Here's a breakdown of the characteristics:
* Tongue position: Front of the mouth, close to the teeth.
* Back of tongue: Lowered.
* Lip position: Typically unrounded or slightly rounded.
Examples of front vowels in English:
* High front: i as in "machine", ee as in "see"
* Mid front: e as in "bed", ey as in "they"
* Low front: æ as in "cat", a as in "father" (in some dialects)
Note: The exact tongue position for front vowels can vary slightly depending on the specific vowel sound and the language. However, the general principle remains the same: the tongue is positioned at the front of the mouth.
Contrast with back vowels:
Back vowels, on the other hand, are produced with the tongue positioned further back in the mouth, towards the back of the throat. Examples of back vowels in English include u as in "flute" and o as in "boat".
Understanding the concept of front vowels helps in understanding the sounds of various languages and how they are produced.