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
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Provide some reasons for the study of phonetics
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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
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articulatory
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acoustic
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auditory
Goals
Consider the three main goals below and decide which best meets the study of phonetics. Provide reasons.
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account for any kind of “noise” which the vocal apparatus is capable
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a subset of (a) – those sounds that are linguistically significant in some language or order
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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
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In order to understand the speech production process we need to identify and describe elements of human anatomy and physiology which aid speech
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The aspects of human anatomy used in speech are called “vocal organs”
Anatomy of Speech
For purposes of identification and description of speech sounds, we will divide the speech production system into three areas:
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Lungs – diagram of
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Larynx – diagrams of
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vocal tract - diagram
We need to do and understand the following:
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Identify the organs, or articulators
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The way in which the articulators interact
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The manner in which the articulators interact
Nature of the articulators
The articulators are classified into two major categories:
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Active articulators
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Passive articulators
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With the aid of the diagrams identify and describe each of the articulators
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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
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Pulmonic airstream - diagram
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Glottalic airstream - diagram
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Velaric airstream - diagram
Practice: 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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