Prepare for the UCF SPA3112 Basic Phonetics Midterm Exam. Study effectively with flashcards, multiple-choice questions, and in-depth explanations. Get exam-ready now!

The vowel sound represented by "æ" is commonly known as the "ash" sound, which is similar to the sound found in the English words "cat," "bat," and "sad." This sound is characterized by a near-front open vowel position, where the tongue is positioned relatively forward in the mouth but also lower than in the case of the "eh" sound.

In contrast, the "ih" sound, as represented in "sit," is a close front vowel, which means the tongue is positioned higher in the mouth. The "eh" sound, as found in "bed," is also a mid front vowel, but it is not as open as the "ash" sound. The "eee" sound, found in words like "see," represents a tense high front vowel, which again contrasts with the openness of the "æ" sound. Thus, the correct association of "æ" with the "Ah" sound is accurate because of its specific tongue height and advanced positioning in the vocal tract during articulation.