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1. Classification of consonants

obstruents:

noticeably restricted

airflow, the articulators

are in complete closure

or close approximation

stricture

type

stops: complete closure of two articulators + velic

closure

fricatives:

narrowing of two articulators + a turbulent

airstream

affricates: sequence of a plosive+fricative (involving a

specific transition)

sonorants:

free passage of the

airflow through the vocal

tract; no restriction in the

oral tract or nasal tract

opened

consonants

nasals:

complete closure of two articulators + soft palate

lowered

liquids

a)lateral approximants: the obstruction is located centrally and the air

passes out at the side

b) trills:

articulator set in vibration by the airstream

glides (approximants):

approximation of two articulators with no

turbulent airstream

vowels

oral:

free passage of the airflow through the vocal

tract, nasal tract blocked off

nasal:

free passage of the airflow through the vocal

tract: nasal tract opened

2. Stops

2.1. Production

Depending on the place of articulation we distinguish the following stops in Polish:

a) bilabial: /p/, /b/

b) post-dental: /t/, /d/

c) palatal: /c/, /ɟ/

d) velar: /k/, /g/

In general, the production of stops involves three stages:

a) closing: the active articulator is raised to come in a firm contact with the passive

articulator

b) closure: the articulators remain in contact and the pressure of the airstream

behind the closure is built up

c) release: the active articulator is lowered and the air is released with some force

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In connected speech the closing and/or release stage may be missing. The closure stage

is what decides whether the sound is a stop or not.

If a stop follows a homorganic stop (i.e. a stop of the same place of articulation) then

there is no closing stage, e.g. dąb /domp/, zmoknięty /zmokɲenty/

If a stop precedes a homorganic stop then its release stage is missing e.g. “to jest dom”

The same phenomena are observed if two identical plosives follow one another e.g. jest

to

2.2. Types of releases

Depending on the context the release stage may involve different articulatory actions.

a) Nasal release: It can occur in clusters of a plosive followed by a nasal (pm, bm,

tn, dn, kɲ and gɲ) of the same place of articulation: after the release of the closure

the oral tract can still be blocked off (by the active articulator) and the pressure

of the air increases to such an extent that it forces its way through the nasal tract

by lowering velum for the nasal.

b) Lateral release: occurs in clusters of an post-dental plosive preceding an alveolar

lateral approximant /l/ e.g. tlen (PL). The centre of the tongue tip remains in

contact with the alveolar ridge for the /l/ and the built-up air is released when the

sides of the tongue lower.

3. Distribution

/p/, /b/, /t/, /d/, /k/ and /g/ do not occur before /i/ and /j/.

Before /i/ and /j/ palatal (or palatalized) variants are realized: /p,/, /b,/, /t,/, /d,/, /c/, /ɟ/.

Palatal /p,/ and /b,/ are pronounced with a greater degree of lip spreading and with the

body of the tongue raised towards the hard palate comparing to non-palatal /p/ and /b/.

In case of dental /t,/ and /d,/ the place of articulation is moved to the back (i.e. towards

the hard palate) the and in case of palatal /c/, /ɟ/ more to the front of mouth comparing

to the non-palatal variants.

/p,/

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Clusters consisting of /k/ or /g/ followed by /ɨ/ are rare and occur mostly in words of a

foreign origin (e.g. kynolog) or proper names (e.g. Kydryński, Kyrenia).

In Polish aspiration is not a regular feature of voiceless plosives as it is in English. It

can occur, but it is speaker dependent rather than context dependent.

(There are two additional allophonic variants of dental /t/ and /d/ which are realized only

before post-alveolar fricatives /ʃ/ and /ʒ/, and transcribed as /ḍ/ and /ṭ/ e.g. trzeba / ṭʃɛba/,

drzewo /ḍʒɛvɔ/.)

/ɟ/ /c/

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3.1. Glottal stop

In Polish it is realized only in the context of vowels when they occur word-initially, in

the position of a hiatus (at the morpheme boundary: one ending and the other starting

with a vowel) or pronounced in isolation e.g. nauka /naʔuka/, uiścić /ʔuʔiɕtɕitɕ/, o /ʔɔʔ/.

