International Journal on Studies in English Language and Literature (IJSELL) Volume 5, Issue 10, October 2017, PP 36-46 ISSN 2347-3126 (Print) & ISSN 2347-3134 (Online) http://dx.doi.org/10.20431/2347-3134.0510006 www.arcjournals.org International Journal on Studies in English Language and Literature (IJSELL) Page | 36 How Many Phonemes Does the English Language Have? Aldo Luiz Bizzocchi Universidade de São Paulo, Núcleo de Apoio à Pesquisa em Etimologia e História da Língua Portuguesa, R. Dr. Albino Rodrigues de Alvarenga, 80, São Paulo SP – Brazil 1. INTRODUCTION The number of English phonemes varies from one variety to another, but in general the language is considered to have between 22 and 24 consonants (the difference is due to two units that in some systems are considered phonemes and in others not), two semivowels and 20 vowels in the British variety (BrE). In the American variety (AmE), 15 to 19 vowels are usually considered. Only this data suffices to show that, if the number of consonants seems to be a point of agreement among specialists, the determination of the number of vowels is subject to the individual interpretation of the researcher. In fact, there are several possible criteria to individualise the distinctive units of a language, from those more strictly linked to the phonetic aspect to those of a purely functional nature. In any case, the spirit of phonological analysis, as formulated by its early researchers, such as Nikolai Trubetzkoy and his colleagues in the Prague Linguistic Circle, excels at simplicity (of all possible descriptions, one should always choose the simplest) and intuitiveness (the phoneme must be an abstraction of the sounds of speech). However, the usual description of the English phonological system, which includes 44 phonemes, considers as single vowel phonemes several vowel clusters (diphthongs and, in certain cases, even pseudotriphthongs), as well as treats as distinct phonemes what can be easily proved to be combinatorial variants (allophones) of the same phoneme. English has precisely the peculiarity of making a single vowel or semivowel sound in different ways depending on the context where it lies. The tendency of the predominant phonological descriptions is Abstract: Most phonology textbooks claim that the phonological system of the English language is composed of 44 phonemes, of which 24 are consonants (actually, two are semivowels) and 20 are vowels. Yet, this number results of a misinterpretation of the English vowel system, since several authors consider clusters of sounds (diphthongs and pseudo triphthongs) as single phonemes, as well as combinatorial allophones of the same phoneme as distinct phonemes. By employing the definitions of phoneme, phone, and allophone, together with the criteria of commutation and substitution formulated by Trubetzkoy and the phonologists of the Prague School, allied to the concept of neutralisation and archiphoneme of the traditional structural phonology, it is possible to prove that the real number of phonemes of English is actually 35. This paper intends to revise the English phonological system, especially regarding vowels, by using the same methodology employed to describe the phonology of other languages, such as French, for example. As a result, we will try to demonstrate that the current phonological description of the English language has a lot of idiosyncratic and, therefore, a new view of this system will reflect on the phonemic transcription of words made by dictionaries, making it simpler. Keywords: English phonology; English vowel system; English vocalism; number of phonemes; allophone; neutralisation; archiphoneme; Received Pronunciation; General American; English varieties. Abbreviations: AmE: American English BrE: British English Fr.: French GA: General American It.: Italian NE: New English OE: Old English Port.: Portuguese RP: Received Pronunciation *Corresponding Author: Aldo Luiz Bizzocchi, Universidade de São Paulo, Núcleo de Apoio à Pesquisa em Etimologia e História da Língua Portuguesa, R. Dr. Albino Rodrigues de Alvarenga, 80, São Paulo SP – Brazil