Lax Vowel : /æ/

Definition of the Vowel /æ/
/æ/ is a short, low, front, unrounded vowel, commonly found in words such as cat, man, and hat. It has the following features:

1. Short vowel: The sound is produced for a short duration.
2. Front vowel: The tongue is positioned toward the front of the mouth.
3. Low vowel: The tongue is relatively low, and the mouth opens widely.
4. Unrounded: The lips are naturally open without rounding.

Steps for Pronouncing the Vowel /æ/

Step 1:
Open your mouth widely—almost fully. Keep the lips naturally spread. Raise the soft palate. The tongue tip should be close to or touching the lower teeth. The front part of the tongue lifts slightly (lower than for /e/), and the sides of the tongue lightly touch the upper molars toward the back.

Step 2:
Let the airflow from the lungs pass smoothly through the oral cavity while the vocal cords vibrate, producing a loud and clear sound.