/ɒ/ and /ɔ:/ (29/11)

5. /ɒ/

The organs of articulation maintain similar positions to the ones of /a:/.

• The tongue and jaw are lowered as the back of the tongue is used to articulate this vowel.
• The lips are slightly rounded.
• Portal, cortar, cordial, loro. 

Approximate Castilian production

• For the realization of /o/ the articulation organs maintain very similar positions to those of /a:/, with the difference that the lips can be lightly widened for /o/. Another difference is the double duration of /a:/ and their potion.

Most important spellings that represent /ɒ/:

• O: not, box, dog.
• A: want, what, watch.
• Au: because.
• Ou: cough.

Minimal pairs: 

/ɒ/	/ʌ/
Cop Shot Lock Strong Mock Long Gone	Cup Shut Luck Strung Muck Lung Gun

6. /ɔ:/

For many English speakers in the opposition between /ɒ/ and /ɔ:/ quantity is a fundamental feature. In these cases, the Castilian realizations are the same ones that thoses pretended then speaking of /ɒ/.

Approximate Castilian production

• But it is evident that /ɔ:/ it is a much more open vowel that the next Castilian one, and nowadays more English people do not base the opposition on quantity but n other features, as, for example, rounding of the lips, almost null in /ɔ/. To many Spanish-speakers it sound more proximate to /u/ than to /o/.

Most important spellings that represent /ɔ:/

• Or: horse.
• Oor: poor.
• Ore: more.
• Aw: saw.
• Oar: board.
• Ou: bought.
• Our: four.
• A: all.

Minimal pairs:

/ɒ/	/ɔ:/
Caught Sport Short Stalk	Cot Spot Shot Stock

Here I share a video where they explain the differences between /ɔ:/ and /ɒ/: