Linguistics The fourth week

Chapter 2 The Sounds of Language 2.1 Introduction 2.1 Introduction 2.2 Phonetics 2.2 Phonetics

Key points: Articulators and their functions Articulators and their functions Voiced and voiceless sounds Voiced and voiceless sounds

Difficult point: Articulators and their functions Articulators and their functions

Phonetics : The study of the speech sounds that occur in all languages is called phonetics. The study of the speech sounds that occur in all languages is called phonetics.

The task of phonetics: The task of phonetics is to identify what speech sounds are there in a language, how the sounds are produced, how the sounds are classified, and features the sounds have. The task of phonetics is to identify what speech sounds are there in a language, how the sounds are produced, how the sounds are classified, and features the sounds have.

The study of phonetics can be divided into three main branches (1) articulatory phonetics: is the study of how speech sounds are produced, or “articulated”; (1) articulatory phonetics: is the study of how speech sounds are produced, or “articulated”; (2) acoustic phonetics: deals with the transmission of speech sounds through the air; (2) acoustic phonetics: deals with the transmission of speech sounds through the air; (3) auditory phonetics: deals with how speech sounds are perceived by the listener. (3) auditory phonetics: deals with how speech sounds are perceived by the listener.

2.2.1 Articulators and their functions In larynx, there are the vocal cords. In larynx, there are the vocal cords. Above the vocal cords, there is the vocal tract in which the other articulators are located. Above the vocal cords, there is the vocal tract in which the other articulators are located.

Oral cavity: which is the air passage within the mouth and the throat. Oral cavity: which is the air passage within the mouth and the throat. Nasal cavity: which is the air passage within and behind the nose Nasal cavity: which is the air passage within and behind the nose

Articulators (i) Pharynx (i) Pharynx (ii) Velum or soft palate (ii) Velum or soft palate (iii) Hard palate (iii) Hard palate (iv) Alveolar ridge or alveolum (iv) Alveolar ridge or alveolum (v) Tongue (v) Tongue (vi) Teeth (vi) Teeth (vii) Lips (vii) Lips

Bilabial and labiodental Sounds in which the lips are in contact with each other are called bilabial, while those with lip-to-teeth contact are called labiodental. Sounds in which the lips are in contact with each other are called bilabial, while those with lip-to-teeth contact are called labiodental.

Dentals Sounds made with the tongue touching the front teeth are called dentals. Sounds made with the tongue touching the front teeth are called dentals. There are a pair of dentals in English: θ  There are a pair of dentals in English: θ 

Voiced and voiceless sounds When the vocal cords are spread apart, the airstream from the lungs is not obstructed at the space between vocal cords and passes freely. The sounds produced in this way are described as voiceless sounds. When the vocal cords are spread apart, the airstream from the lungs is not obstructed at the space between vocal cords and passes freely. The sounds produced in this way are described as voiceless sounds.

The sounds represented by [p], [t], [k] and [s] in the English words seep [si:], seat [si:t]m and seek[si:k] are voiceless sounds. The sounds represented by [p], [t], [k] and [s] in the English words seep [si:], seat [si:t]m and seek[si:k] are voiceless sounds. Then the vocal cords are drawn together, the airstream forces its way through and causes them to vibrate. Sounds produced in this way are described as voiced sounds. Then the vocal cords are drawn together, the airstream forces its way through and causes them to vibrate. Sounds produced in this way are described as voiced sounds.

(1) rope/robe fate/fade rack/rag wreath/wreathe (2) fine/vine seal/zeal choke/joke The first word of each pair in (1) ends with a voiceless sound and the second word with a voiced sound. The first word of each pair in (2) begins with a voiceless sound and the second with a voiced sound. The first word of each pair in (1) ends with a voiceless sound and the second word with a voiced sound. The first word of each pair in (2) begins with a voiceless sound and the second with a voiced sound.

Assignments 1. Definitions: (1) phonetics (2) voiceless sounds 2. What are the three branches of the study of phonetics?