The speech sounds of a language can be classified into two categories, segmental & super-segmental sounds. The segmental sounds are further divided into two classes, vowels & consonants. The super segmental sounds are classified into stress, tone & intonation. In this part of the course, the vowels & consonants are classified.

          There are three basic vowels in Gurmukhi Script. These are . The matras are used with these three letters. After the usage of matras these letters become ten in number. With in these three and letters are not used in this form. Only can occur independently. and occur with the usage of matras. The matras are used with these three letters as follows.

 

The Alphabetical order
 
 

The Dictionary order
 
 

ਅ


While producing this vowel, the central part of the tongue is raised to an intermediate height. The lips are slightly spread. It is called a mid central unrounded short vowel.

 

ਆ

While producing this vowel the tongue is not raised at all and lies low. The lips are slightly spread. It is called low central unrounded vowel.


ਇ

         
In the production of this vowel the lips remain spread. The front part of the tongue is raised towards the hard palate. It is called lower high front unrounded vowel.


ਈ

While producing this vowel the front part of the tongue is raised to the maximum height. The lips remain spread. It is called high front unrounded vowel.


ਉ
        

In the production of this vowel the back part of the tongue is raised towards the soft palate. The lips are in the rounded position. It is called lower-high back rounded short vowel.


ਊ

        
While producing this vowel the back part of tongue is raised to the maximum height. The lips are remain in the rounded position. It is called high back rounded vowel.


ਏ

In the production of this sound the front part of the tongue is raised towards the hard palate. The lips are in the neutral position. It is called mid front unrounded vowel.


ਐ

While producing this vowel the lips remain spread in half open position. The front part of the tongue raised towards the hard palate. It is called mid-low front unrounded vowel.


ਓ

While producing this vowel the back part of the tongue raised to an intermediate height. The lips are in the rounded position. It is called mid-back rounded vowel.


ਔ

In the production of this vowel the back part of the tongue is raised towards soft palate. The lips remain in a slightly rounded position. It is called mid-low back rounded vowel.