Phonetics III:Dimensions of Articulation

October 15, 2012

A Quick and Dirty Review• Let’s run through that last set of practice exercises…

• Last time we learned about….

• phonemes, phones, and allophones

• phonetic transcription

• the primary phonemes of the English language

• the principle of contrast

• This time we’ll learn:

• how we actually produce the sounds of English

Tools of the Trade

vocal tract

diaphragm

A Basic Distinction• Vowels and Consonants

• Vowels: unconstricted flow of air through vocal tract (above the larynx)

• Consonants: completely or severely constricted flow of air through vocal tract

• Also: sound is often created at the consonant constriction

• Let’s look at the production of consonants first…

• (it’s easier to sense what we’re doing with our articulators)

Consonants• Consonants are produced with more obstruction of the

airflow through the vocal tract than vowels

• They are characterized by the following set of attributes:

1. Voicing

• vocal fold position and movement

2. Place of Articulation

• location of constriction in the vocal tract

3. Manner of Articulation

• type of constriction made in the vocal tract

Voicing• On the way out of the lungs

• Air passes through the trachea

• Reaches the larynx

• The larynx consists of two “vocal folds” which may be opened and closed. If the vocal folds are:

1. open: air passes cleanly through

= voiceless sound

2. lightly brought together: vocal folds vibrate in passing air

= voiced sound

Vocal Fold Schematics

Voiceless (folds open) Voiced (folds together)

Some Voicing Distinctions• Among English consonants:

Voiceless Voiced Voiceless Voiced

[f] [v] [p] [b]

[t] [d]

[s] [z] [k] [g]

Laryngoscopy

Source: http://homepage.mac.com/changcy/endo.htm

Stefan’s Bogus video

Place of Articulation

• bilabial =

constriction made by both lips

• bilabial consonants in English include:

[p] [b]

[m]

Place of Articulation

• labio-dental =

constriction made by lower lip and upper teeth

• labio-dental consonants in English include:

[f] [v]

Place of Articulation

• interdental =

constriction made by pushing tip of tongue between the teeth

• interdental consonants in English include:

Place of Articulation

• alveolar =

constriction made by tip of tongue against alveolar ridge

• alveolar consonants in English include:

[t] [d]

[s] [z]

[n] [l]

Place of Articulation

• post-alveolar =

constriction made by blade of tongue behind alveolar ridge

• post-alveolar consonants in English include:

[r]

Place of Articulation

• palatal =

constriction made by body of tongue near top of the palate

• the only palatal consonant in English is:

[j]

Place of Articulation

• velar =

constriction made by back of tongue against soft palate

• velar consonants in English include:

[k] [g]

Place of Articulation

• glottal =

constriction made at the glottis

• glottal consonants in English include:

[h]

Stefan’s Bogus Video, again

Manner of Articulation1. Stop = complete closure in vocal tract

• English stops:

[p] [t] [k]

[b] [d] [g]

2. Fricative - narrow constriction that causes disruption of airflow

• think “friction”

• English fricatives:

[f] [s] [h]

[v] [z]

Manner of Articulation3. Affricate

• = brief closure with a fricated release

• English affricates:

4. Nasal

• = velum is lowered and allows air to flow through the nose

• English nasals:

[m] [n]