Semivowel
The semivowels (also called semi-consonants , although the first term is generally preferred) are nonsyllabic vowels which form Diphtongue S with syllabic vowels. Their behavior is however closer to that of a Consonne than of that of a Voyelle. They are distinguished from the consonants spirantes, which are similar for them, by a high articulation less . In phonetic notation, one usually writes them by adding the nonsyllabic marking of the International Phonetic Alphabet to the symbol of vowel, but very often one simplifies by writing only the vowel alone.
For example, English exclamation wow can be transcribed (or in shortened form). Even if it W and it ʊ̯ are both similar to the vowel U , this transcription indicates that first is regarded as a consonant, whereas the second forms a diphthong with the preceding vowel. The spirante W is tightened and thus more consonant type than the semivowel ʊ . (The use of for the diphthong rather than of which one could expect constitutes a minor phonetic question.)
Because of their similarity, the terms semivowel and consonant spirante are often used in an interchangeable way. In such a context, the semivowels are defined like the spirantes corresponding phonetically to certain particular high vowels. One finds as follows: J correspondent with I , W with U , ɥ with there , and ɰ with ɯ . However, there exists in certain languages like the Nepalese of the semivowels corresponding to mid vowels such as E and O ; such semivowels, although nonsyllabic, are absolutely not of consonant type.
Examples
- English eye " œil"
- English cow " vache"
- Dutch ui " oignon"
- Samoan ' have " probablement"
- Samoan ' ae " mais"
- Samoan ' auro " or"
- Samoan ao " nuage"
See too
Internal bonds
- List of the concepts used in phonetics
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