Class 1: Phonetics and Phonology WELCOME TO ENGLISH PHONETICS
Class 1: Phonetics and Phonology
WELCOME TO ENGLISH
PHONETICS
PHONE: A speech sound in a language
SPEECH: the ability to talk, the activity of talking, or a
piece of spoken language
LANGUAGE: a system of communication consisting
of sounds, words and grammar, or the system of
communication used by the people of a particular
country
LINGUISTICS: the systematic study of the structure
and development of language in general or of
particular languages
The LINGUISTIC study of language includes:
The study of the STRUCTURE OF SENTENCES
The study of the STRUCTURE OF WORDS
The study of MEANING
The study of HOW TO USE WORDS
(categories like nouns, verbs, & rules governing the
structure of phrases, clauses and sentences)
(the meaning of words and the relationship
between word meanings, and the way they
combine to give the meanings of sentences)
(the words of a language, their pronunciation and
their meaning)
The study of LANGUAGE, MEANING & CONTEXT
(the influence of situation on the interpretation of
what people say; the study of the aspects of
meaning and language use that are dependent
on the speaker , the addressee and other features
of the context of utterance )
(parts of the word, such as affixes)
The study of SPEECH SOUNDS OR PHONES
General Information about Phonetics and Phonology:
•Every language has a small number of regularly used sounds
(vowels and consonants). We call these sounds PHONEMES.
Examples:
The vowels in the words ‘pin’ and ‘pen’ are different
phonemes
The consonants at the beginning of the words ‘pet’ and ‘bet’
are also different phonemes
•English spelling has a notoriously confusing nature.
•For this reason it is important to think of English pronunciation
in terms of phonemes, and not in terms of letters of the
alphabet.
Examples:
The word ‘enough’ begins with the same vowel phoneme as
that at the beginning of ‘inept’ and ends with the same
consonant as ‘stuff’
They are both part of a general theory
about SPEECH SOUNDS and how they
are used in LANGUAGE.
•PHONETICS is concerned with the CONCRETE
reality of the sounds used in language.
•PHONOLOGY is concerned with HOW
sounds FUNCTION in a SYSTEMATIC way IN A
PARTICULAR LANGUAGE.
It deals with how speech
sounds are organised into
patterns or systems for
each individual language
It deals with:
•How SPEECH SOUNDS are
made
•How SPEECH SOUNDS are
perceived
•SPEECH SOUNDS and the
physics involved
Three branches of
Phonetics
ARTICULATORY
PHONETICS
AUDITORY
PHONETICS
ACOUSTIC
PHONETICS
Because you are going to work with the
English language at an advanced level
as TEACHERS, TRANSLATORS-
INTERPRETERS or RESEARCHERS...
… you will need the deeper
understanding provided by the study of
Phonetic and Phonological theory to
understand the principles regulating the
use of sounds in spoken English.
THE PHYSIOLOGY(*) OF PRONUNCIATION
Physiology: the science that deals with the way the
bodies of living things operate.
Classes 3 and 5: PHYSIOLOGY OF PRONUNCIATION
ORGANS OF SPEECH
• UPPER LIP
• LOWER LIP
• UPPER TEETH
• LOWER TEETH
• TONGUE TIP
• TONGUE BLADE
• TONGUE FRONT
• TONGUE BODY
• TONGUE BACK
• TONGUE ROOT
• ALVEOLAR RIDGE
• HARD PALATE
• SOFT PALATE (VELUM)
• UVULA
Diagram of human head
ANOTHER VIEW
HOW IS SPEECH POSSIBLE?
THE AIR STREAM EXPELLED FROM THE LUNGS IS THE MOST COMMON SOURCE OF ENERGY FOR OUR VOCAL ACTIVITY.
IN THE TRACHEA OR WINDPIPE
IT PASSES THROUGH THE
LARYNX, CONTAINING THE
VOCAL FOLDS OR VOCAL
CORDS.
THE FRONT PORTION OF THE
TRACHEA OR WINDPIPE IS
PROMINENT IN THE NECK
BELOW THE CHIN AND IS
KNOWN AS “ADAM’S APPLE”.
VOCAL CORDS OR FOLDS
GLOTTIS: OPENING BETWEEN THE FOLDS
THE VOCAL FOLDS ACT AS VIBRATORS MOVED BY LUNG AIR.
TO PRODUCE VOICE THEY ARE BROUGHT TOGETHER AND VIBRATE.
e.g. /g/, /l/, /m/
From the larynx to the phrarinx
THE PHARYNGEAL CAVITY
EXTENDS FROM THE TOP OF
THE TRACHEA AND
OESOPHAGUS, PAST THE
EPIGLOTTIS AND THE ROOT
OF THE TONGUE, TO THE
REGION AT THE REAR OF THE
SOFT PALATE.
Sounds such as [æ] are articulated with a strong contraction of the pharynx.
When the air escapes from the pharynx, the soft palate may be:
•LOWERED AS IN NORMAL
BREATHING. THE AIR MAY
ESCAPE THROUGH THE NOSE
AND THE MOUTH.
