The Sound Patterns of Language Chapter 4 Because

The Sound Patterns of Language Chapter 4

Because of language property, we can study physical production of speech sounds We all have vocal tract but different from each other Thus, there are million forms of me moreover, each individual produces me differently in different situations (shouting, catch a bad cold, etc. ) However, we can recognize all those types of me How? By the study of phonology

Phonology The description of the systems and patterns of speech sounds in a language. It is concerned with the ways in which speech sounds form systems and patterns in human language Is unconscious knowledge of native speakers Thus, we here talk about abstract/mental aspect of speech sounds Physical production=phonetics Go to the introduction of this chapter(Goldilocks)!

Phonemes Each meaning – distinguishing sound in a language is described as a phoneme. It is the single sound type which came to be represented by a single symbol. Slash marks are conventionally used to indicate a phoneme /t/. An essential property: If we substitute one sound for another in a word and there is a change of meaning, then two sounds represent different phonemes.

/p/, /k/ & /v/ /p/= -voice, +bilabial, +stop /k/= -voice, +velar, +stop Have some common features SO Called members of a natural class of sounds SO Phnologically behave similarly /v/= +voice, +labiodental, fricative /v/ not like them SO not of same members SO /pl/ & /kl/ much more common than /vl/

Phones and Allophones Phoneme= sound-type (in the mind) /t/ Phone= different versions of phoneme=allophone [t] (in the mouth) Thus phone means each different version of phoneme. When they are a group which all are related to one phoneme, we call them allophones. Different aspirations in tar & star

Examples p. 44 Aspirated t (tar) ; flap t (writer) ; dental t (eighth) Each of these are phones but as a group are allophones of /t/. The most important difference between phonemes and allophones: The replacement of a phoneme for another will result in different meaning but replacement of allophone will result in different pronunciation. Differences between [i] in English (allophonic) and French (phonemic) p. 44

Minimal Pairs and Sets Identical in form except for a contrast in one phoneme being in the same position (pat & bat) When there is a set of words which they have only 1 different phoneme in the same position in the word, they are called minimal sets (ex. P. 45)

Phonotactics Definite permitted sound combination patterns E. g. , we don’t have vig in English We may use it for «very ignorant guy» =accidental But may have it as a word some day in future So up to that time, it is an accidental gap

Phonotactics There is no accident if we don’t have [fsıg] or [rnıg] Have not obeyed limitations of sound sequences in English These limitations are called phonotactics. As if it is a part of individual’s phonological knowledge It seems there is a larger sequence limitation rather than phonemes……syllable

Syllables Syllable=C+V/Vlike (diphthongs) English= typical CV P. 45 fig. 4. 1 like me, to, or no= no coda …open syllables Like up, cup = coda at the end … closed syllables

Consonant Clusters Both onset and coda can be more than 1 C Like st (onset. CC) other ex. P. 46 Onset CC = C + liquid /l, r/ OR glide /w/ also onset CCC: ex: p. 46 The rule: /s/+(-v)stop+liquid OR glide The rule: /s/+/p, t, k/+/l, r, w/ E. g. , Splash, Spring, Strong, Scream, Square

CCC very unsual in languages In many languages, it is CV In casual English speech, those consonant clusters at the middle may be reduced…. Coarticulation

Coarticulation effects Up to now, as if we are speaking sound by sound and in slow motion But our normal speech is spontaneous Process of making one sound almost at the same time of the next time=coarticulation 2 effects…. .

Assimilation 2 sound segments are with each other and one sound copies the other…. assimilation Ex: p. 47 for /v/ becomes /f/ Ex: p. 47 for /ı/ becomes nasalized /ı/ Ex: p. 47 for /n/ becomes nasalized /n/

Elision Omission of a sound segment which would be present in the deliberate pronunciation of a word in isolation is technically described as elision. You and me: in pronounciation /d/ is ex of elision In consonant clusters, in coda position /t/ of aspects Or /t/ of «he must be» more examples: p. 48

Normal Speech These two coarticulation processes does not show laziness Instead if you try to pronounce every sound, you will sound artificially-speaking We learn patterns which help us to use sounds of language