# 1.2 音素（Phonemes）

在自然语音中，不可继续分割的组成部分被称为**音素**（phonemes）。英语的音素分为**元音**和**辅音**。

In natural speech, indivisible sound segments are referred to as *phonemes*. English language categorizes these phonemes into two types: *vowels* and *consonants*.

## 1.2.1 元音（Vowels）

英语总计约有 20 个**元音**。

English approximately has 20 *vowels*.

元音可以被分为短元音（*short vowels*）和**长元音**（*long vowels*）；与此同时，它们也可以分为**单元音**（*monophthongs*）和**双元音**（*diphthongs*）。

Vowels can be classified into *long* and *short* vowels, or alternatively, they can also be grouped as *monophthongs* and *diphthongs*.

| Monophthongs |                                   | Diphthongs                                     |
| ------------ | --------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------- |
| Short vowels | `ʌ`, `e`, `ə`, `ɪ`, `ʊ`, `ɒ`      |                                                |
| Long vowels  | `ɑː`, `æ`, `əː`, `iː`, `uː`, `ɔː` | `aɪ`, `eɪ`, `ɔɪ`, `aʊ`, `oʊ`, `eə`, `ɪə`, `ʊə` |

## 1.2.2 辅音（Consonants）

英文大约 28 个辅音。

English approximately has 28 *consonants*.

| Airflow   | Voiced or not | Consonants              |
| --------- | ------------- | ----------------------- |
| Plosive   | Voiceless     | `p`, `t`, `k`           |
|           | Voiced        | `b`, `d`, `g`           |
| Fricative | Voiceless     | `f`, `s`, `θ`, `ʃ`, `h` |
|           | Voiced        | `v`, `z`, `ð`, `ʒ`, `r` |
| Affricate | Voiceless     | `tʃ`, `tr`, `ts`        |
|           | Voiced        | `dʒ`, `dr`, `dz`        |
| Nasal     | Voiced        | `m`, `n`, `ŋ`           |
| Lateral   | Voiced        | `l`                     |
| Semivowel |               | `j`, `w`                |