ɪ/
/aʊ/	now, cow	Towards /ʊ/
/əʊ/	go, no	Towards /ʊ/

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3.2 Centring Diphthongs

These glide towards the central vowel /ə/ (schwa).

IPA	Example
/ɪə/	near, hear
/eə/	hair, care
/ʊə/	tour, pure

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4. Key Differences Between Vowels & Consonants

Aspect	Vowels	Consonants
Obstruction	No obstruction	Partial/complete obstruction
Voicing	Mostly voiced	Voiced or voiceless
Syllable Role	Form the nucleus	Syllable margins
Number	20	24

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5. Why Phonetics is Important

• Improves pronunciation
• Helps in teaching English
• Useful for linguistics exams (PGTRB, NET, SET)
• Reduces mother-tongue influence
• Aids clear communication

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