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What vowel sound is not short or long?

This is a bit of a trick question! The concept of "short" and "long" vowel sounds is primarily a feature of English spelling, not the actual sounds themselves.

Here's why:

* Short vowels: These are typically represented by a single vowel letter in spelling (e.g., "cat," "bed," "hot"). However, the actual sound isn't inherently "short."

* Long vowels: These are often spelled with a vowel followed by a silent "e" or a double vowel (e.g., "kite," "tree," "feet"). Again, the sound isn't inherently "long."

The reality is that vowel sounds exist on a continuum. There are no strict categories of "short" or "long."

It's more accurate to say that some vowel sounds are:

* More open and relaxed: These might be considered "long" in a spelling context.

* More closed and tense: These might be considered "short" in a spelling context.

Therefore, no vowel sound is inherently "not short or long." It's more about how we perceive the sound based on our spelling system and how we use the vowel in different contexts.

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