This section is presently being updated. Not long now.
Vowels are sounds which are made on the most open stricture of approximation. Phonetically, vowels are classified in terms of the location of the constriction (front vs. back), the degree of opening (close vs. open) and whether there is lip rounding or not (rounded vs. unrounded). Apart from these basic distinctions vowel can contrast in duration (short vs. long), their conformational aspect (oral vs. nasal). The vowels in some languages also contrast in voice quality (modal vs. creaky). The videos on this page only demonstrate some of the more basic distinctions.
