Class 1: Phonetics and Phonology

WELCOME TO ENGLISH
PHONETICS I
PHONEME: A speech sound in a language
SPEECH: the ability to talk, the activity of talking, or a
piece of spoken language
LANGUAGE: a system of communication consisting
of sounds, words and grammar, or the system of
communication used by the people of a particular
country
LINGUISTICS: the systematic study of the structure
and development of language in general or of
particular languages
The LINGUISTIC study of language includes:
The study of the STRUCTURE OF SENTENCES
The study of the STRUCTURE OF WORDS
The study of MEANING
The study of HOW TO USE WORDS
(categories like nouns, verbs, & rules governing the
structure of phrases, clauses and sentences)
(the meaning of words and the relationship
between word meanings, and the way they
combine to give the meanings of sentences)
(the words of a language, their pronunciation and
their meaning)
The study of LANGUAGE, MEANING & CONTEXT
(the influence of situation on the interpretation of
what people say; the study of the aspects of
meaning and language use that are dependent
on the speaker , the addressee and other features
of the context of utterance )
(parts of the word, such as affixes)
The study of SPEECH SOUNDS OR PHONES
General Information about Phonetics and Phonology:
Every language has a small number of regularly used sounds
(vowels and consonants). We call these sounds PHONEMES.
Examples:
The vowels in the words pin and pen are different
phonemes
The consonants at the beginning of the words pet and bet
are also different phonemes

English spelling has a notoriously confusing nature.
For this reason it is important to think of English pronunciation
in terms of phonemes, and not in terms of letters of the
alphabet.
Examples:
The word enough begins with the same vowel phoneme as
that at the beginning of inept and ends with the same
consonant as stuff
They are both part of a general theory
about SPEECH SOUNDS and how they
are used in LANGUAGE.
PHONETICS is concerned with the CONCRETE
reality of the sounds used in language.
PHONOLOGY is concerned with HOW
sounds FUNCTION in a SYSTEMATIC way IN A
PARTICULAR LANGUAGE.
It deals with how speech
sounds are organised into
patterns or systems for
each individual language
It deals with:

How SPEECH SOUNDS are
made

How SPEECH SOUNDS are
perceived

SPEECH SOUNDS and the
physics involved
Three branches of
Phonetics
ARTICULATORY
PHONETICS

AUDITORY
PHONETICS

ACOUSTIC
PHONETICS
Because you are going to work with the
English language at an advanced level
as TEACHERS, TRANSLATORS-
INTERPRETERS or RESEARCHERS...
you will need the deeper
understanding provided by the study of
Phonetic and Phonological theory to
understand the principles regulating the
use of sounds in spoken English.
THE PHYSIOLOGY(*) OF
PRONUNCIATION
Physiology: the science that deals with the way the
bodies of living things operate.
Classes 3 and 5: PHYSIOLOGY OF PRONUNCIATION
ORGANS OF SPEECH
UPPER LIP
LOWER LIP
UPPER TEETH
LOWER TEETH
TONGUE TIP
TONGUE BLADE
TONGUE FRONT
TONGUE BODY
TONGUE BACK
TONGUE ROOT
ALVEOLAR RIDGE
HARD PALATE
SOFT PALATE (VELUM)
UVULA
Diagram of human head
ANOTHER VIEW
HOW IS SPEECH
POSSIBLE?
THE AIRSTREAM EXPELLED
FROM THE LUNGS IS THE MOST
COMMON SOURCE OF ENERGY
FOR OUR VOCAL ACTIVITY.
IN THE TRACHEA OR WINDPIPE
IT PASSES THROUGH THE
LARYNX, CONTAINING THE
VOCAL FOLDS OR VOCAL
CORDS.
THE FRONT PORTION OF THE
TRACHEA OR WINDPIPE IS
PROMINENT IN THE NECK
BELOW THE CHIN AND IS
KNOWN AS ADAMS APPLE.
VOCAL CORDS OR FOLDS
GLOTTIS: OPENING BETWEEN THE FOLDS
THE VOCAL
FOLDS ACT AS
VIBRATORS
MOVED BY
LUNG AIR.
TO PRODUCE
VOICE THEY
ARE BROUGHT
TOGETHER
AND VIBRATE.
e.g. /g/, /l/, /m/
From the larynx to the
phrarinx
THE PHARYNGEAL CAVITY
EXTENDS FROM THE TOP OF
THE TRACHEA AND
OESOPHAGUS, PAST THE
EPIGLOTTIS AND THE ROOT
OF THE TONGUE, TO THE
REGION AT THE REAR OF THE
SOFT PALATE.