3.2.Exercises

3.2.1. 3.2.1 /p/, /b/ in consonant clusters

dać-dbać dat^ɕ dbat^ɕ

darzyć-obdarzyć daʒɨt^ɕ ɔbdaʒɨt^ɕ

tak-ptak tak ptak

kroki-kropki krɔci krɔpci

gór-gbur gur gbur

kacie-kapcie kat^ɕɛ kapt^ɕɛ

zadać-zbadać zadat^ɕ zbadat^ɕ

wić-wbić vit^ɕ vbit^ɕ

wieża-wierzba vjɛʒa vjɛʒba

Ten gbur nie dba o swoje psy. tɛn gbur ɲɛ dba ɔ sfɔjɛ psɨ

Chłopcy mają podobne czapki, spodnie

i kapcie. xwɔpt^sɨ majɔw~ pɔdɔbnɛ t^ʃapci

spɔdɲɛ i kapt^ɕɛ

Nad brzegiem rośnie wierzba płacząca

i bzy. nad bʒɛɟjɛm rɔɕɲɛ vjɛʒba

pwat^ʃɔnt^sa i bzɨ

3.2.2 /t/, /d/ in consonant clusters

len-tlen lɛn tlɛn

za-zda za zda

kura-która kura ktura

łany-ładny wanɨ wadnɨ

usną-ustną usnɔw~ ustnɔw~

dziesiąte-dziesiątce d^ʑɛɕɔntɛ d^ʑɛɕɔntt^sɛ

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maki-matki maci matci

lis-list lis list

kosz-koszt kɔʃ kɔʃt

krzywa-krzywda kʃɨva kʃɨvda

Magda ma wyjazd z dworca w

Bydgoszczy. magda ma vɨjazd z dvɔrt^sa v

bɨdgɔʃt^ʃɨ

Aktor był głodny, dlatego zjadł kotlet i

sałatkę z octem. aktɔr bɨw gwɔdnɨ dlatɛgɔ zjatw kɔtlɛd

i sawatkɛ z ɔt^stɛm

3.2.3 /k/, /g/ in consonant clusters

wjazd-gwiazd vjast gvjast

gubić-zgubić gubit^ɕ zgubit^ɕ

Zosia-Zośka zɔɕa zɔɕka

wróżę-wróżkę vruʒɛ vruʃkɛ

rzep-grzeb ʒɛp gʒɛp

akademiki-akademicki akadɛmici akadɛmit^sci

brama-bramka brama bramka

mina-gmina mina gmina

ono-okno ɔnɔ ɔknɔ

na-gna na gna

bania-bańka baɲa baɲka

sunie-suknie suɲɛ sukɲɛ

piła-piłka piwa piwka

Maleńkie dziecko biegnie do szkoły

gminnej. malɛɲcjɛ d^ʑɛt^skɔ bjɛgɲɛ dɔ ʃkɔwɨ

gminnɛj

Sędzia zagwizdał gdy piłka wpadła do

bramki. sɛɲd^ʑa zagvizdaw gdɨ piwka fpadwa

dɔ bramci

Zgubiłam gdzieś grzebień w knajpie. zgubiwam gd^ʑɛʑ gʒɛbjɛɲ f knajpjɛ

Zośka siedzi na oknie i żegna się z

Wołgą. zɔɕka ɕɛd^ʑi na ɔkɲɛ i ʒɛgna ɕɛ z

vɔwgɔw~

4. Fricatives

4.1. Atriculatory features

They are produced with a close approximation of active and passive articulator which

form a narrow gap in the vocal tract. What is also critical in the production of fricatives

is the mass and velocity of the air (Jassem). If the gap created by the articulators is small

relative to the mass and velocity of the air, then the airstream from the lungs becomes

disturbed, particles of the air start to vibrate irregularily (i.e. non-periodically) and the

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source of a friction is created. These non-periodical vibrations and the friction constitute

the acoustic-auditory features of fricatives.

Depending on the location of the narrow gap between the active and passive articulators

the following types of fricatives are distinguished:

a) labio-dental: /f/, /v/

b) post-dental: /s/, /z/

c) post-alveolar: /ʃ/, /ʒ/

d) alveolo-palatal: /ɕ/, /ʑ/

e) velar: /x/, /ɣ/

4.2. Distribution

The voiced velar fricative /ɣ/ occurs as a regional variant of the Easter borderlands. In

the standard pronunciation it occurs only in the word-final position before a word

starting with a voiced consonant, e.g. ruch ziemi /ruɣ ʑemi/, niech będzie /ɲeɣ beɲdʑe/,

dach domu /daɣ domu/.

Voiced fricatives /v/, /z/, /ʒ/ and /ʑ/ do not occur word-finally – in this position the

corresponding voiceless variants are realized (/f/, /s/, /ʃ/ and /ɕ/ respectively).

/ʒ/ /ʃ/

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The alveolo-palatal /ɕ/, /ʑ/ occur mostly before vowels except for /ɨ/.

/f/, /v/, /s/, /z/, /ʃ/, /ʒ/ and /x/ (/ɣ/) never occur before /i/ and /j/: in this context palatal

variants are realized: /f,/, /v,/, /s,/, /z,/, /ʃ,/, /ʒ,/ and /x,/ (/ɣ,/). Comparing to their non-

palatal counterparts they are articulated with the body of the tongue raised towards the

hard palate.

In case of palatal /f,/ and /v,/ the gap created by the approximating articulators is greater

than that used in the production of non-palatal /f/ and /v/. Compare:

chwała vs. chwila: /xfawa/ /xf,ila/

wada vs. wina: /vada/ /v,ina/

In case of palatal /s,/, /z,/, /ʃ,/ and /ʒ,/ the place of articulation is moved more to the back

of the oral tract comparing to their non-palatal counterparts. Compare:

sam vs. sinus: /sam/ /s,inus/

koza vs. Zanzibar: /kɔza/ /zanz,ibar/

szok vs. Sziwa: /ʃɔk/ /ʃ,iwa/

żuk vs. reżim: /ʒuk/ /reʒ,im/

In case of /x,/ (and /ɣ,/) the place of articulation is moved more to the front of the oral

tract comparing to the non-palatal variant /x/ (and /ɣ,/). Compare:

chata vs. Chiny: /xata/ /x,inɨ/

(hak vs. hiacynt: /ɣak/ /ɣ,jatsɨnt/)

