Phonetics Flashcards
T/F: Language is systemic.
True; that is why we can use study it scientifically
T/F: Every language has it’s own properties.
False; there are universal properties of language
Define langauge competence
A person’s unseen potential to speak a language
Define language performance
The observational realisation of one’s langauge potential
Define performance error
The mistakes someone makes while speaking; DOES NOT reflect one’s competence
Explain the steps of the Speech Communication Chain
1: think of what you want to communicate
2: pick out words
3: put these words together according to linguistic rules
4: figure out how to pronounce these words
5: send pronouncations to your vocal anatomy
6: speak
7: perceive
8: decode
9: connect/recieve the idea
Define phonetics
Speech sounds and the way that they are arranged
T/F: Writing is a more perfect way of communicating than speech
False
Define prescriptive grammar
The socially constructed “rules” regarding the “proper” way to use language
Why is speech more basic than writing?
1: writing must be taught
2: writing does not and has not existed everywhere that speech is
3: writing can be edited
Define descriptive grammar
The rules of language as it is spoken
List the 9 features of language according to Hockett
1: mode of communication
2: semanticy
3: pragmatic function
4: interchangability
5: cultural transmission
6: arbitrariness
7: discreteness
8: displacement
9: productivity
Define mode of communication
Messages can be sent and recieved (otherwise known as modality)
Define semanticity
All signals in a communication system have a distinct meaning or function
Define pragmatic function
Language is used to achieve a goal/serves a purpose
Define interchangability
The ability of individuals to both transmit and recieve messages
Define cultural transmission
There are aspects of language that we can only acquire through communicative interaction with other users of the same language system
Define arbitrariness
The link between form and meaning is not predictable
Define discreteness
Language is built by combining discrete units in order to create larger communicative units
Define displacement
The ability of a language to communicate things that are not present in the space or time that the speakers are discussing them in.
Define productivity
The ability to produce and understand messages that have never been expressed before
What types of modality can language have?
1: Auditory-vocal (spoken)
2: Visual-gestural (signed)
Classify the following:
[p]
Voiceless
Bilabial
Stop
Examples: Pit, tiP, sPit, hiccouGH, aPPear
Classify the following:
[b]
Voiced
Bilabial
Stop
Examples: Ball, gloBe, amBle, BuBBle
Classify the following:
[t]
Voiceless
Alveolar
Stop
Examples: Tag, paT, sTick, pTerodactyl, sTuffeD
Classify the following:
[d]
Voiced
Alveolar
Stop
Examples: Dip, carD, Drop, loveD
Classify the following:
[k]
Voiceless
Velar
Stop
Examples: Kit, sCoot, Character, critiQUE, eXceed
Classify the following:
[g]
Voiced
Velar
Stop
Examples: Guard, baG, finGer, pittsburGH
Classify the following:
[ʔ]
Voiceless
Glottal
Stop
Examples: uH-oh, haTrack, baTman, buTTon
Classify the following:
[f]
Voiceless
Labio-dental
Fricative
Examples: Foot, lauGH, PHilosoPHy, coFFee,
Classify the following:
[v]
Voiced
Labio-dental
Fricative
Examples: Vest, doVe, graVel, anVil
Classify the following:
[θ]
Voiceless
Inter-dental
Fricative
Examples: THrough, wraTH, teeTH
Classify the following:
[ð]
Voiced
Inter-dental
Fricative
Examples: THe, THeir, moTHer, teeTHe
Classify the following:
[s]
Voiceless
Alveolar
Fricative
Examples: Soap, pSychology, packS, peaCe, eXcruciating
Classify the following:
[z]
Voiced
Alveolar
Fricative
Examples: Zip, roadS, kisseS, Xerox
Classify the following:
[ʃ]
Voiceless
Post-Alveolar
Fricative
Examples: SHy, miSSion, naTIon, glaCial, Sure
Classify the following:
[ʒ]
Voiced
Post-Alveolar
Fricative
Examples: meaSure, viSion, aZure, caSualty, deciSion
Classify the following:
[h]
Voiceless
Glottal
Fricative
Examples: WHo, Hat, reHash, Hole, WHole
Classify the following:
[tʃ]
Voiceless
Post-Alveolar
Affricate
Examples: CHoke, maTCH, feaTure, constiTuent
Classify the following:
[dʒ]
Voiced
Post-Alveolar
Affricate
Examples: JuDGE, GeorGe, Jell-o, reGion, resiDual
