L10A Phonetics & Phonology
Note 2
January 24, 2004
PHONETICS
Listen to the audio
WHAT IS PHONETICS?

Phonetics is concerned with describing speech.
REASONS FOR THE STUDY OF PHONETICS

a.
b.
Provide some reasons for the study of phonetics
For all these purposes phoneticians need to find out
what people are doing when they are talking and how
the sounds of speech can be described (Ladefoged
2001: 1)
BRANCHES OF PHONETICS

The reasons for studying speech discussed above should
lead you to identify three main branches of phonetic study
a.
b.
c.
articulatory
acoustic
auditory
1
Goals

Consider the three main goals below and decide which best
meets the study of phonetics. Provide reasons.
a.
account for any kind of “noise” which the vocal
apparatus is capable
b.
a subset of (a) – those sounds that are
linguistically significant in some language or
order
c.
a subset of (b) – only those sounds that are
linguistically significant in a particular
language.
ARTICULATORY PHONETICS
The branch of phonetics which we address in this course is
articulatory phonetics.

Using the diagram of the speech chain to identify and
describe the articulatory aspects of phonetics
 In order to understand the speech production process
we need to identify and describe elements of human
anatomy and physiology which aid speech
 The aspects of human anatomy used in speech are
called “vocal organs”
 Although they are used in speech production, they
perform other primary biological functions
2
Anatomy of Speech

For purposes of identification and description of
speech sounds, we will divide the speech production
system into three areas:
a.
Lungs – diagram of
b.
Larynx – diagrams of
c.
vocal tract - diagram

We need to do and understand the following:
a.
b.
c.
Identify the organs, or articulators
The way in which the articulators interact
The manner in which the articulators interact
3
Nature of the articulators

The articulators are classified into two major
categories:
a.
Active articulators
b.
Passive articulators

a.
b.
With the aid of the diagrams identify and
describe each of the articulators
Practice: produce sounds and identify the
articulator(s) involved
Airstream Mechanisms - diagram

For sounds to be produced, a current of air has to be
set in motion. Speech sounds are produced with
airstream originating from three areas of the
biological apparatus
Practice:
a.
Pulmonic airstream - diagram
b.
Glottalic airstream - diagram
c.
Velaric airstream - diagram
Use the IPA to identify and describe English sounds and
sounds from other languages
Attempt exercises 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 & 2.4: These will be discussed
in the seminars
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