/ʑ/ /ɕ/

/f,/

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4.3. Exercises

4.3.1. 4.3.1 /f/, /v/ in consonant clusters

chodzić-wchodzić xɔd^ʑit^ɕ fxɔd^ʑit^ɕ

nęka-wnęka nɛŋka vnɛŋka

mawiać-wmawiać mavjat^ɕ vmavjat^ɕ

lew-wlew lɛf vlɛf

runie-równie ruɲɛ ruvɲɛ

bary-barwy barɨ barvɨ

dzik-dźwig d^ʑik d^ʑvik

sad-wsad sat fsat

szedł-Szwed ʃɛt ʃfɛt

Szwed żwawo wchodzi do wnętrza i

wzywa pomoc. ʃfɛd ʒvavɔ fxɔd^ʑi dɔ vnɛntʃa i vzɨva

pɔmɔt^s

Na dźwięk dzwonka łyżwiarz na

chwilę przerwał ćwiczenia. na d^ʑvjɛŋg d^zvɔŋka wɨʒvjaʒ na

xfilɛ pʃɛrvaw t^ɕfit^ʃɛɲa

Nie wmówisz mi, że właściciel

hurtowni to równy gość. ɲɛ vmuviʒ mi ʒɛ vwaɕt^ɕit^ɕɛl

xurtɔvɲi tɔ ruvnɨ gɔɕt^ɕ

4.3.2. 4.3.2 /s/, /z/ in consonant clusters

myć-zmyć mɨt^ɕ zmɨt^ɕ

nać-znać nat^ɕ znat^ɕ

niknąć-zniknąć ɲiknɔɲt^ɕ zɲiknɔɲt^ɕ

zielenieć-zzielenieć ʑɛlɛɲɛt^ɕ zʑɛlɛɲɛt^ɕ

żyć-zżyć ʒɨt^ɕ zʒɨt^ɕ

koła-kozła kɔwa kɔzwa

marnie-marznie marɲɛ marzɲɛ

ława-łzawa wava wzava

tor-tors tɔr tɔrs

/x,/

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szyć-zszyć ʃɨt^ɕ sʃɨt^ɕ

siadać-zsiadać ɕadat^ɕ sɕadat^ɕ

chody-schody xɔdɨ sxɔdɨ

Zziajany Zbyszek zsiadł z kozła i

wszedł po schodach. zʑajanɨ zbɨʃɛk sɕatw s kɔzwa i fʃɛtw

pɔ sxɔdax

Prezes wyznał, że zrzeszenie ma

zszarganą opinię. prɛzɛz vɨznaw ʒɛ zʒɛʃɛɲɛ ma

sʃarganɔw~ ɔpiɲɛ

Zamarzam i jestem zmęczony, nie idę

dziś na kurs. zamarzam i jɛstɛm zmɛnt^ʃɔnɨ ɲɛ idɛ

d^ʑiʑ na kurs

4.3.3. 4.3.3 /ʃ/, /ʒ/ in consonant clusters

mara-marża mara marʒa

far-farsz far farʃ

han-chrzan xan xʃan

runie-różnie ruɲɛ ruʒɲɛ

poła-poszła pɔwa pɔʃwa

rama-szrama rama ʃrama

loch-szloch lɔx ʃlɔx

mąka-mrzonka mɔŋka mʒɔŋka

lej-lżej lɛj lʒɛj

mer-szmer mɛr ʃmɛr

myca-mszyca mɨt^sa mʃɨt^sa

mija-żmija mija ʒmija

W oberży chłopy żrą dorsza z

chrzanem i żłopią piwo. v ɔbɛrʒɨ xwɔpɨ ʒrɔw~ dɔrʃa s xʃanɛm

i ʒwɔpjɔw~ pivɔ

Żniwa zniszczyła mżawka i szron. ʒɲiva zɲiʃt^ʃɨwa mʒafka i ʃrɔn

Dalszą trasę przeszła czarnym

szlakiem. dalʃɔw~ trasɛ pʃɛʃwa t^ʃarnɨm

ʃlacjɛm

Ulżyło mu że zrzucił jarzmo i koszmar

się skończył. ulʒɨwɔ mu ʒɛ zʒut^ɕiw jaʒmɔ i

kɔʃmar ɕɛ skɔɲt^ʃɨw

Nie pieprz Pietrze wieprza pieprzem,

bo przepieprzysz pieprzem wieprza. ɲɛ pjɛpʃ pjɛtʃɛ vjɛpʃa pjɛpʃɛm bɔ

pʃɛpjɛpʃɨʃ pjɛpʃɛm vjɛpʃa

4.3.4. 4.3.4 /ɕ/, /ʑ/ in contrast

śle-źle ɕlɛ ʑlɛ

sioło-zioło ɕɔwɔ ʑɔwɔ

Basia-bazia baɕa baʑa

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łasić-łazić waɕit^ɕ waʑit^ɕ

rasie-razie raɕɛ raʑɛ

pasie-pazie paɕɛ paʑɛ

nieśli-nieźli ɲɛɕli ɲɛʑli

Kasia-Kazia kaɕa kaʑa

dusi-duzi duɕi duʑi

Śledczy odnaleźli ściganego śledząc

ślady na ścieżce. ɕlɛtt^ʃɨ ɔdnalɛʑli ɕt^ɕiganɛgɔ

ɕlɛd^zɔnt^s ɕladɨ na ɕt^ɕɛʃt^sɛ

Zimą jadam ziemniaki z kozim serem i

ziołami. ʑimɔw~ jadam ʑɛmɲaci s kɔʑim sɛrɛm

i ʑɔwami

Ziutek i Stasiu to duzi chłopcy. ʑutɛɟ i staɕu tɔ duʑi xwɔpt^sɨ

Kasia z Kaziem to źle dobrana para. kaɕa s kaʑɛm tɔ ʑlɛ dɔbrana para

4.3.5. 4.3.5 /ɕ/, /ʑ/ in consonant clusters

pisz-śpisz piʃ ɕpiʃ

nić-śnić ɲit^ɕ ɕɲit^ɕ

Baś-baśń baɕ baɕɲ

Lena-leśna lɛna lɛɕna

rany-raźny ranɨ raʑnɨ

lepy-ślepy lɛpɨ ɕlɛpɨ

zielenieć-zzielenieć ʑɛlɛɲɛt^ɕ zʑɛlɛɲɛt^ɕ

kole-koźle kɔlɛ kɔʑlɛ

miał-śmiał mjaw ɕmjaw

sinieć-zsinieć ɕiɲɛt^ɕ sɕiɲɛt^ɕ

Wolisz baśń o Królowej Śniegu czy

Śpiącej Królewnie? vɔliʒ baʑɲ ɔ krulɔvɛj ɕɲɛgu t^ʃɨ

