Vowels outside the triangle
Anthologica Universe Atlas / Reference / Vowel Systems / Vowels outside the triangle

The vowel triangle: we've all seen it.
Vowel_triangle.GIF

This works well for languages like Spanish or Hawaiian — but not for English, Mandarin, Kensiu, or Iau, all of which have vowels that don't fit well on the triangle.

Diphthongs


Diphthongs can be drawn on the vowel triangle — but as lines, not as points.

Diphthongs in English: not really a natural class.

Diphthongs in ___: not really distinct from monophthongs.

Role of diphthongs in expanding vowel inventories. Iau, Faroese. How to distinguish between diphthongs (Iau, Finnish?) and vowel sequences (Polynesian, Rotokas).

Types of diphthong.
Falling (VV̯) vs. rising (V̯V). Marphali low glide. Phonetic differences: English diphthongs are more strongly falling than Icelandic diphthongs.
Closing (ai) vs. opening (ia) vs. centering (iə) vs. height-harmonic (eo).

Common and uncommon diphthongs. Kensiu /ie/.

Diachronic reanalyzation of falling diphthongs as CV sequences: English /ju/.
Diachronic reanalyzation of vowel-semivowel sequences as diphthongs: OE Vġ Vw, ModE Vr.

Rhotic vowels


The rhotic vowel ɚ is conventionally placed in the center of the vowel triangle, but words words. F3 effect of rhotacization.

Fricated vowels


Mandarin apical vowel. Yi y u yr ur.

Syllabic consonants


In Europe, more frequent in unstressed syllables due to əC reduction: German, Serbo-Croatian.

Syllabic nasals in Asia and Africa. Possibility of different phonotactic limitations: Yoruba.

Syllabic lateral: Dananshan Hmong, some Chinese dialect.