Phonetics

By King Meera -
PHONETICS:
The study of the articulation, transfer and reception of speech
Reasons to study phonetics: a standard, for correctness, to be understood
(Received pronunciations – British English – IPA)

Speech System:
1.       The respiratory system (lungs, muscles of chest, windpipe (trachea), bronchi)
2.       The articulatory system
3.       The phonetory system (pharynx, larynx)

Classification of consonants:

1.       Air stream mechanism
The source of the air you use to produce the sound.
(i)                  Pulmonic air stream mechanism – lungs
(ii)                Velaric air stream mechanism – soft palate
(iii)               Glotalic air stream mechanism
English has only eggressive sounds – those made by air exiting the body.

2.       Active and passive articulators
(Roof of mouth) 1: Teeth, 2: Alveolar ridge, 3: Hard palate, 4: Soft palate
(Tongue) A: Tip, B: Blade, C: Front, D: Back
On the basis of place of articulation:
(i)                  Bilabial: upper lip and lower lip – p, b, m
(ii)                Alveolar: blade or tip of tongue and upper front teeth or alveolar ridge – t, d, s, z, n, l
(iii)               Labiodental: lower lip and upper front teeth – f, v
(iv)               Dental: blade of tongue and upper front teeth – Ɵ, δ
(v)                Palatoalveolar: blade and front of tongue and upper front teeth and alveolar ridge – ȝ, ʃ, ʧ, ʤ
(vi)               Palatal: front of tongue and hard palate – j
(vii)             Velar: back of tongue and soft palate – k, g, ŋ
(viii)           Glottal: vocal cords (glottis) – h
(ix)               Labial velar: lips and back of tongue and soft palate
(we don’t look at “r” just yet)

3.       State of the glottis and
4.       Position of the soft palate
Voiced: b, d, g, (“bodega”), m, n, ŋ, (all nasals), l, ʤ, v, δ, z, ȝ, j, w, (almost vowels), all r’s and all vowels
Voiceless: p, t, k, (“pataka”), ʧ, f, Ɵ, s, ʃ, h

5.       Stricture
Relationship between AA and PA – what happens in the place of articulation
(i)                  Plosive: complete closure (of oral and nasal passage) and sudden release
. Nasal passage – soft palate raised to touch back wall of pharynx
. Oral passage closed due to firm contact of articulators – air trapped due to this comes out with a slight gush
p, t, k – (voiceless) (bilabial, alveolar, velar)
b, d, g – (voiced) (bilabial, alveolar, velar)
(ii)                Nasal: closure of the oral passage (nasal passage is open): m, n, ŋ
(iii)               Affricates: complete closure (of oral and nasal passage) and slow release: ʧ, ʤ
AA removed slowly (from firm contact with PA) causing slight friction with simultaneous release of air
(iv)               Fricatives: close approximation: f, v, Ɵ, δ, s, z, ʃ, ȝ, h

The nasal passage is completely closed; the active articulator is brought close to the passive articulator but there is a narrow passage/gap between them, through which air passes with audible friction

(v)                Frictionless continuants: open approximation (semi-vowel): j, w
AA and PA together in such a way that air passes through without obstruction; there is enough space between them for air to pass freely
(vi)               Trill: (not what it’s actually called) intermittent closure: r, ʀ
(vii)             Tap/flap: (again, not what it’s actually called) quick closure and release: ɽ, ɾ
(viii)           Lateral: complete closure of nasal passage with obstruction (by AA and PA such that sides of mouth are still open): l

Classification of vowels:
Ref. page 65, fig. 13, and page 160, fig. 1 – VERY HELPFUL
1.       Part of tongue
a.       Front, corresponding to hard palate
b.       Centre, in between
c.       Back, corresponding to soft palate
2.       Height of tongue
3.       Shape of mouth
a.       Open
b.       Close

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