Re: USAGE: Shaw alphabet (was Re: USAGE: Con-graphies)

Tristan wrote:
> > > IPA [ɶ] = CXS [&\] = X-SAMPA [&] is the rounded form of [a], the open
> > > front rounded vowel.
Not to muddy the waters any further, but-- isn't the vowel in question the
rounded version of [æ](CXS [&]), not [a]???

(snip some)
> (I find it odder that the IPA has an [æ] character; I assume it shows
> the heritage of being intended to teach French speakers English. If it
> was me, I would make <æ> the low front vowel, <ɑ> the low back vowel,
> and <a> a low vowel used when no contrast is necessay or central.)
>
But in most _phonological systems_ (with anything more than /iau/), in terms
of symmetry and patterning, /a/ usually has to be classed as a back, or at
best a central, vowel. (Even if it might be realized as a frontish vowel, or
have a frontish allophone.)

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