Phonetics

Question 1

Do you understand what phonetics is ?

Answer 1

Phonetic is the study of the minimal units that make up language (the sound of speech).

The consonants, Vowels, Melodies and Rythms.

(CVMR)

Question 2

Do you understand what phonetic transcription is ?

Answer 2

Phonetic transcription is writing down speech sounds in order to capture what is said and how it is pronounced.

Question 3

Do you understand why phonetic transcription is beneficial ?

Answer 3

Because the normal spelling of the word doesn’t tell us enough about how it is pronounced by different people.

The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) is applicable to all spoken languages because there is a one-to-one correspondance between sounds and symbols.

Question 4

Do you understand what characteristics are desirable in a phonetic transcription system ?

Answer 4

1. Each symbol should represent one sound only
2. If two sounds can distinguish one word from another, they should be represented by different symbols
3. If two sounds are very similar, we should be able to represent that similarity.

Question 5

Do you understand what the classes of speech sounds (like Consonants / Vowell) are ?

Answer 5

1. Segments (consonants and vowels)

2. Suprasegmentals (stress,tone and intonation)

Question 6

Do you understand what the characteristics of consonant articulation are ?

Answer 6

1. Is the sound voiced or voiceless ?
2. Where is the airstream constricted ? (place of articulation)
3. How is the airstream constricted ? (manner of articulation)

Question 7

Do you understand what parameters each can have ? (manners, places of articulations, and voicing)

Answer 7

The voicing, place and manner of articulation are known as segmental features.

There are three basic components of the human anatomy that are involved in the production of speech.

1. Larynx
2. Vocal tract
3. Subglottal system

Question 8

Do you understand what the characteristics of vowel articulation are ?

Answer 8

1. Tongue height
2. Tongue advancement
3. Lip rounding
4. Tenseness

Question 9

Do you understand what parameters each can have ? (Tongue heigh, tongue advancement, lip rounding and tenseness)

Answer 9

1. Raising or lowering the body of the language
2. Advancing or retracting the body of the tongue
3. Rounding or not rounding the lips
4. Making these movements with tense or lax gesture

Question 10

Vowels are divided into two categories. What are they ?

Answer 10

1. Monopthongs
2. Diphthongs

Monopthongs are simple vowels.

They are composed of a single configuration of the vocal tract.

Diphthongs are complexe vowels.

They are composed of a sequence of two different configurations.