Dr. Cecilia Osyanju BASIC PHONETICS COURSE Introduction to Phonetics Phonetics is the scientific study of sounds used in language, including how they are produced, transferred from the speaker to the hearer, and perceived. It is essential for understanding the sounds of English and improving pronunciation. Phonetics is the study of human speech sounds and their production. It involves the configurations of the vocal tract used to produce speech sounds (articulatory phonetics), the acoustic properties of speech sounds (acoustic phonetics), and the manner of combining sounds to make syllables, words, and sentences (linguistic phonetics). .................. Introduction to Phonetics Page 1 of 30 For spoken languages, the tongue, mouth and rest of the vocal tract are the articulators, the parts of the body that move to make language. BASIC PHONETICS COURSE The study of speech sounds is called phonetics, and the writing system that linguists use to write pronunciation very precisely is called the International Phonetic Alphabet. The study of speech sounds is called phonetics, and the writing system that linguists use to write pronunciation very precisely is called the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). As we move on, I shall be taking you through the IPA chart so that you familiarise yourself with the consonant and vowel sounds. Speech sounds don’t include coughing, sneezing, or belching. They’re the sounds that spoken languages combine with each other to make words. While there are a finite number of speech sounds, we can use them to make an infinite number of words. To understand speech sounds, we first need to understand how the human body produces them. We start with the lungs, which push air up through the vocal folds. Also known as vocal cords, your vocal folds are thin membranes that sit across your throat and vibrate to make sound. This path, which moves from lungs to lips, is known as the vocal tract. We can change the shape of any part of the vocal tract to make, or articulate, different sounds. It’s like a wind instrument--when air goes through it, it makes a sound. You’re like a squishy, wet, meat clarinet that can articulate sounds. I’m sure that’s an image you’ll never forget. For spoken languages, the tongue, mouth and rest of the vocal tract are the articulators, the parts of the body that move to make language. For signed languages, the articulators are the hands, face and other visible parts of the body. Introduction to Phonetics Page 2 of 30 Introduction to Phonetics Page 3 of 30 Improve pronounciation Identify Sound Patterns in poems Build Vocabulary Distinguish Between Sounds Enhancing Memorability Conveying Meaning and Emotion BASIC PHONETICS COURSE Why study Phonetics 1. Improve Pronunciation: Phonetics and phonology help learners to understand how to produce speech sounds correctly, which is crucial for effective communication. 2. Identifying Sound Patterns: Analyzing the distribution, prominence, and attention allocation of speech sounds (phonemes) in a poem can reveal meaningful patterns that contribute to the poem's meaning and emotional impact. This includes examining features like alliteration, assonance, consonance, and the use of specific sound classes (e.g., fricatives, plosives). 3. Distinguish Between Sounds**: Phonology helps learners to distinguish between different sounds in a language, which is vital for understanding and using the language correctly. 4. Enhancing Memorability: The search results suggest that certain phonetic patterns and repetitions can help fix a poem in the reader's mind, even without conscious effort to memorize it. This indicates that the sound structure of a poem plays a key role in its memorability and impact. 5. Enhancing Memorability: certain phonetic patterns and repetitions can help fix a poem in the reader's mind, even without conscious effort to memorize it. This indicates that the sound structure of a poem plays a key role in its memorability and impact. 6. Conveying Meaning and Emotion: Phonetic and phonological analysis can help identify how the sounds of a poem are used iconically to embody its themes and evoke certain moods or feelings. For example, the continuous voicing in a poem about rivers can reflect the idea of flow and continu ity. Introduction to Phonetics Page 4 of 30 Introduction to Phonetics Page 5 of 30 IPA and Symbols Basic Intensive Program Establish a solid groundwork in grammar, vocabulary, and conversational abilities. Description and Classification of Sounds Word Stress in Phonetics Weak and Strong Forms Assimilation and Elission in phonetics Intonation in Phonetics textual analysis in poetry with focus on rhyme, meter, literary devices In this Basic yet intensive program we shall cover the following * IPA and symbols * Description and classifiation of sounds * Word stress in phonetics * Weak and Strong forms * Assimilation and Elission in phonetics * Intonation in phonetics * Textual analysis in poetry with focus on rhyme, meter and literary devices Introduction to Phonetics Page 6 of 30 The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) Mouth Position Rounded and Unrounded Sounds and symbols IPA Symbols Each symbol corresponds to a specific mouth position and sound. Diphthongs Phonetic Map The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) and Symbols The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) uses a unique set of symbols to represent the sounds of spoken languages. Each symbol corresponds to a specific mouth position and sound. Here are some key points about how the IPA represents mouth positions: In this lesson we will gain insights into: 1. Mouth Position - The IPA represents mouth positions using various symbols. 