Classify the following:
[m]
Voiced
Bilabial
Nasal
Examples: Moose, laMb, sMack
Classify the following:
[n]
Voiced
Alveolar
Nasal
Examples: Nap, desiGN, sNow, kNow, mNemoNic
Classify the following:
[ŋ]
Voiced
Velar
Nasal
Examples: luNG, thiNk, siNGer, aNkle, kiNG
Classify the following:
[l]
Voiced
Alveolar
Lateral Liquid
Examples: Leaf, feeL, LLoyd, miLd
Classify the following:
[ɹ]
Voiced
Alveolar
Retroflex Liquid
Examples: Reef, feaR, pRune, caRp
Classify the following:
[ɾ]
Voiced
Alveolar
Flap
Examples: buTTer, uDDer, aDam, boTTle
Classify the following:
[w]
Voiced
Bilabial
Glide
Examples: With, sWim, moWing, qUeen
Classify the following:
[ẉ]
Voicless
Bilabial
Glide
Examples: WHich, WHere, WHat
Classify the following:
[j]
Voiced
Palatal
Glide
Examples: You, bEAutiful, fEud, Use, Yell
List the syllabic consonants and give an example
List the three parts of the vocal tract system
1: Supralaryngeal Vocal Tract
2: Larynx
3: Subglottal System
Define the elements of the supralaryngeal vocal tract
The nasal cavity, oral cavity and pharynx
Define the elements of the subglottal system
The trachea and lungs
Define the elements of the larynx
The vocal folds and the epiglottis
Explain the significance of the glottis
It is the opening between the vocal folds in the larynx which determines the amount of airflow through the vocal tract.
It determines whether a consonant is voiced or voiceless.
Define bilabial sounds and list all bilabial consonants
Made when bringing both lips close together
Includes: [p], [b], [m], [w], [w]** with a dot under
Define labiodental sounds and list all labiodental consonants
Made with the lower lip against the upper front teeth
Includes: [f], [v]
Define interdental sounds and list all interdental consonants
Made when the tip of the tongue protrudes between the front teeth
Includes: [theta] and [eth]
Define alveolar sounds and list all alveolar consonants
Made when the tip of the tongue is near or at the front of the upper alveolar ridge
Includes: [t], [d], [s], [z], [n], [flap] [l] [r]*** upside down
Define post-alveolar sounds and list all post-alveolar consonants
Made when the front of the is just behind the alveolar ridge (at the front of the hard palate)
Includes: [esh], [yogh], [t-esh], [d-yogh]
Define palatal sounds and list all palatal consonants
Made with the body of the tongue near the centre of the hard palate
Includes: [j]
Define velar sounds and list all velar consonants
Made with the back part of the tongue body raised near the velum (the soft part behind the hard palate)
Includes: [k], [g], [engma]
Define glottal sounds and list all glottal consonants
Made when air is constricted in the larynx
Include: [h], [glottal stop]
Define stops and list all stops
Made by completely obstructing the airstream in the oral cavity
Include: [p], [b], [t], [d], [k], [g], [glottal stop]
Define fricative and list all fricatives
Made by forming a nearly complete obstruction of the vocal tract
Include: [f], [v], [theta], [eth], [s], [z], [esh], [yogh], [h]
Define affricate and list all affricates
Complex sounds made by briefly stopping the airstream completely and then releasing the articulators slightly so that a fricative noise is produced
Includes: [t-esh], [d-yogh]
Define flap and list all flaps
Similar to a stop in that it involves the complete obstruction of the oral cavity however it is much quicker than a stop
Includes: [flap]
Define nasal and list all nasals
Produced by relaxing the velum and lowering it, thus opening the nasal passage of the vocal tract
Includes: [m], [n], [engma]
Define lateral liquid and list all lateral liquids
Involves constriction of the vocal tract but the constrictions are not narrow enough to completely block the vocal tract or cause turbulance
Liquids are more constrictive than glides
Includes: [l]
Define retroflex liquids and list all retroflex liquids
Involves constriction of the vocal tract but the constrictions are not narrow enough to completely block the vocal tract or cause turbulance
Liquids are more constrictive than glides
Includes: [r]** upside down
Define glide and list all glides
Made with only a slight closure of the articulators
Includes: [w], [j], [w]** with a dot underneath
What are the three ways to classify consonants?
