/i/ and /e/ (22/11)

1. /i/

Aproximate Castilian Production 

• When you say this vowel sound, the front of the tongue is raised towards the palate.
• The position of the whole tongue is relatively high in the mouth, making it a closed vowel. The lips are slightly spread.
• In the first stages of learning English, Spanish speakers usually have difficulties in distinguishing /i/ and /i:/, since both are varieties but don’t make any difference in meaning.
• We can find an approximate production when the Castilian /i/ is in unstressed position. E.g. “ultimo”, “cursi”, “pitar”.
• The Castilian vowel is more closed and tenser; nevertheless, as the /i/ English is more relaxed and lightly more centralized, some perceive it as /e/, especially in words like these: milk, fill, pin.

Most important spellings that represent /i/:

• Rich, lady, body, milk, tin, etc.
• In unstressed position it may be represented by any vowel: language, money, wanted, minute.

Minimal pairs

/i:/	/i/
Read Peach Leap Seen Feet Sheep Beach Bean	Rid Pirch Lip Sin Fit Ship Bitch Bin

Here I post a video where they explain the differences between /i:/ and /i/:

2. /e/

Approximate Castilian production 

• The Castilian /e/ is usually more closed and tenser that the English equivalent.

Most important spellings that represent /e/:

•  Nevertheless, you can get a more open realization in the following cases:

       1. When it is in contact with the vibrant /r/: cerro, reto.

       2. Followed by /x/ (jota).

       3. Diphthong /ei/

Minimal pairs

/i/	/e/
Sit Bid Rid Will Till Fill Built	Set Bed Red Well Tell Fell Belt