Phonetics, Phonology And Prosodics

Question 1

What is phonology?

Answer 1

The study of the sound system of a language.

Question 2

What is phonetics?

Answer 2

The study of how sounds are produced by users of the sound system.

Question 3

What are prosodics?

Answer 3

The study of rhythm and intonation used in speech.

Question 4

What is a phoneme?

Answer 4

A basic distinct unit of sound.

Question 5

What are the different types of vowel phonemes?

Answer 5

Long, short, and diphthongs.

Question 6

How are consonant phonemes formed?

Answer 6

In terms of voicing, place of articulation, and manner of articulation.

Question 7

What do phonemes combine to form?

Answer 7

Syllables.

Question 8

What is an example of sound iconicity?

Answer 8

Onomatopoeia, alliteration, assonance, consonance.

Question 9

What is sound symbolism?

Answer 9

The arbitrariness of the relationship between sound and meaning.

Question 10

Fill in the blank: The word ‘dog’ has no phonological relation to the animal which it describes, illustrating _______.

Answer 10

sound symbolism.

Question 11

How do speakers use variations in speech?

Answer 11

By altering pitch, intonation, volume, and speed depending on situational aspects.

Question 12

What does the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) represent?

Answer 12

Different aspects of the sound system.

Question 13

True or False: Variations in speech patterns can occur due to regional accents.

Answer 13

True.

Question 14

What are variations in speech patterns influenced by?

Answer 14

Regional accent and accommodation.

Question 15

What is the significance of the representation of speech patterns?

Answer 15

It varies among individuals and groups in different discourses.

Question 16

What is a phoneme?

Answer 16

The basic unit of sound

Phonemes are the smallest units of sound that can distinguish meaning in a language.

Question 17

Define diphthong.

Answer 17

A vowel sound that is the combination of two separate sounds, where a speaker glides from one to another

Examples include sounds like ‘oi’ in ‘boil’ or ‘ow’ in ‘cow’.

Question 18

What is voicing in phonetics?

Answer 18

The act of the vocal cords either vibrating (voiced) or not vibrating (unvoiced) in the production of a consonant sound

For example, ‘b’ is voiced, while ‘p’ is unvoiced.

Question 19

What does place of articulation refer to?

Answer 19

The position in the mouth where a consonant sound is produced

Examples include bilabial (both lips), alveolar (tongue against the alveolar ridge), etc.

Question 20

Define manner of articulation.

Answer 20

The extent to which airflow is interrupted by parts of the mouth in the production of consonant sounds

This includes stops, fricatives, and nasals among others.

Question 21

What is a syllable?

Answer 21

A sound unit with a vowel at its centre

For example, ‘cat’ has one syllable, while ‘banana’ has three.

Question 22

Define accent in the context of language.

Answer 22

A regional variety of speech that differs from other regional varieties in terms of pronunciation

Accents can indicate geographic origin or social class.

Question 23

What is accommodation in speech?

Answer 23

The ways that individuals adjust their speech patterns to match others

This includes convergence (moving towards another’s language style) or divergence (moving away from another’s language style).

Question 24

What does sound iconicity mean?

Answer 24

The use of the sound system to mirror form or meaning

Examples include onomatopoeic words like ‘buzz’ or ‘hiss’.

Question 25

What is the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)?

Answer 25

An internationally recognised system of phonetic transcription

IPA provides a consistent way to represent sounds across different languages.