CLOSE MID Meaning and
Definition
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Close-mid is a term commonly used in linguistics to describe a vowel sound that is produced with the tongue positioned in a relatively close position to the roof of the mouth, but not as close as a high vowel. This term specifically refers to the height of the vowel, which is its position in the vowel space, with close-mid being positioned higher than mid vowels, but lower than close (high) vowels.
When pronouncing a close-mid vowel, the tongue is raised and pushed towards the roof of the mouth, resulting in a narrower oral cavity. This creates a sound that is intermediate between a close vowel and a mid vowel, hence the term close-mid.
Examples of close-mid vowels include the "ee" sound in the word "feed" or "see," the "ah" sound in "father" or "spa," or the "oh" sound in words like "go" or "bone." These vowels are typically represented by specific symbols in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) such as /i/, /e/, /ə/, or /o/.
Close-mid vowels play an important role in language as they contribute to the overall sound system and are used to differentiate meaning in many languages. Understanding and transcribing these phonetic distinctions accurately is essential for linguistic analysis, language learning, and communication in general.