1: Voicing
2: Place of Articulation
3: Manner of Articulation
Explain the syllable structure
Syllable
Syllable is broken down into onset and rhyme
Rhyme is broken into nucleus and coda
What are the four classification elements for monothongic vowels?
1: Tongue height
2: Tongue Advancement
3: Lip rounding
4: Tenseness
Classify the following:
[i]
Monothong
High
Front
Unrounded
Tense
Examples: bEAt, wE, belIEve, pEOple, monEY, dEAn
Classify the following:
[ɪ]
Monothong
High
Front
Unrounded
Lax
Examples: bIt, consIst, Injury, malIgnant, bUsiness, gYm
Classify the following:
[ε]
Monothong
Mid
Front
Unrounded
Lax
Examples: bEt, recEption, sAYs, gUEst, bEnd
Classify the following:
[æ]
Monothong
Low
Front
Unrounded
Lax
Examples: bAt, lAUgh, Anger, comrAde
Classify the following:
[u]
Monothong
High
Back
Rounded
Tense
Examples: bOOt, whO, brEWer, dUty, thrOUgh, dUne
Classify the following:
[υ]
Monothong
High
Back
Rounded
Lax
Examples: pUt, fOOt, bUtcher, cOUld, bOOgie-wOOgie
Classify the following:
[ɔ]
Monothong
Mid
Back
Rounded
Lax
Examples: bOUght, cAUght, wrOng, stAlk, cOre, lAW
Classify the following:
[ɑ]
Monothong
Low
Back
Unrounded
Lax
Examples: pOt, fAther, sErgeant, hOnor, hOspital, bOmb
Classify the following:
[ʌ]
Monothong
Mid
Central
Unrounded
Lax
Examples: bUt, tOUgh, anOther, Oven, fUngus
Classify the following:
[ə]
Monothong
Mid
Central
Unrounded
Lax
Examples: Among, asIA, elOquent, famOUs, harmOny
Define high tongue position and list high vowels
Mouth mostly closed with a raised tongue
Includes: [i], [capital ‘i’], [u], [upsilon]
Define mid tongue position and list mid vowels
Mouth midway open with middle height tongue
Includes: [epsilon], [schwa], [wedge], [open o]
Define low tongue position and list low vowels
Mouth largely open with a low tongue
Includes: [ash], [script a]
Define front tongue advancement and list front vowels
The tongue is raised and pushed forward so it is just under the hard palate
Includes: [i], [capital ‘i’], [epsilon], [ash]
Define central tongue advancement and list central vowels
Require neither the advancement nor the retratching of the tongue
Includes: [schwa], [wedge]
Define back tongue advancement and list back vowels
Require the retrachment of the tongue and the tongue being raised in the back of the mouth toward the velum
Includes: [u], [upsilon], [open o], [script a]
Define rounded vowels and list rounded vowels
Rounded lips while making the sound
Includes: [u], [upsilon], [open o]
Define unrounded vowels and list unrounded vowels
Unrounded lips while making the sound
Includes: [i], [capital ‘i’], [epsilon], [ash], [schwa], [wedge], [script a]
Define tense vowels and list tense vowels
Vowels that have more extreme position of the tongue and/or the lips than lax vowels. The production of these vowels involves the largest change from the mid-central resting position. Usually also have a longer duration than lax vowels.
Includes: [i], [u]
Define lax vowels and list lax vowels
Vowels that do not have extreme positioning. Have a shorter duration than tense vowels.
Includes: [capital ‘i’], [epsilon], [ash], [schwa], [wedge], [script a], [upsilon], [open o]
What is the distinction between a monothong and a diphthong?
