Vowels
| Front | Central | Back | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Close | i | u | ||
| Close-mid | e | ə | o | |
| Open-mid | ɛ | ɔ | ||
| Open | (æ) | ɑ | ||
- Sanskrit's phonemic vowel length has been lost. Vowels are long when nasalized or in a final syllable.
- Gujarati contrasts oral and nasal, and murmured and non-murmured vowels, except for /e/ and /o/.
- In absolute word-final position the higher and lower vowels of the e/ɛ and o/ɔ sets vary.
- /ɛ/ and /ɔ/ developed in the 15th century. Old Gujarati split into Rajasthani and (Middle) Gujarati.
- English loanwords are a source of /æ/.
Read more about this topic: Gujarati Phonology
Famous quotes containing the word vowels:
“Playing “bop” is like playing Scrabble with all the vowels missing.”
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“These equal syllables alone require,
Though oft the ear the open vowels tire;”
—Alexander Pope (1688–1744)
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—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)