kardinalvokalerna

Kardinalvokalerna, or cardinal vowels, are a set of reference vowels used in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) to describe and categorize the quality of vowels in spoken languages. They were developed by the Danish linguist and phonetician Otto Jespersen and later refined by Daniel Jones. The cardinal vowel system consists of eight primary vowels, arranged in a quadrilateral chart based on their tongue position during articulation.

The chart is organized along two axes: vertical, representing the height of the tongue, and horizontal, representing the backness of the tongue. The primary cardinal vowels are numbered from 1 to 5, with 1 being the highest and most close vowel, and 5 being the lowest and most open vowel. Additionally, there are three secondary cardinal vowels, numbered 6 to 8, which represent more peripheral vowel qualities.

Cardinal vowel 1 is a close central unrounded vowel, similar to the vowel in the English word "bird" but produced with a more centralized tongue position. Cardinal vowel 2 is a close front unrounded vowel, akin to the vowel in "see." Cardinal vowel 3 is a close-mid front unrounded vowel, similar to the vowel in "face." Cardinal vowel 4 is an open-mid back rounded vowel, resembling the vowel in "thought." Cardinal vowel 5 is an open central unrounded vowel, similar to the vowel in "hot."

The secondary cardinal vowels include cardinal vowel 6, a near-close near-front unrounded vowel, cardinal vowel 7, a near-open central vowel, and cardinal vowel 8, an open front unrounded vowel. These vowels serve as reference points for phoneticians and linguists to describe and compare vowel sounds across different languages. The cardinal vowel system is a fundamental tool in phonetics and linguistics, aiding in the precise description and classification of vowel qualities.