Monothongs are simplistic vowels comprised of one sound. Meanwhile, diphthongs are complex as they are two-part sounds consisting of a transition between one vowel to the other in the same syllable.
Classify the following:
[ɑɪ]
Diphthong
From low, back, unrounded, lax to high, front, unrounded, lax
Examples: I, abIde, stEIn, AIsle, chOIr, Island, fIne
Classify the following:
[ɑυ]
Diphthong
From low, back, unrounded, lax to high, back, rounded, lax
Examples: bOUt, brOWn, dOUbt, flOWer, lOUd
Classify the following:
[oυ]
Diphthong
From mid, back, rounded, tense to high, back, rounded, lax
Examples: Oh, bOAt, bEAu, grOW, thOUgh, Over
Classify the following:
[eɪ]
Diphthong
From mid, front, unrounded, tense to high, front, unrounded, lax
Examples: bAIt, rEIgn, grEAt, thEY, gAUge, Age
Classify the following:
[ɔɪ]
Diphthong
From mid, back, rounded, lax to high, front, unrounded, lax
Examples: bOY, dOIly, rejOIce, annOY
Define segment
the discrete units of the speech stream
Define suprasegment
Can be said to “ride on top of” segments in that they often apply to entire strings of consonants and vowels.
Includes properties such as stress, tone and intonation.
Define rhyme
Consists of the vowel and any consonants that come after it.
Further broken down into the nucleus and coda.
Define nucleus
The vocalic part of the rhyme.
The heart of the syllable carrying suprasegmental info such as stress, volume, and pitch.
Consonants do not function as the nucleus.
Define coda
The consonants following the nucleus
Define onset
The consonants preceeding the nucleus
What is the difference between a standard vowel and a nasalized vowel?
Nasalized vowels are made by lowering the velum and opening the nasal passage, allowing air to escape through the nose and the mouth.
How can one tell when a vowel is nasalized?
When a tilde is over top of the vowel such as Õ
What is the significance of nasalized vowels in English?
There is none. Nasalization does not change the meaning of words in English but is instead used in French, German, Dutch, etc. (Refer to page 65)
Define the following:
[r]
Voiced, alveolar, trill.
“Rolling” the ‘r’ such as [pero] in Spanish
Does not exist in English
List the manners of articulation not used in English.
Voiced alveolar trill [r] (Spanish)
Palatized consonants [tʲ] (Russian)
Velarized alveolar lateral liquid [ɬ] (Macedonian)
Ejective consonants [p’] (Lakhota)
List the characteristics of vowels
Height
Advancement
Rounding
Tongue Placement
(use acroynym HART)
List the other potention suprasegmental features of sounds
Length
Intonation
Tone
Stress
Are vowels typically longer or shorter when proceeding a voiceless consonant?
Vowels are typically 1.5 times shorter when proceeding voiceless consonant
What purpose does intonation serve?
Intonation contour can effect the meaning of a phrase/word (consider yes? versus yes. versus yes!)
Define pitch accents and explain their purpose
Pitch accents involve a change in fundamental frequency in the middle of an utterance and may be pitched up or down to convey meaning (refer to page 71 for examples)
Define phrase tones and explain their purpose
Like pitch accents, phrase tones involve changes in fundamental frequency but instead occur at the end of a phrase, often to imply the overall meaning of a phrase (think of it like using a question mark, your pitch goes up at the end of the question)
Define tone
In many languages, the tone in which a word is said effects the words’ meaning such as in Mandarin, Thai, Vietnamese etc
What is the difference between tone and intonation?
Tone: refers to the overall attitude and emotion behind a word that will effect the word’s meaning
Intonation: the fluctuation in one person’s voice as they speak
Define stress
Stress is a property of entire syllables, not segments and the syllable nucleus carries the most information about stress (consider where the stress is in the word [photograph] versus [photography])
Are stressed or unstressed vowels more prominent?
Stressed as they are typically longer and louder
Is stress predicatable in English?
No, stress is not predictable and must be learned for each word
It can sometimes change the meaning as well such as WHITE house versus white HOUSE
