Linguistics Linguistics

The fourth weekThe fourth week

Chapter 2 The Sounds of Language

2.1 Introduction2.1 Introduction 2.2 Phonetics2.2 Phonetics

Key points:Key points:

2.2.1 Articulators and their 2.2.1 Articulators and their functionsfunctions

2.2.2 Voiced and voiceless 2.2.2 Voiced and voiceless soundssounds

Difficult point:Difficult point:

Articulators and their fuArticulators and their functionsnctions

PhoneticsPhonetics : :

The study of the speech The study of the speech sounds that occur in all sounds that occur in all languages is called languages is called phonetics.phonetics.

The task of phonetics:The task of phonetics:

The task of phonetics is to The task of phonetics is to identify what speech sounds identify what speech sounds are there in a language, how are there in a language, how the sounds are produced, the sounds are produced, how the sounds are how the sounds are classified, and features the classified, and features the sounds have.sounds have.

The study of phonetics can be The study of phonetics can be divided into three main branches divided into three main branches

(1) (1) articulatory phoneticsarticulatory phonetics: is the : is the study of how speech sounds are study of how speech sounds are produced, or “articulated”; produced, or “articulated”;

(2) (2) acoustic phoneticsacoustic phonetics: deals wit: deals with the transmission of speech soh the transmission of speech sounds through the air; unds through the air;

(3) (3) auditory phoneticsauditory phonetics: deals wit: deals with how speech sounds are perceih how speech sounds are perceived by the listener.ved by the listener.

2.2.1 Articulators and their 2.2.1 Articulators and their functionsfunctions

In larynx, there are the In larynx, there are the vocal cords.vocal cords.

Above the vocal cords, there Above the vocal cords, there is the vocal tract in which the is the vocal tract in which the other articulators are other articulators are located.located.

Oral cavity: which is the air Oral cavity: which is the air passage within the mouth passage within the mouth and the throat.and the throat.

Nasal cavity: which is the air Nasal cavity: which is the air passage within and behind passage within and behind the nosethe nose

ArticulatorsArticulators

(i) (i) Pharynx Pharynx (ii) (ii) VelumVelum or or soft palate soft palate (iii)(iii) Hard palate Hard palate (iv) Alveolar ridge or alveolum (iv) Alveolar ridge or alveolum (v) (v) TongueTongue (vi) (vi) TeethTeeth (vii) (vii) LipsLips

Bilabial and labiodentalBilabial and labiodental

Sounds in which the lips are in cSounds in which the lips are in contact with each other are called ontact with each other are called bilabialbilabial, while those with lip-to-t, while those with lip-to-teeth contact are called eeth contact are called labiodenlabiodental.tal.

DentalsDentals

Sounds made with the tonSounds made with the tongue touching the front teegue touching the front teeth are called dentals.th are called dentals.

There are a pair of dentalThere are a pair of dentals in English: s in English: θθ

Voiced and voiceless Voiced and voiceless soundssounds

When the vocal cords are spreaWhen the vocal cords are spread apart, the airstream from the ld apart, the airstream from the lungs is not obstructed at the spaungs is not obstructed at the space between vocal cords and pasce between vocal cords and passes freely. The sounds produceses freely. The sounds produced in this way are described as d in this way are described as vvoicelessoiceless sounds. sounds.

The sounds represented by [p], The sounds represented by [p], [t], [k] and [s] in the English word[t], [k] and [s] in the English words seep [si:], seat [si:t]m and sees seep [si:], seat [si:t]m and seek[si:k] are voiceless sounds. k[si:k] are voiceless sounds.

Then the vocal cords are drawn Then the vocal cords are drawn together, the airstream forces its together, the airstream forces its way through and causes them to way through and causes them to vibrate. Sounds produced in this vibrate. Sounds produced in this way are described as way are described as voicedvoiced so sounds.unds.

(1) rope/robe fate/fade (1) rope/robe fate/fade rack/rag wreath/wreatherack/rag wreath/wreathe(2) fine/vine seal/zeal (2) fine/vine seal/zeal choke/jokechoke/joke

The first word of each pair in (1) The first word of each pair in (1) ends with a voiceless sound and ends with a voiceless sound and the second word with a voiced the second word with a voiced sound. The first word of each sound. The first word of each pair in (2) begins with a pair in (2) begins with a voiceless sound and the second voiceless sound and the second with a voiced sound.with a voiced sound.

Assignments Assignments

1. Definitions: 1. Definitions:

(1) phonetics(1) phonetics

(2) voiceless sounds(2) voiceless sounds

2. What are the three branches of 2. What are the three branches of the study of phonetics?the study of phonetics?