ɕpjɔnt^sɛj krulɛvɲɛ

Na widok żółwia ślimak wyraźnie

zzieleniał z zazdrości. na vidɔg ʒuwvja ɕlimag vɨraʑɲɛ

zʑɛlɛɲaw z zazdrɔɕt^ɕi

To źle, że rozsiewasz te śmieszne

plotki. tɔ ʑlɛ ʒɛ rɔsɕɛvaʃ tɛ ɕmjɛʃnɛ plɔtci

4.3.6. 4.3.6 contrast /s/, /ʃ/, /ɕ/

syna-szyna-sina sɨna ʃɨna ɕina

Sara-szara-siara sara ʃara ɕara

syta-szyta-sita sɨta ʃɨta ɕita

sali-szali-siali sali ʃali ɕali

kasa-kasza-Kasia kasa kaʃa kaɕa

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ryś-ryż-rys rɨɕ rɨʃ rɨs

kosy-koszy-kosi kɔsɨ kɔʃɨ kɔɕi

nosy-noszy-nosi nɔsɨ nɔʃɨ nɔɕi

cisy-ciszy-cisi t^ɕisɨ t^ɕiʃɨ t^ɕiɕi

pasę-paszę-pasie pasɛ paʃɛ paɕɛ

Szedł Sasza suchą szosą w czasie

suszy. ʃɛtw saʃa suxɔw~ ʃɔsɔw~ f t^ʃaɕɛ

suʃɨ

Kasia zanosi koszyk z kaszą do kasy. kaɕa zanɔɕi kɔʃɨk s kaʃɔw~ dɔ kasɨ

Wiesia wiesza na krześle siennik w

szarej poszewce. vjɛɕa vjɛʃa na kʃɛɕlɛ ɕɛnɲik f ʃarɛj

pɔʃɛft^sɛ

4.3.7. 4.3.7 contrast /z/, /ʒ/, /ʑ/

zonie-żonie-zionie zɔɲɛ ʒɔɲɛ ʑɔɲɛ

grozę-grożę-grozie grɔzɛ grɔʒɛ grɔʑɛ

kozę-korze-kozie kɔzɛ kɔʒɛ kɔʑɛ

gazę-gaże-gazie gazɛ gaʒɛ gaʑɛ

muzę-murze-muzie muzɛ muʒɛ muʑɛ

łzę-łże-łzie wzɛ wʒɛ wʑɛ

pozę-porze-pozie pɔzɛ pɔʒɛ pɔʑɛ

Kozie i zebrze wystają żebra. kɔʑɛ i zɛbʒɛ vɨstajɔw~ ʒɛbra

W wazie jest zimna zupa

ziemniaczana z zieleniną. v vaʑɛ jɛzd ʑimna zupa ʑɛmɲat^ʃana z

ʑɛlɛɲinɔw~

Kazia wiezie w wozie bazie i zioła. kaʑa vjɛʑɛ v vɔʑɛ baʑɛ i ʑɔwa

Wróżę Rózi duży sukces i życie usłane

różami. vruʒɛ ruʑi duʒɨ sukt^sɛz i ʒɨt^ɕɛ

uswanɛ ruʒami

4.3.8. 4.3.8 /x/ in consonant clusters

ciało-chciało t^ɕawɔ xt^ɕawɔ

łodzie-chłodzie wɔd^ʑɛ xwɔd^ʑɛ

murka-chmurka murka xmurka

ronić-chronić rɔɲit^ɕ xrɔɲit^ɕ

falą-chwalą falɔw~ xfalɔw~

jad-jacht jat jaxt

tnie-tchnie tɲɛ txɲɛ

spiż-spichrz spiʃ spixʃ

zmierz-zmierzch zmjɛʃ zmjɛʃx

Czy masz ochotę na szachy? t^ʃɨ maʒ ɔxɔtɛ na ʃaxɨ

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Halinka macha chustką na odchodne. xaliŋka maxa xustkɔw~ na ɔtxɔdnɛ

Chcę popłynąć jachtem do zachodnich

Włoch. xt^sɛ pɔpwɨnɔɲd^ʑ jaxtɛm dɔ

zaxɔdɲix vwɔx

O zmierzchu schronił się przed

chłodem w chatce Stacha. ɔ zmjɛʃxu sxrɔɲiw ɕɛ pʃɛt xwɔdɛm f

xatt^sɛ staxa

5. Affricates

5.1. Atriculatory features

They are not very common in the languages of the world. Usually, if a language has

affricates they are represented by a small number of variants. In this respect Polish is

exceptional as it distinguishes three types of affricates:

a) dental: /d^z/, /t^s/

b) alveolar: /d^ʒ/, /t^ʃ/

c) palato-alveolar:

To some extent, affricates are phonetically similar to clusters of a plosive followed by a

fricative, because they involve a closing stage, a closure and a release stage (-> plosive),

/d^z/ /t^s/

/d^ʒ/ /t^ʃ/

/d^ʑ/ /t^ɕ/

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and a friction (-> fricative). What distinguishes affricates from such clusters is the

transition between the two segments. In case of Plo+Fri clusters the transition is sudden

(the active articulator is swiftly and fully lowered) is accompanied by an explosion.

Affricates are characterized by a gradual transition with no release stage: the active

articulator remains close to the passive articulator resulting in friction as the air passes

between them.

