Which symbol is listed for the open-back unrounded vowel as described?

Which symbol is listed for the open-back unrounded vowel as described?

• A. /u:/
• B. /ɑ:/
• C. /v/
• D. /f/

Answer: (B)

In IPA, vowels are described by height, backness, and rounding. An open-back unrounded vowel is produced with the jaw wide open, the tongue positioned low and toward the back, and the lips unrounded. The symbol that represents this vowel is /ɑ/; when length is indicated, it’s common to see /ɑː/ or /ɑ:/ to show a long vowel. The option that matches an open-back unrounded vowel with length is /ɑ:/, which aligns with that description. The other symbols either describe a different vowel feature (such as /u:/, which is a high back rounded vowel) or are consonants (/v/, /f/), so they don’t fit.