TOPIC 3PHONOLOGY: THE SOUNDS

OF LANGUAGE

Speech Organs And Articulations

Phonology

The study of the sound systems of languages, and of the general properties displayed by these systems(the contrast in sound [phoneme] ) which make the difference within the language.

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Phonology vs Phonetics

Phonology is concerned with the functional properties of speech sounds

Phonetics is concerned with the physical aspects of speech sounds

wikipedia©

SPEECH ORGANS AND ARTICULATION

There are seven main articulators;1. Pharynx2. Velum/Soft Palate3. Hard Palate4. Alveolar Ridge5. Upper Teeth 6. Lower Teeth7. Lips

Manners of Articulation • Plosive / stop

air flow momentarily halted, then released forcefully

• Fricativefriction is caused by a slight obstruction in the air stream

• Affricatea mixture between plosive and fricative; the air flow is first halted, then released with friction

/p/ /b/ /g/

/f/ /z/

/d3/

// t

Manners of Articulation • Lateral

formed by the sides of the tongue making contact with the upper teeth

• Post-alveolar or retroflextongue bent upwards and backwards

• Nasalair release through the nasal passage

• Glides/Frictionless continuantno friction, but lasting sound

/l/

/r/

/m/ /n/ /y/

/w/ /r/ /j/

• organs of speech - in the mouth and throat. • air pushed out from the lungs through the larynx and epiglottis vibrates the vocal cords- • producing a continuous tone whose pitch can be changed by varying the shape of the larynx. • Consonants - modified by the tongue and lips, are formed when air is emitted suddenly or when it is cut off firmly. • Voice production occurs in the larynx.

Voice production..

• During breathing the vocal cords are held apart, but as speech commences, the cartilages of the larynx are drawn together by the action of muscles and a "chink" is created.• The tension of the vibrating cords, changed by the tilting of the cartilages, alters the pitch of the spoken sound. High notes are produced by the vibration of tight vocal cords and low notes are produced by vibrating loose cords.

Chink - a small narrow crack or opening

Pharynx• Pharyngeal sound• A tube above the larynx. • Divided into two at the top;– the back of the mouth – the beginning of the way through the nasal cavity (above the mouth, behind the nose)

•the symbol in IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is ʕ

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Velum/Soft Palate

• Velar consonant. • Often in speech, the velum is raised so that air

cannot escape through the nose.• When the /k/ and the /g/ (velar consonants)

sound is produced, the tongue is in contact with the lower side of the velum.

Hard Palate

• Roof of the mouth.• The interaction between the tongue and the

hard palate is essential in the formation of /t/, /d/, /j/, and /ɟ/ sound.

Hard Palate

• Roof of the mouth.• The interaction between the tongue and the hard palate is essential in the formation of /t/, /d/ and /j/ sound.

Alveolar Ridge • Alveolar sound.• Between the top front teeth and the hard

palate.• It’s surface is covered with little ridge.• The sound produced is called alveolar– /t/ and /d/

Teeth (Upper and Lower)• Most speakers have teeth to the sides of their

mouth.• The back is almost to the soft palate.• The tongue is in contact for many speech

sounds.• Dental sound;

/t/, /d/, /n/, and /l/

Lips • Pressed together (bilabial)

/p/• Brought into contact with teeth (labiodentals)

/f/, /v/• Rounded

/u/

Larynx (Adam’s apple) • A very complex and dependent articulators• The vibration of larynx can be detected while

producing the sound /z/

Nose and Nasal Cavity

• Nasal consonant /m/ and /n/

Jaws

• Being called as articulators because of the movement of the jaws

• Jaws not like other articulators – don’t make contact with other articulators.