The articulation of a fricative segment of an affricate starts before the closure is released

(so called open transition) as oppossed to Plo+Fri clusters where it is preceded by the

release of the closure (closed transition). Compare:

trzy vs. czy

zatrzyma vs. zaczyna

drzewo vs. dżem

5.2. Distribution

Alveolo-palatal /t^ɕ/ and /d^ʑ/ do not occur before /ɨ/.

Voiced affricates /d^z/, /d^ʒ/ and / d^ʑ / do not occur word-finally – in this position the

corresponding voiceless variants are realized (/t^s/, /t^ʃ/ and /t^ɕ/ respectively).

/t^s/, /d^z/, /t^ʃ/ and /d^ʒ/ before /i/ and /j/ are realized as palatalized variants: /t^s,/,

/d^z,/, /t^ʃ,/ and /d^ʒ,/. Comparing to their non-palatalized counterparts they are

articulated with the body of the tongue raised towards the hard palate. Compare:

owoce vs. lekcja: /ɔvɔt^sɛ/, /lɛkt^s,ja/

dzwon vs. wódz (i armia): /d^zvɔn/, /vud^z, i armja/

człowiek vs. Chile: /t^ʃwɔvjek/, /t^ʃ,ilɛ/

dżudo vs. dżin: /d^ʒudɔ/, /d^ʒ,in/

5.3.Exercises

5.3.1. 5.3.1 /t^s/, /d^z/ in contrast and in consonant clusters

noce-nodze nɔt^sɛ nɔd^zɛ

prace-Pradze prat^sɛ prad^zɛ

racą-radzą rat^sɔw~ rad^zɔw~

vice-widzę vit^sɛ vid^zɛ

race-Rabce rat^sɛ rapt^sɛ

cena-scena t^sɛna st^sɛna

owa-owca ɔva ɔft^sa

fale-wcale falɛ ft^salɛ

wał-cwał vaw t^sfaw

Celina spędza całe noce nudząc się i

nucąc piosenki.

t^sɛlina spɛnd^za t^sawɛ nɔt^sɛ

nud^zɔnt^s ɕɛ i nut^sɔnt^s pjɔsɛŋci

Widzę jak prezes z vice prezesem

radzą o cle.

vid^zɛ jak prɛzɛz z vit^sɛ prɛzɛsɛm

rad^zɔw~ ɔ t^slɛ

W Pradze robią operację rdzenia za

bezcen. f prad^zɛ rɔbjɔw~ ɔpɛrat^sjɛ rd^zɛɲa

za bɛst^sɛn

14

5.3.2. 5.3.2 /t^ʃ/, /d^ʒ/ in contrast and in consonant clusters

czemu-dżemu t^ʃɛmu d^ʒɛmu

czyn-dżyn t^ʃɨn d^ʒɨn

czip-dżip t^ʃip d^ʒip

czapa-szczapa t^ʃapa ʃt^ʃapa

szyty-szczyty ʃɨtɨ ʃt^ʃɨtɨ

łowy-łowczy wɔvɨ wɔft^ʃɨ

łapać-człapać wapat^ɕ t^ʃwapat^ɕ

czytać-sczytać t^ʃɨtat^ɕ st^ʃɨtat^ɕ

czasy-wczasy t^ʃasɨ ft^ʃasɨ

Na wczasach często czytuję

kiczowate czasopisma. na ft^ʃasax t^ʃɛw~stɔ t^ʃɨtujɛ

cit^ʃɔvatɛ t^ʃasɔpisma

Słudzy maharadży jeżdżą dżipem po

dżungli. swud^zɨ maxarad^ʒɨ jɛʒd^ʒɔw~

d^ʒipɛm pɔ d^ʒuŋgli

5.3.3. 5.3.3 /t^ɕ/, /d^ʑ/ in contrast and in consonant clusters

ciało-działo t^ɕawɔ d^ʑawɔ

cielić-dzielić t^ɕɛlit^ɕ d^ʑɛlit^ɕ

jecie-jedzie jɛt^ɕɛ jɛd^ʑɛ

kocie-kodzie kɔt^ɕɛ kɔd^ʑɛ

grocie-grodzie grɔt^ɕɛ grɔd^ʑɛ

sieci-siedzi ɕɛt^ɕi ɕɛd^ʑi

wąż-wciąż vɔw~ʃ ft^ɕɔw~ʃ

koś-kość kɔɕ kɔɕt^ɕ

siana-ściana ɕana ɕt^ɕana

wyje-wyjdzie vɨjɛ vɨjd^ʑɛ

chała-chciała xawa xt^ɕawa

ma-ćma ma t^ɕma

kuka-kciuka kuka kt^ɕuka

wiemy-wiedźmy vjɛmɨ vjɛd^ʑmɨ

maku-Maćku maku mat^ɕku

uczę-uczcie ut^ʃɛ ut^ʃt^ɕɛ

Maciek ciągle wcina ciasta i potem

cierpi. mat^ɕɛk t^ɕɔŋglɛ ft^ɕina t^ɕasta i

pɔtɛm t^ɕɛrpi

Ta dziewczyna odziedziczyła wdzięk

po dziadkach. ta d^ʑɛft^ʃɨna ɔd^ʑɛd^ʑit^ʃɨwa

vd^ʑɛŋk pɔ d^ʑatkax

15

Na uczcie wiedźma zadźgała księcia.

