LIN 3201 Sounds of Human Language Sayers Week

LIN 3201 Sounds of Human Language Sayers -- Week 1 – August 29 & 31

What is Phonetics? l Study of human speech sounds: ¡ Describing and classifying human sounds ¡ Understanding production of sounds ¡ Comparing and contrasting sounds across languages ¡ Discovering constraints and limitations of possible human speech

Purposes of Phonetic Investigation l Modifying or correcting pronunciation of second language students or actors l Understanding dialectal differences and historical changes in pronunciation l Assisting those with speech disorders

l Forensic analysis of speech in law l Discovering the phonemic system of a language – the way native speakers organize and perceive sound

3 Fields of Phonetics 1. Articulatory Phonetics ¡ Physical properties of sound – how sounds are produced in the vocal tract 2. Acoustic Phonetics ¡ Sound as a wave – air compression and disturbance as sounds are released

3. Auditory Phonetics ¡ Interpretation l (Forensic and reception of speech sounds Phonetics) ¡ Application of all fields to analyze legal data

Phonetics and LIN 3201 4 Goals: 1. Understanding of the possible modifications of sound as it travels through vocal tract l 2. What does our body do to produce a given sound? Representation of sounds by a phonetic alphabet l l Recognizing IPA symbols Understanding the physical properties each represents

3. Production of sounds l Your actual practice in physical production 4. Perception of sounds l l Your practice in observation and perception A thorough understanding of phonemes and sound system organization

A few caveats about sound…

Or, Why Phonetics is so hard… Adapted from Hardman 1996

Sound and Perceptions – Some Basics l Sound is a wave – a fluid flow of “chaos”

We attempt, as humans, to organize, shape and structure these waves into meaningful units

<<<BUT>>> Sound, as a physical event, does not repeat itself

This means that… Ø You individually organize sounds based on the structures of your native language(s) & the languages you have studied Ø Native language(s) act as filter; don’t “hear” phonetic distinctions; don’t hear phonetics directly

SO Phonetics is hard because… l You are attempting to “observe” what your brain has worked against “observing”

In theoretical terms… Ø Humans Ø Any perceive through repetition actual repetition is a function of your human capacity, not of “sound” itself

Therefore… l Keep in mind that your phonetic transcriptions are not “absolute reality” l At best, transcriptions are approximations

The IPA n International Phonetic Alphabet q q One symbol represents individual elements of speech sound Serves as shorthand device for unique set of characteristics in vocal tract

Consonants n Columns q n front of mouth back of mouth Rows q Greatest stricture least stricture

Vowels n Columns q n front of mouth back of mouth Rows q Least open most open

Articulatory Phonetics How sounds are produced by modifying air through vocal tract

4 Processes in producing sounds 1. 2. 3. 4. Airstream mechanism State of Glottis Manner of Articulation Place of Articulation (Consonants) OR Tongue & Lip Position (Vowels)

Active articulators

Anatomy l Active articulators – speech organs, generally at the top of the mouth, that move toward the upper mouth to modify air Organs & Adjectives Ø Ø Lower lip - labial Tongue - lingual § § Ø Tip - apical Blade - laminal Back - dorsal Root - radical Epiglottis - epiglottal

l Passive articulators – speech organs, generally at the bottom of the mouth, that generally remain inactive during speech Organs & Adjectives Ø Upper lip - labial Ø Upper Teeth - dental Ø Alveolar Ridge – alveolar Ø Hard Palate – palatal Ø Soft Palate (velum) – velar Ø Uvula (uvular flap) - uvular

General Diagram of Vocal Tract

l Other Speech Organs & Adjectives Ø Pharynx – pharyngeal Ø Glottis – glottal Ø Larynx – laryngeal Ø Ø Vocal Folds/Cords Oral Cavity Nasal Cavity Lungs