Close back rounded vowel

The close back protruded vowel is the most common variant of the close back rounded vowel. It is typically transcribed in IPA simply as (the convention used in this article). As there is no dedicated IPA diacritic for protrusion, the symbol for the close back rounded vowel with an old diacritic for labialization, , can be used as an ad hoc symbol . Another possible transcription is or (a close back vowel modified by endolabialization), but that could be misread as a diphthong. Features of a vocal tract pronouncing . Note that a wavy glottis in this diagram indicates a voiced sound.|class=skin-invert-image Occurrence ==Close back compressed vowel==

Some languages, such as Japanese and Swedish, have a close back vowel that has a distinct type of rounding, called compressed or exolabial. Only Shanghainese is known to contrast it with the more typical protruded (endolabial) close back vowel, but the height of both vowels varies from close to close-mid. Compression of the lips can be shown with the letter as (simultaneous and labial compression) or ( modified with labial compression), though that can suggest that the vowel is a diphthong (as indeed it is in Swedish). Features Occurrence ==See also==