2006-10-01 22:26:00 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
I'm sure you know which letters are vowels and which are consonants, so I'm assuming your question is linguistics based.
In phonetics, a vowel is a sound in spoken language that is characterized by an open configuration of the vocal tract so that there is no build-up of air pressure above the glottis. This contrasts with consonants, which are characterized by a constriction or closure at one or more points along the vocal tract. A vowel is also understood to be syllabic: an equivalent open but non-syllabic sound is called a semivowel.
In all languages, vowels form the nucleus or peak of syllables, whereas consonants form the onset and (in languages which have them) coda.
The word vowel comes from the Latin word vocalis, meaning "speaking", because in most languages words and thus speech are not possible without vowels.
2006-10-01 22:35:32 · answer #1 · answered by Splatt 4 · 5⤊ 0⤋
The main difference lies in the articulation.Vowels are the most sonorant, or intense, and the most audible sounds in speech. They usually function as syllable nuclei and they can “stand alone” and be produced without any consonants before or after them. While the consonants that surround them often depend on the vowel for their audibility.
Vowels are sounds produced with a relatively open vocal tract, and they are always voiced while consonant got a point of articulation and does not necessarily require the vocal tract to be open.
In short vowel gives the sound while consonant takes and assimilates it.
2006-10-01 23:18:44 · answer #2 · answered by ♥ lani s 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
A vowel is defined as a voiced speech sound produced by relatively free passage of the breath through the larynx and mouth, usually forming the most prominent and central sound of a syllable.
A consonant is defined as a speech sound made by a partial or complete obstruction of the flow of air as it escapes through the mouth.
So I would say vowels are not obstructed speech sounds and consonant are obstructed.
2006-10-01 22:37:22 · answer #3 · answered by dxle 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You're gonna test this out, but it's true..
The vowels don't need the tongue or lower lip to touch anything to pronouce.
All the other letters need the tongue to touch the roof of the mouth in the front or back or the lips to close.
"Y" is that sometimes a vowel letter... so it's the only exeption.
2006-10-01 22:43:28 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
a consonant is one of a set of sounds in which air from the lungs is seriously obstructed in the mouth and which occur in similar positions in words.
a vowel is one of a set of voiced sounds in which air leaves the mouth with no interference and which occur in similar positions in words.
2006-10-02 02:46:18 · answer #5 · answered by Dreamy 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
+ Spelling
+ number of letters they contain (vowels 5) (consonants 21)
+ function
But Vowels can't be separated from consonants they come in partners.......
I can apply my Quotation to this!
(It takes two to tango and one to eat a mango!) wahahhaha!!
2006-10-01 22:37:55 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
vowels are a,e,i,o and u
constanants are all the other letters in the alphabet. Vowels are special as they are the most common letters and virtually ever word had at least 1 vowel in it!!
2006-10-01 22:36:59 · answer #7 · answered by xemma_loux 1 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Squirke may have copied it from Wikipedia, but she's got the first correct answer.
2006-10-02 01:07:18 · answer #8 · answered by Taivo 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Vowel - a,e,i,o,u
Consonant - all the other letters in the alphanbet.
2006-10-01 22:33:52 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
America's school system is failing if we don't know the answer to this question.
2006-10-02 12:51:53 · answer #10 · answered by Jummins 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