na ut^ʃt^ɕɛ vjɛd^ʑma zad^ʑgawa

kɕɛɲt^ɕa

5.3.4. 5.3.4 /t^s/, /t^ʃ/ and /t^ɕ/ in contrast

cesze-czesze-cieszę t^sɛʃɛ t^ʃɛʃɛ t^ɕɛʃɛ

macek-maczek-Maciek mat^sɛk mat^ʃɛk mat^ɕɛk

lecę-leczę-lecie lɛt^sɛ lɛt^ʃɛ lɛt^ɕɛ

płac-płacz-płać pwat^s pwat^ʃ pwat^ɕ

prac-pracz-prać prat^s prat^ʃ prat^ɕ

ciec-ciecz-cieć t^ɕɛt^s t^ɕɛt^ʃ t^ɕɛt^ɕ

Czy się Czesi cieszą, gdy się Czesio

czesze? t^ʃɨ ɕɛ t^ʃɛɕi t^ɕɛʃɔw~ gdɨ ɕɛ

t^ʃɛɕɔ t^ʃɛʃɛ

Cecylia czyta cytaty z Tacyta. t^sɛt^sɨlja t^ʃɨta t^sɨtatɨ s tat^sɨta

5.3.5. 5.3.5 /d^z/, /d^ʒ/ and /d^ʑ/ in contrast

dał-dział daw d^ʑaw

podał-podział pɔdaw pɔd^ʑaw

rodzinka-rodzynka rɔd^ʑiŋka rɔd^zɨŋka

radzę-radzie rad^zɛ rad^ʑɛ

brudzę-brudzie brud^zɛ brud^ʑɛ

gardzę-gardzie gard^zɛ gard^ʑɛ

ogrodzę-ogrodzie ɔgrɔd^zɛ ɔgrɔd^ʑɛ

drzwi-dźwig d^ʒvi d^ʑvik

zjeżdżać-zjeździć zjɛʒd^ʒat^ɕ zjɛʑd^ʑit^ɕ

Na dźwięk dzwonka rodzinka

skoczyła do drzwi. na d^ʑvjɛŋg d^zvɔŋka rɔd^ʑiŋka

skɔt^ʃɨwa dɔ d^ʒvi

Od dżemu i rodzynek bolą mnie

dziąsła. ɔd d^ʒɛmu i rɔd^zɨnɛg bɔlɔw~ mɲɛ

d^ʑɔw~swa

Dziś słucha dżezu i popija wino z

dzbanka. d^ʑiɕ swuxa d^ʒɛzu i pɔpija vinɔ z

d^zbaŋka

5.3.6. 5.3.6 Affricates in contrast with plosive+fricative

/t^ʃ/ vs. /tʃ/

czy-trzy t^ʃɨ tʃɨ

oczyma-otrzyma ɔt^ʃɨma ɔtʃɨma

rozpaczy-rozpatrzy rɔspat^ʃɨ rɔspatʃɨ

16

szczerze-strzeże ʃt^ʃɛʒɛ stʃɛʒɛ

szczygła-strzygła ʃt^ʃɨgwa stʃɨgwa

czysta-trzysta t^ʃɨsta tʃɨsta

bogacze-bogatsze bɔgat^ʃɛ bɔgatʃɛ

uczę-utrze ut^ʃɛ utʃɛ

wieczny-wietrzny vjɛt^ʃnɨ vjɛt^ʃnɨ

mecze-metrze mɛt^ʃɛ mɛtʃɛ

liczę-litrze lit^ʃɛ litʃɛ

poczyta-podszyta pɔt^ʃɨta pɔtʃɨta

krucze-krótsze krut^ʃɛ krutʃɛ

/d^ʒ/ vs. /dʒ/ dżem-drzemka d^ʒɛm dʒɛmka

drzwi-drzewo d^ʒvi dʒɛvɔ

gadżet-kadrze gad^ʒɛt kadʒɛ

didżej-mądrzej did^ʒɛj mɔndʒɛj

brydże-biodrze bryd^ʒɛ bjɔdʒɛ

sentences

Czy widzisz te trzy drzewka obok

drzwi? t^ʃɨ vid^ʑiʃ tɛ tʃɨ dʒɛfka ɔbɔg d^ʒvi

Didżej mógłby mądrzej dobierać

repertuar. did^ʒɛj mugwbɨ mɔndʒɛj dɔbjɛrad^ʑ

rɛpɛrtuar

Po meczu w metrze jest dużo kibiców. pɔ mɛt^ʃu v mɛtʃɛ jɛzd duʒɔ cibit^suf

Zjadł naleśniki z dżemem i uciął sobie

drzemkę. zjadw nalɛɕɲici z d^ʒɛmɛm i ut^ɕɔw

sɔbjɛ dʒɛmkɛ

W Szczebrzeszynie chrząszcz brzmi

w trzcinie. f ʃt^ʃɛbʒɛʃɨɲɛ xʃɔw~ʒd^ʒ bʒmi f

t^ʃt^ɕiɲɛ

Bezczeszczenie cietrzewia cieszy

moje czcze trzewia. bɛst^ʃɛʃt^ʃɛɲɛ t^ɕɛtʃɛvja t^ɕɛʃɨ

mɔjɛ t^ʃt^ʃɛ tʃɛvja

Czy rak trzyma szczypcami strzęp

szczawiu, czy trzy części trzciny? t^ʃɨ rak tʃɨma ʃt^ʃɨpt^sami stʃɛmp

ʃt^ʃavju t^ʃɨ tʃɨ t^ʃɛw~ɕt^ɕi

t^ʃt^ɕinɨ

6. Nasals

6.1. General remarks

Nasals are articulated with a complete closure in the oral tract, thus they constitute a

type os stops. Contrary to production of stops, in the articulation of nasals the velum is

lowered and the air flows through the nasal tract. Nasals are almost always voiced and

only few languages contrast voiced and voiceless nasals (e.g. Burmese).

