neutral (adj.)

A term used in the classification of lip position in PHONETICS, referring to the visual appearance of the lips when they are held in a relaxed position, with no lip-ROUNDING, and a medium lowering of the jaw, as in the vowels of pet or bird. It is contrasted with SPREAD, OPEN and rounded lip positions.

A term used in the classification of VOWEL sounds, to refer to a LAX vowel made in the centre of the vowel ARTICULATION area, with the TONGUE neutral with respect to FRONT, BACK, HIGH or LOW positions. The most widely encountered vowel of this quality is heard in the first vowel of asleep, balloon, or the last vowel in mother, cover. It is usually referred to as SCHWA . Several terms for this quality have been proposed, including ‘central’, ‘medium’ and ‘murmured’ vowel.