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It is unusual for a language to contrast a semivowel and a diphthong containing an equivalent vowel, [citation needed] but Romanian contrasts the diphthong /e̯a/ with /ja/, a perceptually similar approximant-vowel sequence. The diphthong is analyzed as a single segment, and the approximant-vowel sequence is analyzed as two separate segments.
It can be considered the semivocalic equivalent of the close central unrounded vowel [ɨ] The International Phonetic Alphabet does not have a separate symbol for that sound, but it can be transcribed as j̠ , j˗ (both symbols denote a retracted j ), ɰ̟ or ɰ˖ (both symbols denote an advanced ɰ ).
Therefore, approximants fall between fricatives, which do produce a turbulent airstream, and vowels, which produce no turbulence. [3] This class is composed of sounds like [ɹ] (as in rest) and semivowels like [j] and [w] (as in yes and west, respectively), as well as lateral approximants like [l] (as in less). [4]
The following is the chart of the International Phonetic Alphabet, a standardized system of phonetic symbols devised and maintained by the International Phonetic Association. It is not a complete list of all possible speech sounds in the world's languages, only those about which stand-alone articles exist in this encyclopedia.
The symbol in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) that represents this sound is ʝ (crossed-tail j), and the equivalent X-SAMPA symbol is j\. It is the non-sibilant equivalent of the voiced alveolo-palatal sibilant. In broad transcription, the symbol for the palatal approximant, j , may be used for the sake of simplicity.
Among vowels, a is officially a front vowel, but is more commonly treated as a central vowel. The difference, to the extent it is even possible, is not phonemic in any language. For all phonetic notation, it is good practice for an author to specify exactly what they mean by the symbols that they use.
The feature descriptions given here (front, close, etc.) are abstracted somewhat; the actual pronunciations of these vowels are somewhat more accurately conveyed by the IPA symbols used (see Vowel for a chart indicating the meanings of these symbols; though note also the points listed below the following tables). The symbols given in the table ...
Diphthongs may be transcribed with two vowel symbols or with a vowel symbol and a semivowel symbol. In the words above, the less prominent member of the diphthong can be represented with the symbols for the palatal approximant [ j ] and the labiovelar approximant [ w ] , with the symbols for the close vowels [ i ] and [ u ] , or the symbols for ...