Sounds such as [] are articulated with a strong
contraction of the pharynx.
When the air escapes from the
pharynx, the soft palate may be:
LOWERED AS IN NORMAL
BREATHING. THE AIR MAY
ESCAPE THROUGH THE NOSE
AND THE MOUTH.
ALL NORMAL ENGLISH SOUNDS (EXCEPTION
OF NASAL CONSONANTS) HAVE THIS ORAL
ESCAPE.
RAISED: THE AIR ESCAPES
ONLY BY THE MOUTH.
THE MOUTH
Its no coincidence that in English and Spanish the word tongue refers to the organs
and to language as a means of communication.
SPEECH MECHANISM WHICH DETERMINES THE
QUALITY OF THE MAJORITY OF THE SPEECH
SOUNDS BECAUSE ITS PARTS ARE EASIER TO
CONTROL.
THE MOUTH
FIXED ELEMENTS:
TEETH (IN THE FRONT)
HARD PALATE (IN THE
UPPER PART)
PHARYNGEAL WALL (IN THE
REAR)
MOVABLE ELEMENTS:
LIPS
VARIOUS PARTS OF THE TONGUE
SOFT PALATE INCLUDING UVULA
LOWER JAW
THE ROOF OF THE MOUTH
THREE PARTS:
ALVEOLAR RIDGE OR TEETH RIDGE (BACK OF THE UPPER
TEETH).
BONY ARCH WHICH FORMS THE HARD PALATE.
THE SOFT PALATE, FOLLOWING THE HARD PALATE AND
ENDING IN THE UVULA.
TO DESCRIBE SOUNDS, WE
NEED TO CONSIDER:
FOR FUTURE
REFERENCE
THE NATURE OF THE AIRSTREAM:
USUALLY STRAIGHT FROM THE LUNGS
THE ACTION OF THE VOCAL FOLDS:
CLOSED, WIDE APART OR VIBRATING
THE POSITION OF THE SOFT PALATE:
DESCIDES IF THE SOUND HAS NASAL
RESONANCES
DISPOSITION OF THE MOVABLE
ORGANS OF THE MOUTH
THE CONCEPT OF PHONEME
Class 7: The concept of Phoneme
What are these symbols?
They are called phonemic symbols (as
opposed to phonetic symbols).
Each one represents a PHONEME, that
is, ONE specific SIGNIFICANT speech
sound.
Significant?
By significant we mean that each of these
sounds can make a difference in the meaning
of a word.
Take the case of map and cap. Phonemes
/m/ and /k/ are significant from the moment
they can alter the meanings of words.
PHONEMES!!!
A phoneme is the smallest contrastive
unit in the sound system of a
language.
A phonene is a minimal unit that
serves to distinguish between
meanings of words.
By convention, a phoneme is
represented between /slashes/,
e.g. /b/, /m/.
HOW MANY
PHONEMES ARE
THERE IN THE
ENGLISH
LANGUAGE?
HOW ARE
PHONEMES
CLASSIFIED?
CONSONANTS
1
2

V
O
W
E
L
S

8

D
I
P
T
H
O
N
G
S

SPELLING FORMS
PRACTICE WITH TONGUE TWISTERS:


Everybody saw Eddie and the Eskimo enter the elevator on the elephant.


.



