Introduction to Linguistics
Week 5
May 30, 2016
intro to ling/ssn/2007
1
Phonetics
Description of Sounds
May 30, 2016
intro to ling/ssn/2007
2
Definition and scope
 Phonetics is the study of the production and
perception of speech sounds.
 It is concerned with the sounds of language, how
these sounds are articulated and how the hearer
perceives them.
 Phonetics is related to the science of acoustics
in that it uses much the same techniques in the
analysis of sound that acoustics does
May 30, 2016
intro to ling/ssn/2007
3
Fields
 articulatory phonetics
→ deals with the configurations of the vocal tract used to
produce speech sounds; studies the physiological
mechanisms of speech production
 acoustic phonetics
→ studies speech sounds in terms how we hear them
→ measuring and analyzing the physical properties of
sound waves we produce when we speak
 Auditory Phonetics
→ the study of the perception of speech sounds.
May 30, 2016
intro to ling/ssn/2007
4
Units of Representation
 Feature: subunit of segment, reflects individual
aspect of articulatory control produced by
articulation
 Segment: individual speech sound
 Syllable: a segment of speech that consists of a
vowel, with or without one or more
accompanying consonant sounds immediately
preceding or following
May 30, 2016
intro to ling/ssn/2007
5
Phonetic Transcription
 IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet)
→ represents each sound of human speech
with a single symbol
e.g. [ə] ; [θ]
Why do we need the IPA?
May 30, 2016
intro to ling/ssn/2007
6
We need a system for recording speech sounds
accurately. English spelling is very inconsistent.
 Same sound [i], different letters
e.g. see, sea, scene, receive, thief, amoeba,
machine
 Same letters, different sounds
e.g. sign [s], pleasure [ʒ], resign [z]
 One sound, multiple letters
e.g. lock [k], that [ð], book [ʊ], boast [o], shop [ʃ]
 One letter, multiple sounds
e.g. exit [gz], use [ju]
 Silent letters
e.g. know, doubt, though, island
May 30, 2016
intro to ling/ssn/2007
7
Sound Classes
Based on the phonetic properties shared:
 Vowels
 Consonants
 Glides
May 30, 2016
intro to ling/ssn/2007
8
English Consonants
closure
larynx
place
Bilabial
Stop
voiceless
voiced
nasal
Fricative
voiceless
voiced
Affricate
voiceless
voiced
Approximant
voiceless
voiced
May 30, 2016
Labiodental
Interdental
p
b
m
Alveolar
Lateral
Palatal
t
d
n
f
v
θ
ð
Velar
Glottal
k
g
ŋ
ʃ
ʒ
s
z
č
ǰ
h
ʍ
w
r
intro to ling/ssn/2007
l
j
9
English Vowels
height
tongue
root
Front
place
lips
May 30, 2016
Central
Back
Unrounded Unrounded Unrounded Rounded
High
tense
lax
i
ɪ
u
ʊ
Mid
tense
lax
e
ɛ
o
ɔ
Low
lax
æ
ʌ
ɑ
intro to ling/ssn/2007
10
Figure out the differences between consonants
and vowels in the following words.
 take – above
 cart – at
 think – ugly
 bell – open
 feel – eel
May 30, 2016
intro to ling/ssn/2007
11
Major Differences
Vowels
 are produced with
relatively little
obstruction in the
vocal tract (obstruent)
 are more sonorous
(+sonorant)
May 30, 2016
Consonants
 are produced with a
narrow or complete
closure in the vocal
tract (+obstruent)
 are less sonorous
(-sonorant)
intro to ling/ssn/2007
12
Glides
 Shows properties of both consonants and
vowels
→ rapidly articulated vowels
→ vowel-like in articulation
→ pattern/function as consonants
 Sometimes are called semivowel and
semiconsonant
e.g. yet; wet
May 30, 2016
intro to ling/ssn/2007
13