2. What are Rounded and Unrounded Sounds? 3.What are the IPA Symbols?: Each IPA symbol represents a specific sound or mouth position. 4. What are Diphthongs?: Diphthongs are combinations of two vowels that form a single sound. In the IPA, these are represented by a combination of symbols. 5. We shall also examine A phonetic map of the human mouth shows where each sound originates, from the lips to the throat. This helps visualize the mouth positions and sounds represented by the IPA symbols. By understanding these representations, you can better use the IPA to improve your pronunciation and comprehension of spoken languages. Introduction to Phonetics Page 7 of 30 As you can see there is alot to cover....so lets get started. Introduction to Phonetics Page 8 of 30 The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) Mouth Position Rounded and Unrounded Sounds and symbols IPA Symbols Each symbol corresponds to a specific mouth position and sound. Diphthongs Phonetic Map The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) and Symbols The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) uses a unique set of symbols to represent the sounds of spoken languages. Each symbol corresponds to a specific mouth position and sound. Here are some key points about how the IPA represents mouth positions: In this lesson we will gain insights into: 1. Mouth Position: The IPA represents mouth positions using various symbols. These positions inc lude: - Close: Sounds made with the tongue close to the roof of the mouth. - Open: Sounds made with the tongue far from the roof of the mouth. - Mid: Sounds made with the tongue in the middle of the mouth. - Front: Sounds made with the tongue in the front of the mouth. - Central: Sounds made with the tongue in the center of the mouth. - Back: Sounds made with the tongue at the back of the mouth. 2. Rounded and Unrounded Sounds: When two sounds intersect, the left sound is unrounded and the right sound is rounded. This helps distinguish between similar sounds. 3. IPA Symbols: Each IPA symbol represents a specific sound or mouth position. For example: - /i/: The sound of the letter "i" in "hit". - /e/: The sound of the letter "e" in "pet". Introduction to Phonetics Page 9 of 30 - /a/: The sound of the letter "a" in "father". - /o/: The sound of the letter "o" in "hot". - /u/: The sound of the letter "u" in "put". 4. Diphthongs: Diphthongs are combinations of two vowels that form a single sound. In the IPA, these are represented by a combination of symbols. For example: - /aɪ/: The sound of the letters "ai" in "sky". - /oʊ/: The sound of the letters "o" in "over". 5. Phonetic Map: A phonetic map of the human mouth shows where each sound originates, from the lips to the throat. This helps visualize the mouth positions and sounds represented by the IPA symbols. By understanding these representations, you can better use the IPA to improve your pronunciation and comprehension of spoken languages. Introduction to Phonetics Page 10 of 30 In-class instruction Real-world role-play scenarios + Games Advanced grammar and writing Advanced Intensive Program Enhance your abilities in speaking, writing, and critical reasoning. We shall be encountering the following vocabulary in our phonetics class and it is important that you know the meaning upfront These terms are essential for understanding the basics of phonetics and phonology, which are crucial for effective communication and language comprehension. Lets briefly have a look at each of them. Introduction to Phonetics Page 11 of 30 Phoneme Here are some key vocabularies used in phonetics and phonology: 1. Phoneme: The smallest unit of sound in a language that distinguishes one word from another. Phonemes are the basic units of sound that change the meaning of a word. Phoneme Phonemes are like the secret agents of the language world! They may not look like much, but they're the tiny sounds that hold the power to change the meaning of a word. Think of them like a code that only the smartest linguists know how to crack. Imagine you're trying to figure out what your friend is saying over the phone, but you can't quite make out the words. That's because you're trying to understand the phones, the actual physical sounds. But when you figure out the phonemes, suddenly everything becomes clear; phonemes can be inferred from the pattern of phones used in a language. Introduction to Phonetics