An introduction to English phonetics

An Introduction to

English PhoneticsRichard Ogden

The larynx, voicing and

voice quality

Prepared, Nasrin Eftekhari 2

Voicing produce by:

Using components of vocal folds

Vibration of vocal folds


Voicing Production Components Larynx Vocal folds


Where is the place of vocal folds? Vocal folds located in the larynx


Vocal Folds


Larynx


Larynx consists of three main cartilage:

thyroid,cricoidarytenoid


Thyroid


of those three , thyroid:

Is the most obvious It is largest Is at the front of larynx

Forms box of larynx It consists of two plates

Is static Prepared, Nasrin Eftekhari 10

Hyoid bone is the place of thyroid


Hyoid bone


Arytenoid & cricoid cartilage


Cricoid cartilage: Ring shape underneath the thyroid

Forms the bottom part of the “box”

Has two spurs, one each side

Two arytenoid cartilage sit top on the back of the cricoid cartilage


How form glottis: Vocal folds are attached to

the arytenoid at the back and thyroid at the front

At the side vocal folds are attached to the muscle of larynx

In the middle is free so there is a gap between them

This gap is called glottis Prepared, Nasrin Eftekhari 15

Glottis ;


Arytenoids : Are movable Cause the tension across the vocal folds change

So lead to vibration of vocal folds


Thickness of vocal folds cause vibration


Changing rate of vibration of vocal folds


Vibration of foldsNot brain command !


Vibration of vocal folds caused by right amount tension across the folds


vocal folds is such a valve;


Valve (windpi

pe)

How the voiceless sounds are produced:

Vocal folds form a kind of valve

For breathing vocal folds open

Then held wide apart So, air can pass in and out of

lung unimpeded Then, allowing free passage

of air across the glottisFinally, voiceless sound are

produced Prepared, Nasrin Eftekhari 23

Breathing, open vocal folds


How the voiced sounds are produced:

First of all , Folds are shut or close

Then , Air below cannot escape

Yet, Pressure of muscle forcing air out

So, pressure builds up below the glottis

Until eventually folds open Thus air pass through glottis


Voiced sounds ; Air pressure above and below the glottis equalizes

Now, tension across the vocal folds cause them back together

The process now repeat itself

Voice sound appeared Prepared, Nasrin Eftekhari 26

Vocal folds are shut


Aerodynamic effect of vocal folds


Bernoulli effect ;The cycle of closing and opening vocal fold is an aerodynamic effect

It is called bernoullie effect


Bernoulli effect


How produce modal voicing:

Vocal folds vibrate Make complete closure along

with full lengthMake no gap in contact

between vocal folds There is regular vibration No particular tension in the

folds This is called modal voicing Prepared, Nasrin Eftekhari 31

Modal voicing


Changing the rate of vibration of vocal folds


What affect the vibration of vocal folds

? First , pitch resulting from more tension

Second, loudness of our speech or average pitch resulting from more air pressure


We use the term of “ pitch “ to refer to a percept rather than a

physical event .

Pitch


Change meaning in sentence level not word level

Pitch will rise : The more tension across the folds, the faster rate of vibration

the folds tightened/adducted by arytenoid cartilage

folds start vibrate more quickly

Thus , pitch will rise Prepared, Nasrin Eftekhari 36

Pitch will down:


the folds relax, not tightened/adducted by arytenoid cartilage

Tension is lower Then , folds vibrate slowly

Pitch will down

Vocal process of vibration


Fundamental frequency

The rate of vibration of vocal folds is called fundamental frequency

The relationship between pitch & fundamental frequency are not linear.

This relationship is logarithmic in nature Prepared, Nasrin Eftekhari 39

f0


Parameter for describing f0:

F0 is produced within a certain range; bottom & top range

Bottom of the range refers to speaker’s lowest f0 value

Top of the range refers to speaker’s highest f0 value

This range varies among individuals

This variation is because of extralinguistic factors Prepared, Nasrin Eftekhari 41

The reasons for individuals variation in

f0:Individual’s vocal tract shape

Individual’s larynx Individual’s habitual way of speaking

Individual’s shape of thyroid cartilage

And, age & gender Prepared, Nasrin Eftekhari 42

Feature of Intonation

Intonation is the linguistic use of particular f0 in production speech

Intonation affect on meaning Intonation carries main stressed

item of an utterance Other stressed syllabus of the

utterance does not carry intonation

In English, context influence on the f0 contour subsequently intonation

Open page 46 & 47


Fall intonation :

[\]


Rise intonation:


[/]

Fall – rise intonation:

[\/]


Rise – fall intonation:

[/\]


Level intonation:

[`]Prepared, Nasrin Eftekhari 48

Phrasing; One of the main interference between syntax & semantic & phonetics is : phrasing & intonation


So, why ? Because phrasing & intonation give speakers clues of syntax that organizes words into the structure

Refer to page 49 as an example of phrasing


Voice quality;Speaker can control :Rate of vibration of vocal folds

& The way in which they vibrate

This is called : Voice quality Prepared, Nasrin Eftekhari 51

Voice quality :Breathy voice Creaky voice Whisper voice Falsetto voice Glasgow


Breathy voice is produced :

In open vocal folds Is soft and quieter Transcribe with : [..]


Creaky voice : Closure along the vocal folds

leaving an opening at the front end

Folds are pressed not firmly Folds become thick Creak leads to irregular pattern

of vibration Vibration is slow F0 is low Diacritic is : [~]


Whisper voice : Vocal folds is narrow Glottis is opened Folds not vibrate The air below become turbulent

Is used that speaker speak quietly /secretivelyPrepared, Nasrin Eftekhari 55

Falsetto voice : Raising the speaker f0

Vocal folds stretch Glottis not completely closed

Used in singing & conversational speech


Glasgow Is a voice quality as

sociolinguistic marker Voice quality varies with age,

gender & class Its different “articulator

setting” refers to habitual way of speaker’s speech production


Thank you


An introduction to English phonetics

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