| long vowel |
| Definition - A vowel that is sounded with extended duration. |
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Example - Traditionally, in English the long vowels are: (1) /ei/ (as in bait) (2) /i:/ (beet) (3) /ai/ (bite) (4) /oʊ/ (boat) (5) /ju:/ (beauty) Note: This is based upon English pronunciation prior to the Great Vowel Shift, not on current pronunciation. Nowadays, most of the long vowels are classed as diphthongs |
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Oxford English Dictionary - The term's first citation is from 1867: "Salesbury does not always discriminate the long vowel, though … he occasionally … doubles the consonant sign to imply the brevity of the preceding vowel." ( Ellis E.E. Pronunc. i. iii. 61) |