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Ask-A-Linguist - Message details
Subject: Length of vowels
Question:
I remember hearing that while English vowels sometimes differ in length, it only sounds a little strange if you change the lengths of them. For example, we could say the ''u'' sound in proof as long as prove, and it would only sound odd. It wasn't surprising to hear then that some languages do distinguish length. I was, however, very surprised to hear that Estonian has three different distinctions. Are there languages with more? What is the limit?

Reply:
It is probably 3. Most languages in which words are distinguished solely by vowel
length distinguish 2 lengths. I am not aware of a 4-way vowel length distinction
(although maybe someone does...)

Reply From: Elizabeth J Pyatt    click here to access email
Date: Sep-10-2009
Other Replies:
  1. Re: Length of vowels Anthea Fraser Gupta    (Sep-10-2009)
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