Page:Cambodian system of writing and beginning reader.pdf/14

 {| class="wikitable" ! ! colspan="3" | Short Vowels ! colspan="2" | Short Diphthongs ! ! Front ! Central ! Back ! High ! Mid ! Lower Mid ! Low
 * + Chart 3. Vowels
 * i
 * ɨ
 * u
 * ŭə
 * ŭə
 * e
 * ə
 * o
 * ĕə
 * ŏe
 * ɛ
 * a
 * ɔ
 * ɑ
 * }
 * }
 * }

Phonetic Key

Long Vowels and Diphthongs


 * as in 'to dig'. High front unrounded vowel like English ee in cheek.
 * as in 'to dig'. High front unrounded vowel like English ee in cheek.


 * as in 'playing cards'. Falling diphthong, moving from a high front to a mid central position.
 * as in 'playing cards'. Falling diphthong, moving from a high front to a mid central position.


 * as in 'to play'. Higher-mid front unrounded vowel with lax and breathy articulation; similar to French ée in année.
 * as in 'to play'. Higher-mid front unrounded vowel with lax and breathy articulation; similar to French ée in année.


 * as in 'to be young'. Tense diphthong starting at a point lower than, and ending at a point higher than,  above.
 * as in 'to be young'. Tense diphthong starting at a point lower than, and ending at a point higher than,  above.


 * as in 'to quit'. Lower-mid front unrounded vowel with lax and breathy articulation; similar to French ai in aide. Occurs long only.
 * as in 'to quit'. Lower-mid front unrounded vowel with lax and breathy articulation; similar to French ai in aide. Occurs long only.


 * as in 'to hear'. High central unrounded vowel made by raising the center of the tongue toward the soft palate while keeping the lips flat or spread.
 * as in 'to hear'. High central unrounded vowel made by raising the center of the tongue toward the soft palate while keeping the lips flat or spread.


 * as in 'to believe'. Falling diphthong, moving from a high central to a mid central position.
 * as in 'to believe'. Falling diphthong, moving from a high central to a mid central position.


 * as in 'on', Higher-mid central unrounded vowel with lax and breathy articulation; similar to French eu in peu.
 * as in 'on', Higher-mid central unrounded vowel with lax and breathy articulation; similar to French eu in peu.


 * as in '10,000'. Tense diphthong moving from a position lower than, and ending at a point higher than,  above.
 * as in '10,000'. Tense diphthong moving from a position lower than, and ending at a point higher than,  above.


 * as in 'work'. Tense lower-mid front-of-center unrounded vowel similar to the French a in va. (This vowel is fronter and higher than the English a in Father; to pronounce it as such would confuse it with the vowel  to the ear of a Cambodian).
 * as in 'work'. Tense lower-mid front-of-center unrounded vowel similar to the French a in va. (This vowel is fronter and higher than the English a in Father; to pronounce it as such would confuse it with the vowel  to the ear of a Cambodian).