Definition, [u:]is back, close (narrow variant), rounded, long. Articulation.The tongue is in ,the back part of the mouth. The back of the tongue is rather high in the mouth. The vowel is noticeably diphthongized. The tongue glides from a position nearer to [u] to a more retracted and high position. No firm contact is made between the rims of the tongue and the upper teeth. The tongue is tense. The lips are very closely rounded. The mouth is open only very little. The vowel is long.
This vowel occurs in all kinds of syllables, eg do, cool, fruit. Allophones. The vowel [u:] is definitely longer in the open ■ vllable when it is free. It is shorter in the closed syllable with a ak voiced consonant at the end. It is checked and much short-in the stressed closed syllable ending in a strong voiceless nsonant, cf who — move — root.
Recommendations.Start with Articulation Exercise II, 2, 3. He careful to imitate the diphthongization of the vowel in all positions.
It is also very important to reduce length and make the vowel
?cked in stressed closed syllables before strong voiceless con-
aants, but not to confuse the quality of the vowels [u:] and [u]
which can easily happen in the closed syllable before a strong
voiceless consonant, cf suit — soot.
To make the vowel [u:] checked and short enough, cut it off by the following strong voiceless consonant.
Try to avoid energetic lip-rounding.
Comparison with the RussianVowel [yj.The Russian vowel [yj is more retracted and closer than the English vowel [u:]. The English vowel resembles the Russian one only at the end of its articulation. The Russian [yj is pronounced with the lips not only rounded but also protruded. It is a monophthong and is commonly short.
Possible Mistakes. 1. Ifinstead of the English [u:] the Russian [y] is heard the tongue should be slightly advanced and lowered at the beginning of the articulation. The vowel must be made more tense, longer and diphthongized. The lips must be well rounded but by no means protruded.
2. In closed syllables ending in a strong voiceless consonant the quality of the vowels [u:) and [u] can be easily confused. Not to make this mistake the diphthongization of (a) should be observed. cf boot — put.
3. If the vowel [u:J is not checked and short enough cut it off by the following strong voiceless consonant.