図 2.2: Japanese vowel diagrams
Vowels, unlike consonants, exhibit a great deal of dialectic variation. This variation can depend on factors such as geographical region, age, and gender. Vowels are differentiated from consonants by the relatively wide opening in the mouth as air passes from the lungs out of the body. This means that there is relatively little obstruction of the airstream in comparison to consonants. That is to say, vowels can be described in terms of three factors: (1) Tongue high or low; (2) Tongue front or back; and (3) Lips rounded or unrounded. The basic vowel sounds of Japanese are represented in Figure 2.2.
図 2.2: Japanese vowel diagrams
