For see the diagram on p. [122].
In dear, fear, etc., we have a rather open vowel, of varying length, followed by [ɔ]; we may write [diə], but strictly it is [dɪə, dIˑə] and sometimes [dIːə]. Before [r], as in dearest, the [ə] becomes faint or disappears. Standard English contains no as close as the French and the German [iː]. Convince yourself of this by asking foreigners to pronounce words containing these sounds, in their own language or in English.
Notice the frequent pronunciation of ear, year, as [jəː], and that of dear as [djəː].
We are now able to give the whole series of vowels from to [ɑ] occurring in standard English.
close i (diagram, p. [122])
\
open ɪ
\
close e (diagram, p. [122])
\
middle e
\
open ɛ (diagram, p. [123])
\
more open æ
\
clear a (diagram, p. [123])
\
ɑ (diagram, p. [125])
It will be good practice for you to utter this series of sounds, from [ɑ] to and vice versa, and long as well as short.
The raising of the tongue for the sounds is best seen if the upper and lower teeth are kept well apart.
43. The back vowels.—When the front vowels have been carefully differentiated, the back vowels will be found to present little difficulty. Owing to the fact that the back of the tongue does not admit of so much variety of movement as the front of the tongue, the number of sounds in the series [ɑ] to is smaller than in the series [ɑ] to .