[+/- low]

Definition

the [low] feature is used to distinguish between sounds that are lowered from neutral, resting tongue position and those that are not. [+low] sounds are articulated with a lowered tongue, and [-low] sounds are articulated with the tongue in neutral position (Zsiga, 2013, p. 268).

[+low] vowels include [ɑ a æ] and all other vowels are [-low]. The [+low] feature may also refer to guttural consonants (p. 268).

Examples

  • Hul’q’umi’num’
    • The following vowels that are enclosed in blue are those that can be described as [+low], in terms of tongue height.
Suttles (2003).
  • Skwxwú7mesh
    • The following vowels that are enclosed in blue are those that can be described as [+low], in terms of tongue height.

Dyck (2004).
  • Secwepemctsín
    • The following vowels that are enclosed in blue are those that can be described as [+low], in terms of tongue height.
Gibson (1973).