Language level 3: Phonetics, phonology and prosodics Flashcards
phonetics
investigating how sounds are actually produced by language users
phonology
refers to the more abstract sound system
prosodics
how speakers can shape meanings through emphasising certain aspects of intonation, speed + volume
International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)
a system for showing the different sounds possible
heterophones
words that have the same spelling but very different pronunciations and meanings (mean, live, row)
homophones
words that are pronounced the same but have a different meaning and may have different spellings; e.g. there, their
articulators
lips, teeth, tongue, hard palate- helps to form consonant sounds
Plosive
an abrupt sound made by closing the mouth then releasing a burst of breath (B, P, T + D)
Fricative
consonants that are formed by blocking the flow of air so that a friction-sound is produced (F + V)
Affricate
a consonant sound that consists of a plosive and then a fricative made in the same place in the mouth: The “ch” sound at the beginning and end of “church” is an affricate.
Nasal
produced by articulators stopping the airflow with a release through the nose (n, m, ng)
Lateral
a consonant sound produced by raising the tip of the tongue against the roof of the mouth so that the airstream flows past one or both sides of the tongue (L sound)
Approximant
produced in a similar way to other consonant sounds but without the articulators fully coming together (w, r, j, y)
Diphthong
a sound formed by combining two vowels in a single syllable. The sound begins as one vowel sound and moves towards another
“oy”/“oi”, as in “boy” or “coin”, and “ow”/ “ou”, as in “cloud” or “cow”.
Sound Iconicity
the matching of sound to an aspect of meaning