ALL NORMAL ENGLISH SOUNDS (EXCEPTION
OF NASAL CONSONANTS) HAVE THIS ORAL
ESCAPE.
•RAISED: THE AIR ESCAPES
ONLY BY THE MOUTH.
THE MOUTH
It’s no coincidence that in English and Spanish the word “tongue” refers to the organs and to language as a means of communication.
SPEECH MECHANISM WHICH DETERMINES THE
QUALITY OF THE MAJORITY OF THE SPEECH
SOUNDS BECAUSE ITS PARTS ARE EASIER TO
CONTROL.
THE MOUTH
FIXED ELEMENTS:
•TEETH (IN THE FRONT)
•HARD PALATE (IN THE
UPPER PART)
•PHARYNGEAL WALL (IN THE
REAR)
MOVABLE ELEMENTS:
•LIPS
•VARIOUS PARTS OF THE TONGUE
•SOFT PALATE INCLUDING UVULA
•LOWER JAW
THE ROOF OF THE MOUTH
THREE PARTS:
•ALVEOLAR RIDGE OR TEETH RIDGE (BACK OF THE UPPER TEETH).
•BONY ARCH WHICH FORMS THE HARD PALATE.
•THE SOFT PALATE, FOLLOWING THE HARD PALATE AND ENDING IN THE UVULA.
TO DESCRIBE SOUNDS, WE NEED TO CONSIDER:
FOR FUTURE REFERENCE…
THE NATURE OF THE AIRSTREAM: USUALLY STRAIGHT FROM THE LUNGS
THE ACTION OF THE VOCAL FOLDS: CLOSED, WIDE APART OR VIBRATING
THE POSITION OF THE SOFT PALATE: DESCIDES IF THE SOUND HAS NASAL RESONANCES
DISPOSITION OF THE MOVABLE ORGANS OF THE MOUTH
THE CONCEPT OF “PHONEME”
Class 7: The concept of Phoneme
What are these symbols?
• They are called phonemic symbols (as opposed to phonetic symbols).
• Each one represents a PHONEME, that is, ONE specific SIGNIFICANT speech sound.
Significant?
• By “significant” we mean that each of these sounds can make a difference in the meaning of a word.
• Take the case of “map” and “cap”. Phonemes /m/ and /k/ are significant from the moment they can alter the meanings of words.
PHONEMES!!!
• A phoneme is the smallest contrastive unit in the sound system of a language.
• A phoneme is a minimal unit that serves to distinguish between meanings of words.
• By convention, a phoneme is represented between /slashes/,
• e.g. /b/, /m/.
HOW MANY PHONEMES ARE THERE IN THE
ENGLISH LANGUAGE?
HOW ARE PHONEMES
CLASSIFIED?
CONSONANTS
12 V
OW
ELS
8 D
IPT
HONGS
SPELLING FORMS
PRACTICE WITH TONGUE TWISTERS:
Everybody saw Eddie and the Eskimo enter the elevator on the elephant.
.
CAN YOU IDENTIFY EACH TARGET SOUND?
The important Indian was ill with injuries inside the igloo.
Oliver had an operation in October, and Oscar gave him an octopus.
Andrew and Alice asked if Annie's active animals were angry.
On Mondays Michael's mother Mary mostly mopped.
Uncle was upset because he was unable to put his umbrella up.
The excited experts explained that the extra X-rays were excellent.
Bill and Betty baked brown bread for Barbara's baby.
Carol and Claire can cook carrots, corn, cabbage, and candy.
Harry had a horrible headache and hated to hear Henry howl.
John got juice and jelly on his jacket when Judy jumped on him.
Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.
Tommy tricked Tim and took his train off the track.
Virginia visited Vicky and gave her violets and vegetables with vitamins.
When the weather is warm we will walk with William in the wild woods.
Yesterday you yelled in the yard for a yellow yo-yo.
HOW DO THESE SYMBOLS HELP US?
• THEY ARE WRITTEN REPRESENTATIONS OF SIGNIFICANT SOUNDS.
• WE CAN PRONOUNCE A WORD WITHOUT HAVING HEARD IT.
• OUR MESSAGE IS UNDERSTOOD AS IT WAS THOUGHT.
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN:
CAP CUP
BAG BUG
CAT CUT
RAG RUGThe answer is: one PHONEME! One SIGNIFICANT sound makes a new word.
These contrastive examples are called MINIMAL PAIRS.
They will help you teach your students to pronounce beautifully.
PHONEMES AND ALLOPHONES
An allophone is any of the variant forms of a single phoneme. Allophones are
NOT SIGNIFICANT
THINK OF: “TOP” V. “LATER”.
•THE TWO /t/ SOUNDS ARE PRONOUNCED DIFFERENTLY. (THE FIRST ONE IS ASPIRATED AND THE SECOND IS UNASPIRATED)
•THEY ARE VARIATIONS OF THE SAME PHONEME.
•THEY DO NOT ALTER THE MEANING OF THE WORDS.
