Phonetics
Answer Key
A Concise Introduction to Linguistics
Rowe & Levine
Ex 1, 2, 3 & 4
p. 39-42, 48-49, 57-58
Exercise 1
p. 39-41
Ex 1 - 3
• Explain the statement: “The
description of a specific sound in
terms of a specific manner and place
of articulation is an approximation.”
Ex 1 - 3
• It is difficult to describe exactly where
and how sounds are produced:
– Since each sound is pronounced differently :
• from one speaker to another
• From one time to another
– since it is impossible to describe every
aspect of the pronunciation
–…
Ex 2 - 2
• Why do linguists use a phonetic alphabet
as opposed to standard orthography?
– Orthography is often not representative of
the sounds
• not enough consistence
• Not enough letters to represent all English
sounds
– To be able to describe accents
Ex 3 - 7
i + j (or y) = ij
e + j (or y) = ej
• i, e & j (or y)
are all unrounded
sounds that are
pronounced at the
front of the mouth
o + w = ow
u + w = uw
• o, u and w
are all rounded
and pronounced
at the back of the
mouth
Ex 4 - 1
a. Command:
You will be there at five o’clock
b. Question:
You will be there at five o’clock
c. Confirmation of something someone just said:
You will be there at five o’clock
Ex 4 - 2
A.
a. Produce / produce
b. (…)
B.
- Verb = stress on last syllable
- N or Adj = Stress on first syllable
Check your examples on dictionary.com
Ex 4 - 4
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
Mary had a little lamb. (surprise)
Mary had a little lamb.
The man picked up a hot rod.
The man picked up a hot rod.
I saw a blackbird.
I saw a black bird.
The plants are in the greenhouse.
The plants are in the green house.