Which vowels are typically tense?

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Multiple Choice

Which vowels are typically tense?

Explanation:
Vowels differ in tenseness, a feature tied to how much the vocal tract is held taut and how long the vowel lasts. The high, close vowels /iː/ and /uː/ are described as tense because they involve greater muscular tension and typically have longer duration than their lax counterparts. They maintain a crisp, steady quality that listeners hear as more “tense.” The other options mix lax vowels or diphthongs with qualities that aren’t classified as tense high vowels, so they don’t fit the pattern of tense vowels as cleanly.

Vowels differ in tenseness, a feature tied to how much the vocal tract is held taut and how long the vowel lasts. The high, close vowels /iː/ and /uː/ are described as tense because they involve greater muscular tension and typically have longer duration than their lax counterparts. They maintain a crisp, steady quality that listeners hear as more “tense.” The other options mix lax vowels or diphthongs with qualities that aren’t classified as tense high vowels, so they don’t fit the pattern of tense vowels as cleanly.

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