Chapter 2 The Sounds: Phonetics Vocabulary

Question 1

Phonetics

Answer 1

The study and classification of speech sounds.

Question 2

Sound Inventory

Answer 2

The pool of sounds which speakers use to construct the words of their language.

Question 3

International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)

Answer 3

An international alphabet used by linguists to accurately represent the wide variety of sounds (phones or phonemes) in human speech.

Question 4

Received Pronunciation (RP)

Answer 4

The accent traditionally regarded as the standard and most prestigious form of spoken British English

Question 5

General American

Answer 5

The standard reference accent of North American English

Question 6

Frequency

Answer 6

The number of cycles on a periodic waveform with a repeating pattern. The higher the number of cycles per second, the higher the frequency and perceived pitch.

Question 7

Vocal Tract

Answer 7

The entire passage above the larynx.

Question 8

Articulators

Answer 8

The parts of the vocal apparatus which are involved in speech production.

Question 9

Passive Articulators

Answer 9

Articulators that cannot change their position.

Question 10

Active Articulators

Answer 10

Articulators that can change their position.

Question 11

Place of Articulation

Answer 11

It is a point where a constriction is made between an active and a passive articulator.

Question 12

Bilabial Sounds

Answer 12

Sounds involving both lips.

Question 13

Alveolar

Answer 13

Sounds involving an obstruction at the alveolar ridge.

Question 14

Labio-dentals

Answer 14

Sounds involving only the lower lip and additionally the upper-teeth.

Question 15

Dental

Answer 15

Sounds produced with the tongue immediately behind the upper front teeth or even protruding between upper and lower front teeth. (sometimes called the inter-dental)

Question 16

Palato-alveolar

Answer 16

Sounds with the constriction between the hard palate and the alveolar ridge.

Question 17

Palatal

Answer 17

Sounds where the tongue is raised toward the hard palate.

Question 18

Velar

Answer 18

Sounds made from an obstruction at the velum.

Question 19

Glottal

Answer 19

Sounds made from an obstruction at the glottal.

Question 20

Manner of Articulation

Answer 20

The various production methods of consonants.

Question 21

Stops

Answer 21

Sounds where airflow is completely stopped.

Question 22

Plosives

Answer 22

Sounds with a burst of air at the moment of release, which sounds like a small explosion.

Question 23

Fricatives

Answer 23

Sounds made with the lower lips and the upper front teeth coming very close together, leaving only a narrow passage through which air can escape resulting in an audible friction.

Question 24

Affricates

Answer 24

Sounds that combine two different manners of production.