Chapter#2 Phonetics
Definition:
Phonetics is the study of the physical sounds of human speech. It focuses on how speech sounds are produced, transmitted, and perceived. It is a branch of linguistics that deals with the articulatory, acoustic, and auditory properties of speech.
Main Branches of Phonetics:
1.Articulatory Phonetics
o Focus: How speech sounds are produced by the vocal organs
o Key elements:
§ Place of articulation (e.g., bilabial, alveolar)
§ Manner of articulation (e.g., plosive, fricative)
§ Voicing (voiced vs. voiceless sounds)
o Example: How the sound /p/ is produced with both lips
2.Acoustic Phonetics
o Focus: The physical properties of speech sounds as sound waves
o Key elements:
§ Frequency
§ Amplitude
§ Duration
§ Spectrogram analysis
o Example: Measuring the pitch and intensity of vowel sounds
3.Auditory Phonetics
o Focus: How speech sounds are perceived by the ear and brain
o Key elements:
§ Hearing sensitivity
§ Perception of pitch, loudness, and timbre
§ Speech sound discrimination
o Example: How listeners distinguish between /b/ and /p/
Tools in Phonetics:
- IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) – A system of symbols representing all known speech sounds.
- Spectrograms – Visual representations of the frequency and intensity of sounds.
- Articulatory models – Diagrams of the vocal tract showing sound production.
Articulatory Phonetics: How Speech Sounds Are Produced
Articulatory phonetics studies how the speech organs (articulators) move and interact to produce different speech sounds.
Main Components Involved in Speech Production:
1. The Vocal Tract:
- Lungs – Provide the airstream that powers speech.
- Trachea – The windpipe, carrying air from the lungs.
- Larynx – Contains the vocal cords (or vocal folds), responsible for voicing.
- Pharynx, Oral Cavity, Nasal Cavity – Chambers where sounds are shaped.
2. Articulators (Organs of Speech):
|
Articulator |
Function in Speech |
|
Lips |
Create sounds like /p/, /b/, /m/ (bilabials) |
|
Teeth |
Work with tongue for sounds like /f/, /v/ (labiodentals) |
|
Alveolar Ridge |
Hard ridge behind upper teeth; used in /t/, /d/, /s/ |
|
Hard Palate |
Roof of the mouth; used for /ʃ/ as in ship |
|
Soft Palate (Velum) |
Moves to block or open nasal passage (e.g., /k/, /g/) |
|
Tongue |
Most versatile articulator; different parts used for many sounds |
|
Glottis |
Opening between vocal cords; used for sounds like /h/ |
Types of Articulation:
1. Place of Articulation – Where the airflow is constricted:
- Bilabial: both lips (/p/, /b/, /m/)
- Labiodental: lip + teeth (/f/, /v/)
- Dental: tongue + teeth (/θ/, /ð/)
- Alveolar: tongue + alveolar ridge (/t/, /d/, /s/, /z/)
- Palatal: tongue + hard palate (/ʃ/, /ʒ/)
- Velar: tongue + soft palate (/k/, /g/)
- Glottal: vocal folds (/h/)
2. Manner of Articulation – How the airflow is manipulated:
- Plosive (Stop): Complete blockage followed by release (/p/, /t/, /k/)
- Fricative: Narrow constriction causes friction (/f/, /s/, /ʃ/)
- Nasal: Air flows through the nose (/m/, /n/)
- Approximant: Articulators come close but not enough to create friction (/l/, /r/, /w/)
- Affricate: Combination of stop and fricative (/tʃ/, /dʒ/)
3. Voicing – Whether the vocal cords vibrate:
- Voiced: vocal cords vibrate (e.g., /b/, /d/, /z/)
- Voiceless: vocal cords do not vibrate (e.g., /p/, /t/, /s/)
Acoustic phonetics is the branch of phonetics that deals with the physical properties of speech sounds. It focuses on how speech sounds are transmitted through the air as sound waves and the characteristics that define those waves. Here are some key concepts in acoustic phonetics:
1.Sound Waves: Speech sounds are produced by vibrations in the air. When we speak, our vocal cords vibrate, creating sound waves that travel through the air. These waves can be characterized by their amplitude, frequency, and duration.
2.Amplitude: This refers to the loudness or intensity of the sound. Larger amplitudes correspond to louder sounds, and smaller amplitudes correspond to quieter sounds.
3.Frequency: This refers to the number of vibrations or cycles per second, measured in Hertz (Hz). Frequency is related to the pitch of the sound. High-frequency sounds are perceived as high-pitched, and low-frequency sounds are perceived as low-pitched.
4.Duration: The length of time a sound lasts. Short sounds are brief, while long sounds last for a greater period.
5.Formants: These are the resonant frequencies of the vocal tract that amplify certain frequencies of the speech sound. The formants help to distinguish different vowels. Formants are typically denoted as F1, F2, and F3, where F1 is related to the vowel height (high or low), F2 to vowel frontness or backness, and F3 contributes to vowel quality.
6.Waveform: A visual representation of a sound wave. A waveform shows how the air pressure fluctuates over time and can be used to analyze the duration, intensity, and frequency of a sound.
7.Spectrogram: A visual representation that shows how the frequency content of a sound changes over time. It uses time on the horizontal axis, frequency on the vertical axis, and the intensity of the sound at each frequency is depicted by color or shading.
8.Pitch and Timbre:
o Pitch: The perceived highness or lowness of a sound, which is largely determined by the frequency of the sound wave.
o Timbre: The quality or color of a sound that makes it distinct from other sounds, even if they have the same pitch and loudness. Timbre is influenced by the harmonic content of the sound and the resonance of the vocal tract.
