Vowel
Revision as of 09:39, 25 September 2007 by Linguipedia (talk | contribs) (New page: In phonetics/phonology, a '''vowel''' is a speech sound in whose articulation the oral part of the breath channel is not constricted enough to cause audible friction. ===T...)
In phonetics/phonology, a vowel is a speech sound in whose articulation the oral part of the breath channel is not constricted enough to cause audible friction.
Term properties
A relational adjective from vowel that is occasionally used is vocalic.
Comments
Speech sounds with audible constriction are called consonants; sounds intermediate between vowels and consonants are called semi-vowels (not "semi-consonants").
Origin
The word goes back to French voyelle, from Latin (littera) vocalis 'voice letter' (from vox 'voice').
