Which of the following is a retracted vowel position?

The retracted vowel position refers to a place in the mouth where the tongue is positioned further back compared to its neutral or more advanced positions for producing vowels. Understanding this requires a grasp of the distinctions made based on tongue height and the front-back axis of vowel articulation.

In this case, the choice indicates a high front tense vowel. While it may seem counterintuitive at first, it’s important to consider that the term "retracted" can sometimes be used in relation to the specific articulatory settings where the tongue has a more posterior positioning during pronunciation. High front tense vowels, though categorized as front vowels, can exhibit a slight retraction, especially when compared to mid or low front vowels.

The low back tense vowel, while potentially more retracted in terms of tongue position, is not considered a high front vowel. The other options encompass mid front tense and low front lax vowels, both of which would not typically be described in the context of retraction, as they are articulated more towards the front of the mouth.

Consequently, the high front tense vowel stands out in this context when considering various articulatory settings and terminology based on vowel retraction. Understanding these intricacies of vowel positions helps clarify why this selection is aptly categorized as a retracted