A Cluster Analysis of the Vowel System of General American and Its Application to Phonetic Education(<Feature Articles>The English Language Education from a Phonetic Perspective)

Abstract

This paper aims to reconsider the education of the pronunciation and phonics of the vowels of General American by introducing Yamamoto (2006), who argues that the vowel system of this variety of English can be analyzed as five vowels plus /r/. His cluster analysis, together with modification of his notation and arrangement of the vowels in a tabular form, will help reduce the difficulties encountered in teaching vowels to Japanese-speaking students. The last part of the paper Will discuss the relationships between his cluster analysis and the English spelling system, which will lead to a new approach to phonics education.