17

Depending on the location of the closure formed by the active and passive articulators,

the oral tract has greater or lesser effect on the auditory characteristics of nasals.

Generally, if the closure is located in the front of the oral tract (i.e. closure formed by

the upper and lower lip) the effect is greater (and as regards acoustics – the frequencies

of the formants are lower).

In the production of Polish nasals the closure can be located in the following places:

a) the lower and the upper lip (bilabial): /m/

b) the tip of the tongue and upper teeth (dental): /n/

c) the blade and the center of the tongue and the front of the hard palate (palatal):

/ɲ/

d) back of the tongue and velum (velar): /ŋ/

6.2. Distribution

/m/, /n/ and /ɲ/ occur in all positions.

In the word–initial (pl: nagłos) or word–medial syllables (pl: śródgłos) /m/ and /n/ occur

mostly before vowels except for /i/ (and /j/).

/ɲ/ does not occur before /ɨ/.

/ŋ/ is realized only in the middle of the word before /k/ and /g/ and as the second segment

in the pronunciation of Polish nasal vowels.

Before /c/ and /ɟ/ /n/ is realized (the /ŋ,/ variant is also possible, see below).

In specific contexts the following allophones of the nasal phonemes are realized:

a) palatalized /m,/ and /ŋ,/:

they are articulated with the body of the tongue protruding and raised to-

wards the hard palate

palatalized /m,/ is realized before /i/ (and /j/) at the end of the word or

followed by a consonant, vowel /e/, /a/, /o/ or /u/ (also /w/)

palatalized /ŋ,/ is pronounced in sequences: -ęki(-), -ęgi(-), -ąki(-), -ągi(-)

e.g. ręki /rɛŋ,ci/, obcęgi /ɔpt^sɛŋ, ɟi/, pociągi /pot^ɕɔŋ, ɟi/

palatalized /ŋ,/ may optionally be realized instead of /ɲ/ when it occurs

before /k/, /g/, /c/ and /ɟ/ e.g. bańka /baŋ,ka/, mańkut /maŋ,kut/

18

b) alveolar /ṇ/: occurs only before alveolar affricates /t^ʃ/ and /d^ʒ/ e.g. męczyć

/mɛṇt^ʃɨt^ɕ/, tęcza / /tɛṇt^ʃa/, sączek /sɔṇt^ʃek/

c) voiceless nasals: occur optionally in the context of voiceless consonants and/or after