Page 12 of 30 Allophone 2. Allophone: A variation of a phoneme that is specific to certain phonetic contexts. For example, the /p/ sound in "pat" and "spin" are allophones of the phoneme /p/. Introduction to Phonetics Page 13 of 30 Articulatory Phonetics 3. Articulatory Phonetics: The study of how speech sounds are produced by the articulation of the vocal organs, such as the lips, tongue, and vocal cords Introduction to Phonetics Page 14 of 30 Phonetic Symbols Phonetic Symbols: Written characters that represent the different sounds used to form words. These symbols are used to transcribe phonemes and are based on the International Phonetic Alphabet Introduction to Phonetics Page 15 of 30 Phonetic Transcription 1. Phonetic Transcription: A transcription that includes additional details about how to pronounce the actual sounds, using diacritics and other symbols Introduction to Phonetics Page 16 of 30 Phonological Rules 4. Phonological Rules: The rules that govern how phonemes are used in a language to distinguish words from each other Introduction to Phonetics Page 17 of 30 Syllable Syllable: A unit of speech that contains a vowel sound or element, often surrounded by consonants. Syllables are used to organize speech sounds Introduction to Phonetics Page 18 of 30 Intonation 6. Intonation: The rise and fall of pitch in speech, which can convey emotions, attitudes, or sentence types. Introduction to Phonetics Page 19 of 30 Stress 7. Stress: The emphasis placed on certain syllables within a word or on specific words within a sentence Introduction to Phonetics Page 20 of 30 Weak Forms 8. Weak Forms: Reduced, unstressed versions of certain words in connected speech Introduction to Phonetics Page 21 of 30 Assimilation Assimilation Assimilation is the process where a sound changes to become more similar to a neighboring sound. This can occur in various ways, such as: Introduction to Phonetics Page 22 of 30 Elision Elision is the process of omitting or deleting certain sounds or syllables in connected speech. Introduction to Phonetics Page 23 of 30 Intonation Intonation refers to the melodic pattern of speech that conveys emotions, attitudes, and sentence types. It involves altering the loudness, pitch, and duration of stressed syllables to create a contrast with unstressed ones. Introduction to Phonetics Page 24 of 30 Consonant Clusters - Consonant Clusters: Difficult sounds like "Bl" in "Blend" and "sh" in "Splash". Introduction to Phonetics Page 25 of 30 Homophones -Homophones: Words pronounced the same but with different spellings, like "too" and "two". Introduction to Phonetics Page 26 of 30 Heteronyms Heteronyms: Words with the same spelling but different pronunciations, like "Excuse" the verb and "Excuse" the noun. Introduction to Phonetics Page 27 of 30 Phonetics and Pronunciation Phonetics is the study of the actual sounds that make up words in a language. English Phonetics (IPA) English uses about 44 different sounds, but only 26 letters in the alphabet. Phonetic Chart The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) chart helps to write words as they are pronounced. Physical Production of Sounds Key Points The key to good pronunciation is to understand that making sounds is a physical thing. Common Pronunciation Problems Minimal Pairs, Consonant Clusters, Homophones, Heteronyms Lets quicky summarise the key pointKey Points: 1. Phonetics and Pronunciation: - Phonetics is the study of the actual sounds that make up words in a language. - Pronunciation is the way of producing a spoken word, especially so that it is accepted or generally understood. 2. English Phonetics: - English uses about 44 different sounds, but only 26 letters in the alphabet. - The same letters can be pronounced differently in different words, making it difficult to know how to pronounce a word from its spelling. 3. Phonetic Chart: - The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) chart helps to write words as they are pronounced. - The chart has three sections: single vowel sounds in green, diphthongs in red, and consonant pairs and single consonants in blue. 4. Physical Production of Sounds: - The key to good pronunciation is to understand that making sounds is a physical thing. - Consider where each sound comes from, usewhether the jaw is open or closed, the shape of the mouth, and whether air comes out when saying the sound. 5.Common Pronunciation Problems: Introduction to Phonetics Page 28 of 30 - Minimal Pairs: Confusing sounds like /l/ and /r/. - Consonant Clusters: Difficult sounds like "Bl" in "Blend" and "sh" in "Splash". - Homophones: Words pronounced the same but with different spellings, like "too" and "two". - Heteronyms: Words with the same spelling but different pronunciations, like "Excuse" the verb and "Excuse" the noun. Understanding phonetics is crucial for improving pronunciation in English. By studying phonetics, learners can better comprehend the sounds of the language and overcome common pronunciation challenges. Introduction to Phonetics Page 29 of 30 Introduction to Phonetics Page 30 of 30