Acoustic phonetics helps us understand the properties of speech sounds in a detailed, scientific way and is important in fields such as linguistics, speech therapy, and audio technology.
The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) is a standardized system of symbols used to represent the sounds (or phones) of spoken languages. It was created by the International Phonetic Association to provide a consistent and universal way to transcribe the pronunciation of words across all languages.
Key Features of the IPA:
1.
One
Symbol = One Sound:
Each IPA symbol represents exactly one sound, regardless of how that sound is
spelled in any particular language. This eliminates confusion caused by
inconsistent spelling systems (like in English).
2.
Covers
All Human Speech Sounds:
The IPA includes symbols for consonants, vowels, suprasegmentals
(such as stress and intonation), and diacritics (marks that modify
sounds, like nasalization or aspiration).
3.
Language-Neutral:
IPA is used in linguistics, phonetics, dictionaries, language learning, and
speech pathology, and it applies to all spoken languages, not just English.
Examples:
- The word “cat” in IPA is /kæt/
- The word “phone” is /fəʊn/ (British English) or /foʊn/ (American English)
- The word “sing” is /sɪŋ/
IPA Symbol Categories:
1. Consonants: /p, b, t, d, k, g, f, v, s, z, ʃ, ʒ, h, m, n, ŋ, l, r, j, w/
2. Vowels: /i, ɪ, e, æ, ɑ, ɒ, ɔ, ʊ, u, ə, ɜ, ɛ, ʌ/
3. Diacritics: [ ʰ ] (aspiration), [ ̃ ] (nasalization), [ ː ] (lengthening)
4. Suprasegmentals: [ ˈ ] (primary stress), [ ˌ ] (secondary stress)
Uses of IPA:
- Language learning: Helps learners pronounce words correctly.
- Dictionaries: Show exact pronunciation.
- Linguistics: Used in phonetic analysis.
- Speech therapy: Documents and analyzes speech sounds accurately.
Certainly! The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) is a standardized system of symbols used to represent the sounds of spoken language. It provides a consistent way to transcribe the pronunciation of words across different languages.
🔤 IPA Chart Overview
The IPA chart categorizes sounds based on their articulatory features. It includes:Dictionary.com+5Type It!+5Wikipedia+5
- Consonants: Sounds produced by obstructing airflow in various ways.
- Vowels: Sounds produced without significant constriction of airflow.
- Diacritics: Marks that modify the pronunciation of a sound.
- Suprasegmentals: Features like stress, tone, and intonation.Type It!+1Wikipedia+1
For an interactive experience, you can explore the Interactive IPA Chart, which allows you to hear the sounds represented by each symbol.IPA Chart
📘 IPA Pronunciation Guide
Understanding IPA symbols can greatly aid in accurate pronunciation. For instance:
- /θ/: Represents the voiceless "th" sound as in "think."
- /ð/: Represents the voiced "th" sound as in "this."
- /ʃ/: Represents the "sh" sound as in "she."
- /ʒ/: Represents the "s" sound as in "measure."
Consonants and Vowels in Phonetics
In phonetics, speech sounds are broadly categorized into consonants and vowels based on how they are produced in the vocal tract.
🔷 Consonants
Consonants are speech sounds produced by obstructing the airflow in some way as it moves through the vocal tract.
📌 Key Features of Consonants:
1. Place of Articulation – Where the airflow is obstructed:
o Bilabial: both lips (/p/, /b/, /m/)
o Alveolar: tongue and alveolar ridge (/t/, /d/, /s/, /z/, /n/)
o Velar: back of tongue and soft palate (/k/, /g/, /ŋ/)
o And others: dental, labiodental, palatal, glottal, etc.
2. Manner of Articulation – How the airflow is obstructed:
o Stop: complete blockage (/p/, /t/, /k/)
o Fricative: narrow passage creates friction (/f/, /s/, /ʃ/)
o Affricate: combination of stop and fricative (/ʧ/ as in church, /ʤ/ as in judge)
o Nasal: airflow through the nose (/m/, /n/, /ŋ/)
o Approximant: minimal obstruction (/l/, /r/, /j/, /w/)
3. Voicing – Whether the vocal cords vibrate:
o Voiced: vocal cords vibrate (/b/, /d/, /g/, /z/, /v/)
o Voiceless: vocal cords do not vibrate (/p/, /t/, /k/, /s/, /f/)
🔶 Vowels
Vowels are sounds produced without significant constriction of airflow in the vocal tract. The shape and position of the tongue and lips determine vowel quality.
📌 Key Features of Vowels:
1. Height – How high the tongue is:
o High: /i/ (as in seat), /u/ (as in food)
o Mid: /e/ (as in bed), /o/ (as in go)
o Low: /æ/ (as in cat), /ɑ/ (as in father)
2. Backness – Where the tongue is:
o Front: /i/, /e/, /æ/
o Central: /ə/, /ʌ/
o Back: /u/, /o/, /ɑ/
3. Rounding – Whether the lips are rounded:
o Rounded: /u/, /o/
o Unrounded: /i/, /æ/
4. Tenseness:
o Tense: longer and more muscular (e.g., /i/, /u/)
o Lax: shorter and less effortful (e.g., /ɪ/, /ʊ/)
🧩 IPA Examples:
|
Sound |
Type |
IPA |
Example |
|
p |
Consonant |
/p/ |
pen |
|
t |
Consonant |
/t/ |
top |
|
ʃ |
Consonant |
/ʃ/ |
she |
|
i |
Vowel |
/i/ |
see |
|
æ |
Vowel |
/æ/ |
cat |
|
ʊ |
Vowel |
/ʊ/ |
good |
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