CAN YOU IDENTIFY EACH TARGET SOUND?
The important Indian was ill with injuries inside the igloo.
Oliver had an operation in October, and Oscar gave him an octopus.
Andrew and Alice asked if Annie's active animals were angry.
On Mondays Michael's mother Mary mostly mopped.
Uncle was upset because he was unable to put his umbrella up.
The excited experts explained that the extra X-rays were excellent.
Bill and Betty baked brown bread for Barbara's baby.

Carol and Claire can cook carrots, corn, cabbage, and candy.

Harry had a horrible headache and hated to hear Henry howl.

John got juice and jelly on his jacket when Judy jumped on him.

Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.

Tommy tricked Tim and took his train off the track.

Virginia visited Vicky and gave her violets and vegetables with
vitamins.

When the weather is warm we will walk with William in the wild
woods.

Yesterday you yelled in the yard for a yellow yo-yo.

HOW DO THESE SYMBOLS HELP US?
THEY ARE WRITTEN REPRESENTATIONS OF
SIGNIFICANT SOUNDS.

WE CAN PRONOUNCE A WORD WITHOUT HAVING
HEARD IT.

OUR MESSAGE IS UNDERSTOOD AS IT WAS
THOUGHT.
WHATS THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN:
CAP CUP
BAG BUG
CAT CUT
RAG RUG
The answer is: one PHONEME! One SIGNIFICANT sound makes a new word.
These contrastive examples are called MINIMAL PAIRS.
They will help you teach your students to pronounce beautifully.
PHONEMES AND ALLOPHONES
An allophone is any of the variant forms
of a single phoneme. Allophones are
NOT SIGNIFICANT
THINK OF: TOP V. LATER.
THE TWO /t/ SOUNDS ARE PRONOUNCED DIFFERENTLY.
(THE FIRST ONE IS ASPIRATED AND THE SECOND IS UNASPIRATED)
THEY ARE VARIATIONS OF THE SAME PHONEME.
THEY DO NOT ALTER THE MEANING OF THE WORDS.
The true teacher defends his pupils
against his own personal influence


Amos Bronson Alcott (1799-1888)
US educator & Transcendentalist

THE TRUE TEACHER
IS A MEDIATOR
BETWEEN STUDENTS
AND CONTENTS
THE TRUE TEACHER
IS AVAILABLE
WHEN NECESSARY
ONLY
THE TRUE TEACHER
KNOWS WHEN TO
BE SILENT
THE TRUE TEACHER FORMS AUTONOMOUS
LEARNERS!!!
Classes 11 and 13: Articulation of phonemes
THIS IS
WHAT
ILL TRY
TO DO
WITH
YOU
TODAY
THIS IS
WHAT YOU
WILL TRY
TO DO
WITH
YOUR
STUDENTS
IN THE
FUTURE!
TODAYS CLASS:
THE ARTICULATIPON OF
SPEECH SOUNDS
HOW DO WE MAKE THE
SOUNDS WE PRONOUNCE?
JUST A REMINDER a few
concepts
IN THE FIRST PLACE:
ORGANS OF SPEECH
UPPER LIP
LOWER LIP
UPPER TEETH
LOWER TEETH
TONGUE TIP
TONGUE BLADE
TONGUE FRONT
TONGUE BODY
TONGUE BACK
TONGUE ROOT
ALVEOLAR RIDGE
HARD PALATE
SOFT PALATE (VELUM)
UVULA
Diagram of human head
PASSIVE
ARTICULATOR?
UPPER LIP
LOWER LIP
UPPER TEETH
LOWER TEETH
TONGUE TIP
TONGUE BLADE
TONGUE FRONT
TONGUE BODY
TONGUE BACK
TONGUE ROOT
ALVEOLAR RIDGE
HARD PALATE
SOFT PALATE (VELUM)
UVULA
ACTIVE ARTICULATOR?
UPPER LIP X
LOWER LIP X
UPPER TEETH
X
LOWER TEETH (JAW) x
TONGUE TIP X
TONGUE BLADE
X
TONGUE FRONT X
TONGUE BODY X
TONGUE BACK
X
TONGUE ROOT
x
ALVEOLAR RIDGE X
HARD PALATE
X
SOFT PALATE (VELUM)
X
UVULA X
WHATS MOVING? WHATS FIXED?
UPPER LIP
LOWER LIP
UPPER TEETH
LOWER TEETH
TONGUE TIP
TONGUE BLADE
TONGUE FRONT
TONGUE BODY
TONGUE BACK
TONGUE ROOT
ALVEOLAR RIDGE
HARD PALATE
SOFT PALATE (VELUM)
UVULA
/k/
//
/d/
/g/
/f/
TO DESCRIBE SOUNDS, WE
NEED TO CONSIDER:
THE AIRSTREAM
MECHANISM
THE ACTION
OF THE VOCAL
FOLDS
THE POSITION
OF THE SOFT
PALATE
DISPOSITION OF
THE MOVABLE
ORGANS OF THE
MOUTH
The lungs are the source of air to
produce most speech sounds.

