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tensive

9.4

Speech sounds that use more muscle tightness, often vowels

adjective
/ˈtɛnsɪv/

Specialized

: tensivo

In phonetics, tensive vowels require more muscular effort than lax vowels.

Examples

In phonetics, tensive vowels require more muscular effort.
The linguist explained that the tensive quality of the vowel made it sound distinct from its lax counterpart.
In some languages, a tensive vowel can completely change the meaning of a word.
Her careful articulation of tensive consonants impressed her phonetics professor.
The tensive vowel sounds are often clearer in speech.
The linguist explained that the tensive quality of the vowel made it sound distinct from its lax counterpart.
In some languages, a tensive vowel can completely change the meaning of a word.

How Tense

tensive

Specialized

9.4

lax

Specialized

1 8.3

Surface Forms

tensive positive

Morphology

tensive = tense (semi-transparent) = tens + ive

While 'tensive' is derived from 'tense', the specific phonetic meaning isn't immediately clear from the base.

Etymology

Tensive comes from a Latin root tens meaning 'to stretch'. Think of tension, which is tightness or pull; in phonetics a 'tensive' vowel is made with more tightness in the mouth, so it sounds different from a lax vowel.