Differently from most Tupian languages, the Tapirapé people make use of five vowel phonemes, going against the predominant six vowel system in the family.[9] All five vowels have five nasal counterparts.[10]
Oral Vowels of the Tapirapé language
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The phoneme /a/ is realised as a close front unrounded vowel.
The vowel /ɨ/ is, most of the time, realised as a close central unrounded vowel. Due to the variation in the height of the tongue in the emission of vowel phonemes, this representation also includes the phoneme [ə], which only differs from /ɨ/ in its height.
The phoneme /e/ represents both [e̞] and [ɛ], depending on the height variation of the tongue in one's mouth.
The vowel /i/ is realised as a close front unrounded vowel.
Unlike other vowel phonemes, the nature of the vowel /o/ is controversial; it is seen as an interpretation of the vowel u, [o], and ɔ, all of which are rounded and back vowels. The use of the phoneme /o/ as a representative of this set is influenced by the vowel evolution of Asuríni language, a similar language, where the Proto-Tupian phoneme [u] was neutralised into [o].[9]