The normal flow of air from the lungs
is uninterrupted, thus there is no
sound production as when we sleep.

HOWEVER! Snoring even when
sleeping we can produce sounds!!
1. THE AIRSTREAM MECHANISM
Two lung processes: INHALING AND
EXHALING.
Inhaling: our lungs and chest cavity
expand.
Exhaling: they contract and the air is
expelled to
THE BRONCHI and then to
THE TRACHEA OR WINDPIPE to
THE LARYNX and to the THE THROAT
1. THE AIRSTREAM MECHANISM
THREE POSITIONS:
OPEN: NORMAL BREATHING
AND VOICELESS SOUNDS

TIGHTLY CLOSED: GLOTTAL
STOPS

VIBRATING: VOWELS AND
VOICED SOUNDS
2. THE ACTION OF
THE VOCAL FOLDS
THREE POSITIONS:

LOWERED: NORMAL BREATHING
THE AIR ESCAPES THROUGH THE
NOSE AND THE MOUTH

LOWERED TO LET THE AIR COME
OUT THROUGH THE NOSE

RAISED: THE AIR ESCAPES ONLY
THROUGH THE MOUTH
2. THE POSITION OF
THE SOFT PALATE
3. POINT OF ARTICULATION
BILABIALS
LABIO-DENTALS
DENTALS
ALVEOLARS
PALATALS
VELARS
GLOTTAL
POST-
ALVEOLARS
PALATO-
ALVEOLARS
3. MANNER OF ARTICULATION
REFERS TO
THE VERTICAL
RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN THE
ACTIVE AND
PASSIVE
ARTICULATORS
3. MANNER OF ARTICULATION
PLOSIVES
GLIDES OR
SEMIVOWELS
LIQUIDS (LATERALS
AND FRICTIONLESS
CONTINUANT)
NASALS
AFFRICATES
FRICATIVES
OUR CHALLENGE
Articulation of VOWELS
1. In the shape and position of the
tongue
a. The vertical
distance
between the
palate and the
upper surface
of the tongue.
b. The part of the
tongue,
between front
and back
which is raised
highest.
(horizontal)
a. The vertical distance between the palate and the
upper surface of the tongue.
HIGH VOWELS
MID VOWELS
LOW VOWELS
cheese
pin
friend
bad
Come, bus
Burn, turn
About, clever
Dance, bark
Pot, got
caught, or
Full, book
Fool, glue
Also
known as
CLOSE
vowels
Also
known as
OPEN
vowels
T
O
N
G
U
E

H
E
I
G
H
T

b. The part of the tongue, between front and back
which is raised highest. (horizontal)
FRONT VOWELS
CENTRAL VOWELS
BACK VOWELS
F
R
O
N
T
N
E
S
S

A
N
D

B
A
C
K
N
E
S
S

2. Another important variable of vowel quality is LIP-
ROUNDING
ROUNDED VOWELS
NEUTRAL VOWELS
SPREAD VOWELS
English Diphthongs
day
eye
boy
mouth
nose
ear
hair
pure
Classes 15 and 17: Description of Consonant sounds