<P> The number of phonemically distinct vowels can be as low as two , as in Ubykh and Arrernte . At the other extreme , the Bantu language Ngwe has 14 vowel qualities , 12 of which may occur long or short , making 26 oral vowels , plus 6 nasalized vowels , long and short , making a total of 38 vowels ; while ! Xóõ achieves 31 pure vowels , not counting its additional variation by vowel length , by varying the phonation . As regards consonant phonemes , Puinave and the Papuan language Tauade each have just seven , and Rotokas has only six . ! Xóõ , on the other hand , has somewhere around 77 , and Ubykh 81 . The English language uses a rather large set of 13 to 21 vowel phonemes , including diphthongs , although its 22 to 26 consonants are close to average . </P>
how many sounds make up the english language
13 to 21 vowel phonemes 22 to 26 consonants