a voiceless consonant before a pause e.g. czosnkowy, pieśń

6.3. Exercises

6.3.1. Contrast /ɲ/ - /n/

len-leń lɛn lɛɲ

ran-rań ran raɲ

won-woń vɔn vɔɲ

silne-silnie ɕilnɛ ɕilɲɛ

kona-konia kɔna kɔɲa

wolnej-wolniej vɔlnɛj vɔlɲɛj

6.3.2. Contrast /ɲ/ - /m/

mim-nim mim ɲim

mina-Nina mina ɲina

dama-dania dama daɲa

komin-Konin kɔmin kɔɲin

brom-broń brɔm brɔɲ

dym-dyń dɨm dɨɲ

6.3.3. Contrast /ɲ/ - /n/ - /m/

sań-San-sam saɲ san sam

toń-ton-tom tɔɲ tɔn tɔm

czyń-czyn-czym t^ʃɨɲ t^ʃɨn t^ʃɨm

linia-lina-Lima liɲa lina lima

miń-min-mim miɲ min mim

rani-rany-ramy raɲi ranɨ ramɨ

19

Jako mim, Nina pilnie ćwiczy robienie

min. jakɔ mim ɲina pilɲɛ t^ɕfit^ʃɨ rɔbjɛɲɛ

min

Lecę tanią linią z Konina do Limy. lɛt^sɛ taɲɔw~ liɲɔw~ s kɔɲina dɔ limɨ

Ta woń to danie z dwóch dyń. ta vɔɲ tɔ daɲɛ z dvux dɨɲ

6.3.4. /N/ before /k/ and /g/

ran-ranga ran raŋga

bon-bongo bɔn bɔŋgɔ

Ren-ręka rɛn rɛŋka

ranek-ranka ranɛk raŋka

mantra-mango mantra maŋgɔ

tan-tango tan taŋgɔ

Mimo anginy, Anka od ranka do

wieczora chodzi na castingi. mimɔ aŋɟinɨ aŋka ɔd raŋka dɔ

vjɛt^ʃɔra xɔd^ʑi na kastiŋgi

Podczas sparingu złamał rękę i

wyleciał za doping. pɔtt^ʃas spariŋgu zwamaw rɛŋkɛ i

vɨlɛt^ɕaw za dɔpiŋk

6.3.5. Nasal clusters /mn/, /mɲ/, /ɲm/

nogi-mnogi nɔɟi mnɔɟi

mą-mną mɔw~ mnɔw~

nie-mnie ɲɛ mɲɛ

duma-dumna duma dumna

uczymy-uczyńmy ut^ʃɨmɨ ut^ʃɨɲmɨ

dzwony-dzwońmy d^zvɔnɨ d^zvɔɲmɨ

Mnich siedzi w zimnej i ciemnej

komnacie. mɲix ɕɛd^ʑi v ʑimnɛj i t^ɕɛmnɛj

kɔmnat^ɕɛ

Mnóstwo gimnazjalistów nie umie

mnożyć. mnustfɔ ɟimnazjalistuv ɲɛ umjɛ

mnɔʒɨt^ɕ

6.3.6. Realization of /nɲ/ (alternatively pronounced as geminate /ɲɲ/)

rodzinie-rodzinnie rɔd^ʑiɲɛ rɔd^ʑinɲɛ

rani-ranni raɲi ranɲi

panie-pannie paɲɛ panɲɛ

płynie-płynnie pwɨɲɛ pwɨnɲɛ

gościnie-gościnnie gɔɕt^ɕiɲɛ gɔɕt^ɕinɲɛ

dzwoni-dzwonnik d^zvɔɲi d^zvɔnɲik

20

Panie mówią starannie i płynnie po

angielsku. paɲɛ muvjɔw~ staranɲɛ i pwɨnɲɛ pɔ

aŋɟjɛlsku

Ranni czynnie brali udział w obronie

miasta. ranɲi t^ʃɨnɲɛ brali ud^ʑaw v ɔbrɔɲɛ

mjasta

7. Liquids

The main articulatory characteristic of liquids is that unlike obstruents they are produced

with unhindered airflow. Contrary to vowels, their articulation involves some kind of

obstruction in the oral tract.

Liquids are classified as sonorants; they are almost always voiced and oral (as oppossed

to nasals).

7.1. Lateral approximant /l/

The class of lateral approximants is represented in Polish by

phoneme /l/.

During the pronunciation of /l/ the tip of the tongue touches

near the center of the alveolar ridge, but despite this closure

the air flows out freely over the side of the tongue.

The phoneme /l/ is realized in all word-positions and

contexts, but it does not occur before /i/, /ɨ/ and /j/*.

In specific contexts one of the allophones of /l/ can be

realized:

a) *post-alveolar /l,/ is realized before /i/ and /j/ e.g. lipa,

ljana

b) voiceless variant is realized after a voiceless consonant before a pause (e.g. kreśl),

when preceded and followed by voiceless consonants (e.g. kreślcie) or when preceded

by a voiceless consonant and followed by a voiced consonant (e.g. wykreślny)

7.2. Trill /r/

/r/ is realized with the same place of articulation as /l/, but

it involves different activity of the tongue. The sides of the

tongue are in a firm contact with the upper teeth and gums,

and at the same time the tip of the tongue vibrates and at

moments it forms a closure with the center of the alveolar

ridge. It can be said that what distinguishes /r/ from /l/ is

the vibrating nature of the former and the lateral character

of the latter.

21

Trill /r/ has a polisegmental structure which is the effect of the stages of the closure and

release which occur one after another as the active articulator vibrates (this is reflected

on the spectrogram, see the handout on acoustic phonetics).

The phoneme /r/ is realized in all word-positions and contexts, but it does not occur

before /i/, and /j/*.

In specific contexts one of the allophones of /r/ can be realized:

a) *post-alveolar /r,/ is realized before /i/ and /j/ in words of foreign origin and at the

word boundary e.g. riksza /r,ikʃa/, gloria /glɔr,ja/, wiatr i mgła /v,jatr, i mgwa/

b) voiceless variant is realized after a voiceless consonant before a pause (e.g. wiatr)

and between voiceless consonants (e.g. krwawy)

7.3. Exercises

7.3.1. Contrast /r/ - /l/

initial position

lok-rok lɔk rɔk

lód-ród lut rut

len-Ren lɛn rɛn

las-raz las ras

medial position

pola-pora pɔla pɔra

kula-kura kula kura

cela-cera t^sɛla t^sɛra

filmy-firmy filmɨ firmɨ

palę-parę palɛ parɛ

final position

pól-pór bul bur

ból-bór dal dar

dal-dar bal bar

bal-bar pal par

after consonants in initial position

klan-kran klan kran

blat-brat blat brat

tlen-tren tlɛn trɛn

flak-frak flak frak

planie-pranie plaɲɛ praɲɛ

pluszy-prószy pluʃɨ pruʃɨ

sentences

Car wydał bal u podnóża gór

kaukaskich. t^sar vɨdaw bal u pɔdnuʒa gur

kawkascix

Bar słynie z kojarzenia par. bar swɨɲɛ s kɔjaʒɛɲa par

22

Poproszę ten szary szal w groszki. pɔprɔʃɛ tɛn ʃarɨ ʃal v grɔʃci

Krem tej firmy poprawia cerę. krɛm tɛj firmɨ pɔpravja t^sɛrɛ

Za radą rodziców Romka zrobiła

sobie loki. za radɔw~ rɔd^ʑit^suv rɔmka zrɔbiwa

sɔbjɛ lɔci

Raz do roku idę na rower do lasu. raz dɔ rɔku idɛ na rɔvɛr dɔ lasu

Brat Bronka pracuje w pralni w

Krakowie. brad brɔŋka prat^sujɛ f pralɲi f

krakɔvjɛ

Trener trochę narzeka na brak formy. trɛnɛr trɔxɛ naʒɛka na brak fɔrmɨ

Trzeba naprawić kran i zamontować

blat. tʃɛba napravit^ɕ kran i zamɔntɔvad^ʑ

blat

7.3.2. /r/ and /l/ in consonants clusters

orlę ɔrlɛ

skarlały skarlawɨ

burleska burlɛska

Berlin bɛrlin

perlisty pɛrlistɨ

metr mɛtr

teatr tɛatr

łotr wɔtr

kart kart

start start

Teatr w Berlinie wystawia burleskę. tɛatr v bɛrliɲɛ vɨstavja burlɛskɛ

Wiatr zniszczył kilometr autostrady w

pobliżu Tatr. vjatr ɲiʃt^ʃɨw cilɔmɛtr awtɔstradɨ f

pɔbliʒu tatr

Arlekin zaśmiał się perliście. arlɛcin zaɕmjaw ɕɛ pɛrliɕt^ɕɛ