English Phonetics and Phonology
Main topics for the exam
1.
Phonetics and phonology
field of study: Phonology x Phonetics
phonemic system: abstract units-phonemes
distinctive features of individual phonemes
phonemes –concrete realizations: phones – allophones
complementary distribution of phones
transcription: phonetic(narrow)x phonemic(broad)
using IPA at school
the chart of English vowels, consonants and diphtongs
Received pronunciation=BBC English
- Segmental phonology x Suprasegmental phonology
2.
Articulatory Phonetics
Organs of speech, articulatory aparatus (vocal tract, vocal cords, tongue: individual articulators)
place of articulation of individual consonants – ranking according to the place of articulation
place of articulation of individual vowels
comparison with Czech sound system, possible difficulties for
Czech learners and speakers
3.
English vowel system
vocalic triangle: pure vowels - short vowels, long vowels (front, central, back, close, open)
explain the process of production to each vowel sound
diphthongs: classification, gliding: characteristics to each of the groups (examples)
triphtongs (examples)
borderline between vowels and consonants
comparison with Czech vowel system: vowels, diphthongs
4.
English Consonants
place of articulation of individual consonants

manner of articulation – ranking consonants according to the manner of articulation: explain the process of articulation to each of the groups
stops and continuants difference
voicing and consonants: fortis x lenis: pair sounds – differ only in one distinctive feature
the influence of fortis and lenis consonants on the preceding vowel
comparison with Czech consonants: possible difficulties for Czech learner and speaker
5.
English Syllable
Phonotactics: definition, explanation, field of study
the structure of English syllable: onset – peak – coda
demonstrate the analysis within an example
strong and weak syllables : long and short vowels, syllabic consonants (give examples)
weak forms: form and function
connection with the stress placement
6.
Stress
its production and perception
the pitch
levels of stress (demonstrate on an example)
stress in simple words (no affixes)
stress in complex words : the influence of suffixes an prefixes on the placement of the word stress
compound words
variable stress
word –class pairs
7.
Rhythm :
Stress-timed rhythm
syllable-timed rhythm
Explain the term rhythm, explain the difference of the above mentioned patterns.
Describe the form of rhythm: give examples for Czech and for
English rhythm.

explain the function of rhythm in the sound system of English
8.
Aspects of connected speech
Special character of connected speech, its development, users
Weak forms
Assimilation: regressive, progressive (give examples)
Assimilation: of voice, manner and place: give examples
Elision (zero realisation) – give examples for both: vowels and consonants
Linking : close juncture, linking sounds , intrusive sounds: give examples
9.
Intonation
Form and function of Intonation in the sound system of English
(compare with Czech)
high and low pitch
tone : level tone x moving tone
complex tones: fall-rise, rise-fall : functions
tonic syllable, tonic stress
the structure of the tone unit: pre-head, head, nucleus, tail : explain, give examples
10.
Functions of Intonation
Attitudinal function
Accentual function
Grammatical function - explanation and examples to all
Discourse function functions