Revision

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The Sounds of Speech

Sounds and Phonemes

Phoneme - one of the smallest units of speech.

Example: /ɪ/ and /æ/ - the different phonemes.

Allophone - one of the ways in which a particular phoneme can be pronounced.

Example: /p/ in the word pin is aspirated causing it sound almost like a "phi", whereas allophone in spin is not, and sounds like "pih".

Difference between the above two is that changing the phoneme changes the meaning of the word, whereas changing the allophone changes the sound of the realization of word but does not change the meaning of the word.

Vowels and Consonants

Vowels - are voiced sounds pronounced without any obstruction.

Consonants - are sounds pronounced with an obstruction.

Voiced - require the use of the vocal cords to produce their signature sounds.

Example: g,v,z as in "gloves".

Voicless - do not require the use of the vocal cords.

Examples: k and s as in "books"

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Questions For Revision

The Sounds of Speech; The Organs of Speech; The Classification of Speech Sounds

1. What is a speech sound and how is it produced?

Speech Sound

an individual sound unit of speech

Speech Sound Production

Speech starts in the brain - the creation of a message and lexico-grammatical structure in our mind

Speech is produced by an air stream produced from the lungs

which goes through trachea and the oral and nasal cavities.

2. What is the difference between phonemes and allophones?

Phoneme

is the smallest unit of sound which is significant in a language.

Are often represented aby // in transcriprion. For example, /p/, /b/

Allophone

any of several speech sounds that are regarded as contextual or environmental variants of the same phoneme.

the allophone in "pin" is aspirated causing it to sound as "phi"

whereas the allophone in "spin" is not, and sounds like "pih".

Difference between the above two is that changing the phoneme changes the meaning of the word, whereas changing the allophone changes the sound of the realization.

3. What is the difference between consonants and vowels?

To say vowels we open mouth (e.g. "a")

To say consonants we close mouth (e.g. "b")

4. How are vowels formed? What does the production of specific vowels depend on?

Vowels are voiced sounds produced without any obstruction in the supra-glottal cavities and consequently have no noise component.

5. What is the difference between voiced and voicless consonants?

Voiced consonants

If vocal cords are brought together, the air stream forcing an opening makes them vibrate. (e.g. /b/)

Voiceless sound

is made when vocal cords are kept apart. (e.g. /t/)

6. What positions can the lips take up and what is their role in the production of vowels?

Neutral (bus, up)

Rounded (look, too)

Protruded

7. The position and function of the soft palate.

In its lowered position the air goes up into the nasal cavity and then out through the nose. (e.g. m, n "n")

when the soft palate is raised the uvula forms a full contact with the back wall of pharynx and the air stream goes through the mouth cavity. The typical position for the most of the sounds.

8. Three different states of vocal cords; the function of vocal cords in the production of speech sounds.

glottis (breathing)

voiced

voiceless

glottal stop (e.g. "h" sound)

9. The active and passive organs of speech.

Active organs of speech

vocal cords (produce voice)

the tongue

the lips (affect the shape of mouth)

the soft palate with the uvula (direct the air stream to nasal cavity or mouth cavity)

the back wall of pharynx (

the lower jaw (controls gap between the teeth and also disposition of the lips)

the lungs (provide air for sounds)

Passive organs of speech

the teeth

the teeth ridge

the hard palate

the walls of resonators

10. What does the particular quality of a consonant depend on?

11. What is the classification of consonants according to the type of obstruction?

Complete obstruction (occlusive consonants)

it is formed when two organs of speech come in contact with each other together and the air-passage through the mouth is blocked.

Incomplete obstruction (constrictive consonants)

it is formed when an articulating organ is held so close to a point of articulation as to narrow, or constrict, the air-passage without blocking it.

noise consonants (plosive (e.g. [p], [b], [t] and affricates (e.g. [dz], [ch]) and sonorants (e.g. m,n, n)

12. What is the classification of consonants according to the active organ of speech?

Labial (bilabial (p,b,m,w) and labio-dental (f,v))

Lingual (forelingual (dental (these, thought) (interdental and postdental), alveolar (t, d, n, l, s, z), palato-alveolar (sh, television, ch, jeans) and post-alveolar (English r), mediolingual (yellow) and backlingual (k,g, "n"))

Glottal (h)

13. What is the classification of consonants according to the work of vocal cords and force articulation?

Vocal cords

Voiced

Voicless

Force of articulation

relatively strong (fortis)

relatively weak (lenis)

14. What is the classification of consonants according to the position of the soft palate?

Oral are produced whe the soft palate is raised and the air escapes through the mouth (e.g. g, f, v)

Nasal (m, n, n)

15. Which is the most important organ of speech and why?

The most important articulator of speech and.

The muscle is very strong and flexible.