Mid central unrounded vowel
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The mid central unrounded vowel is frequently written as a schwa [ə]. However, that symbol does not specifically represent an unrounded vowel, and is frequently used for most any unstressed obscure vowel. If precision is desired, the symbol for the close-mid central unrounded vowel may be used with a lowering diacritic, [ɘ̞].
[edit] Features
- Its vowel height is mid, which means the tongue is positioned halfway between a close vowel and an open vowel.
- Its vowel backness is central, which means the tongue is positioned halfway between a front vowel and a back vowel.
- Its vowel roundedness is unrounded, which means that the lips are not rounded.
[edit] Occurs in
- In European Portuguese: açougue [ɘ̞ˈsoɡɯ̽]; seja ˈsɘ̞ʒɘ̞; antro [ˈɘ̞̃tɾu] 'den'. In Portuguese tradition, unstressed vowel quality is indicated by rotating the orthographic vowel, and so these vowels are transcribed [ɐ, ɐ̃]. However, they are mid vowels, and closer than Portuguese [ɛ, ɔ].