JUST A REMINDER… a few concepts…
ORGANS OF SPEECH
• UPPER LIP
• LOWER LIP
• UPPER TEETH
• LOWER TEETH
• TONGUE TIP
• TONGUE BLADE
• TONGUE FRONT
• TONGUE BODY
• TONGUE BACK
• TONGUE ROOT
• ALVEOLAR RIDGE
• HARD PALATE
• SOFT PALATE (VELUM)
• UVULA
Diagram of human head
PASSIVE
ARTICULATOR?UPPER LIP
LOWER LIP
UPPER TEETH
LOWER TEETH
TONGUE TIP
TONGUE BLADE
TONGUE FRONT
TONGUE BODY
TONGUE BACK
TONGUE ROOT
ALVEOLAR RIDGE
HARD PALATE
SOFT PALATE (VELUM)
UVULA
ACTIVE ARTICULATOR?
UPPER LIP X
LOWER LIP X
UPPER TEETH X
LOWER TEETH (JAW) x
TONGUE TIP X
TONGUE BLADE X
TONGUE FRONT X
TONGUE BODY X
TONGUE BACK X
TONGUE ROOT x
ALVEOLAR RIDGE X
HARD PALATE X
SOFT PALATE (VELUM) X
UVULA X
WHAT’S MOVING? … WHAT’S FIXED?
UPPER LIP
LOWER LIP
UPPER TEETH
LOWER TEETH
TONGUE TIP
TONGUE BLADE
TONGUE FRONT
TONGUE BODY
TONGUE BACK
TONGUE ROOT
ALVEOLAR RIDGE
HARD PALATE
SOFT PALATE (VELUM)
UVULA
•/k/
•/∫/
•/d/
•/g/
•/f/
TO DESCRIBE SOUNDS, WE NEED TO CONSIDER:
THE AIRSTREAM MECHANISM
THE ACTION OF THE VOCAL FOLDS
THE POSITION OF THE SOFT PALATE
DISPOSITION OF THE MOVABLE ORGANS OF THE MOUTH
• The lungs are the source of air to produce most speech sounds.
• The normal flow of air from the lungs is uninterrupted, thus there is no sound production as when we sleep.
• HOWEVER! Snoring… even when sleeping we can produce sounds!!
1. THE AIRSTREAM MECHANISM
• Two lung processes: INHALING AND EXHALING.
• Inhaling: our lungs and chest cavity expand.
• Exhaling: they contract and the air is expelled to…
• THE BRONCHI and then to…
• THE TRACHEA OR WINDPIPE to
• THE LARYNX and to the THE THROAT
1. THE AIRSTREAM MECHANISM
• THREE POSITIONS:– OPEN: NORMAL BREATHING AND VOICELESS SOUNDS
– TIGHTLY CLOSED: GLOTTAL STOPS
– VIBRATING: VOWELS AND VOICED SOUNDS
2. THE ACTION OF THE VOCAL FOLDS
• THREE POSITIONS:
– LOWERED: NORMAL BREATHING THE AIR ESCAPES THROUGH THE NOSE AND THE MOUTH
– LOWERED TO LET THE AIR COME OUT THROUGH THE NOSE
– RAISED: THE AIR ESCAPES ONLY THROUGH THE MOUTH
2. THE POSITION OF THE SOFT PALATE
3. POINT OF ARTICULATION
BILABIALS
LABIO-DENTALS
DENTALS
ALVEOLARS
PALATALS
VELARS
GLOTTAL
POST-ALVEOLARS
PALATO-ALVEOLARS
3. MANNER OF ARTICULATION
REFERS TO THE VERTICALRELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE ACTIVE AND PASSIVE ARTICULATORS
3. MANNER OF ARTICULATION
PLOSIVES
GLIDES OR SEMIVOWELS
LIQUIDS (LATERALS
AND FRICTIONLESS CONTINUANT)
NASALS
AFFRICATES
FRICATIVES
OUR CHALLENGE…
Articulation of VOWELS
1. In the shape and position of the
tongue
a. The vertical
distance
between the
palate and the
upper surface
of the tongue.
b. The part of the
tongue,
between front
and back
which is raised highest.
(horizontal)
a. The vertical distance between the palate and the
upper surface of the tongue.
HIGH VOWELS
MID VOWELS
LOW VOWELS
cheese
pin
friend
bad
Come, bus
Burn, turn
About, clever
Dance, bark
Pot, got
caught, or
Full, book
Fool, glue
Also
known as
CLOSE
vowels
Also
known as
OPEN
vowels
TON
GU
E H
EIG
HT
b. The part of the tongue, between front and back
which is raised highest. (horizontal)
FRONT VOWELS
CENTRAL VOWELS
BACK VOWELS
FR
ON
TNESS A
ND
BA
CK
NESS
2. Another important variable of vowel quality is LIP-
ROUNDING
ROUNDED VOWELS
NEUTRAL VOWELS
SPREAD VOWELS
English Diphthongs
day
eye
boy
mouth
nose
ear
hair
pure