Which vowel sound is produced by the symbol 'ʌ'?

The symbol 'ʌ' represents the open-mid back unrounded vowel, commonly referred to as the short 'u' sound. It is found in words such as "cup," "luck," and "fun." The articulation of this vowel occurs with the tongue positioned moderately open and pushed slightly back in the mouth without rounding the lips, which characterizes its distinctive quality.

The other options refer to different vowel sounds: the open 'o' sound typically corresponds to the symbol 'ɔ', the open 'e' sound is represented by 'ɛ', and the long 'a' sound is often denoted by 'eɪ' or 'ɑɪ'. These sounds have different tongue placements and lip configurations compared to the sound represented by 'ʌ'.