Personalities of the IPA: Close Vowels

Written by Julia Megret

Hi guys! As the weather is getting colder, this week we have a fun post for you guys! In this new series, we will be personifying the IPA! To start off, we’ll be looking at close vowels.

[i]

• The extrovert that everybody loves

• Probably the type of person with a gazillion highlighters

• Can’t play sports even if their life depended on it though but they try

• Literal sunshine cause they are always smiling

[y]

• The quiet friend in the group but knows all the tea cause they listen so much

• Knows enough to blackmail people

• The thought has definitely crossed their mind a few times

• The one that gets good grades but uses it to their advantage to get out of trouble

• Has a weakness for cutting onions though

[ɨ]

• Clumsy AF

• But they will always laugh it off because they are so used to it already

• Scared of bugs

• No one would know until a fly comes waltzing in

• Honestly, flies might as well be their spirit animal cause they keep hitting the wall next to the door as well

[ʉ]

• The one that made family trauma their personality

• Will stop to pet every. Single. Cat. they see

• Skips class but somehow always at the top of their class

• Probably wears a beanie with everything

• Definitely not a morning person

[ɯ]

• The mysterious one, you know of them but you don’t know them

• Would pop up sometimes in the most unexpected places

• Like bam your favourite cafe and now you’re kinda nervous to go again

• “Looks like they can kill you, is a cinnamon bun”

• Teddy bear vibes

[u]

• Probably did choir

• Extroverted introvert

• A sad drunk unless you hug them

• Lives for pizza

• Would always pick dare in truth or dare

[ɪ]

• Somehow people always confused them for [i] and [ɛ]

• At this point, it doesn’t bother them anymore

• They probably always forget their wallet and have to ask their friends to pay (but it’s chill cause they always pay them back)

• Plays an instrument and definitely won’t be humble about it

[ʏ]

• Always confused

• Like, confused in general

• They have no idea what is going on most of the time

• You all know them for something else though

• They would be that one person that asks a follow-up question even though the class was supposed to end 10 minutes ago

[ʊ]

• Probably that person that no one remembers exactly how they look

• Keeps to themselves mostly cause they’re a bit shy

• Still best friends with that one person since first grade