The sounds of language Phonetics Chapter 4 Phonetics

The sounds of language Phonetics Chapter 4

Phonetics- Basics n n n Definition: the study of human speech sounds Know what an individual sound is. Cat consists of [k] represented by the letter c, the vowel [æ] represented by a and the final [t]

The sound-spelling relationship n n n Did he believe that Caesar could see the people seize the seas? To too two through threw clue shoe tough “uff“ cough “off“ bough “aw“ though “oh“ through “ooh“ borough “uh“ hiccough “up“

The sound-spelling relationship n n Spelling is not a reliable guide to pronouncing a word in English A system is needed where one sound corresponds to one symbol and one symbol corresponds to one sound. Phonetic Alphabet- one symbol for each sound. International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) to symbolize all sounds of all languages

Fields of Phonetics n Articulatory phonetics n n Acoustic phonetics n n How sounds are produced Physical properties of sounds Auditory phonetics n How sounds are perceived This class: Articulatory phonetics

Articulatory phonetics Questions: How can we describe speech sounds in terms of how they are produced in the vocal tract? n How can we transcribe these sounds? Goal: n A systematic method of how to describe and transcribe the sounds occurring in human languages. n

How Are Sounds Produced? n n Most sounds are produced by an air stream coming from the lungs passing through one or more speech organs. Where and how the air stream is obstructed determine the identity of the sound produced. n When the shape of the vocal tract changes, different sounds are produced.

Speech Production Mechanism VOCAL TRACT n n n Nasal cavity Oral cavity Pharynx LARYNX n Vocal folds Glottis LUNGS n Energy source n (shapes sounds) (voicing)

Vocal Organs- articulators

Consonants & Vowels n Sounds Consonants Vowels Obstruction of airflow Free flow of air

Consonants n ü ü ü Consonants are classified according to three parameters. Voicing Place of articulation Manner of articulation

Voicing n Voicing occurs in the larynx where the vocal folds are. n When the vocal folds are held together, they start to vibrate when air passes through them → a voiced sound. E. g. zzzzzz vvvvvvv When they are held apart, they cannot vibrate; air passes freely through them → a voiceless sound. n n n E. g. sssssss fffffff

Places of articulation- English n Where in the vocal tract the airflow is restricted. n n n n Bilabial- two lips [b, p, m] Labiodental- upper teeth & lower lip [f, v] Dental- between the teeth [θ, ð ] Alveolar- front part of the tongue on alveolar ridge [s, z, n, t, d, l] Palatal- front part of the tongue on the hard palate [ʃ, ʒ, tʃ, dʒ, j] Velar- the back of the tongue on the velum [k, g, ŋ] Glottal- through open glottis [h]

Places of articulation n Bilabials

Places of articulation

Place of articulation n Labiodentals

Place of articulation

Places of articulation

Places of articulation

Places of articulation

Glottal stop and flap n Glottal stop [ʔ] occurs when the space between the vocal cords (the glottis) is closed completely. n n n American pronunciation of Oh oh bottle batman Flap [ɾ] produced by the tongue tip tapping the alveolar ridge briefly. n n American pronunciation of Latter writer metal

Manner of articulation n [b] and [m] → voiced bilabials [d] and [z] → voiced alveolar [t] and [s] → voiceless alveolar n How are they different? n n n In the way the air is restricted in the vocal tract → manner of articulation

Manners of articulation n n Stops → complete blockage [p, t, k, b, d, g] (also plosives) Fricatives → partial blockage [f, v, s, z…] Affricates → stop + fricative [tʃ, dʒ] Nasal → through nasal cavity [m, n, ŋ] glides [j, w] → take the shape of the vowel n (also semi-vowels, approximants) Liquids → lowering both sides of the tongue [l , r]

Manner of articulation

Consonants

Consonants

Consonants Can be described by using three parameters: voicing, place of articulation and manner of articulation n Examples: [p] voiceless bilabial stop [n] voiced alveolar nasal [d] [ŋ] n

What is a vowel? n A sound produced without major constriction in the vocal tract n n No articulators touching or even coming close Since the sound is not produced by constriction, the energy comes primarily from the vocal cords n Vowels are all voiced

Vowels n • Vowels can be classified by answering three questions How high is the tongue? • • What part of the tongue is involved? • • High- mid - low Front- central- back What is the position of the lips? • Rounded or unrounded

Tongue positions n Tongue height n n n High [i, u] Mid [ε, o] Low [æ] Say seat, set, sat transcribed [i], [ε], [æ]

Tongue position n Tongue backness n n n Front [i], [æ] Central [ə] Back [u], [o], [a] Say he and who

Front and back vowels n He [hi] n Who [hu]

Preview of vocal tract shaping n n Say “heave” and “have” Say “who” and “ha” What do you notice going on in your mouth?

Classification: Tongue Height n n High: Heave Who Low: n Have n Ha

Lip rounding n n Rounded [u], [o] [u] noon [o] boat Unrounded [i] heat [I] hit

Vowel Chart

Diphthongs n n A combination of two sounds vowel + glide [aw] cow, loud [ɔj] boy, void, noise [aj] buy, eye, my

Vowels description n n Can be classified according to three parameters: height, backness, and lip rounding Examples: [i] high front unrounded vowel [u] high back rounded vowel

Phonetic Transcription n The best-known system: n n The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) IPA has been developing since 1888. The system represents each sound of human speech with a single symbol. The symbol is enclosed in brackets [ ].

Benefits of Phonetic Transcription n n • • We can use IPA transcription across languages, there is one symbol for EVERY possible human sound There is a 1 -1 correspondence of sound to symbol Cat [kæt] Cell [sel]

Consonant chart

Activity: identifying diphthongs n n n n n call top Fright joy top Haste Avoid Proud Hide

Transcription Practice n • • • Transcribe the following words Kick Boot She Thin

Important terms n n n n Articulatory phonetics articulators Consonants and vowels Places of articulation Manner of articulation Voicing Parameters for describing vowels Phonetic transcription