Phonology Key Vocabulary

Question 1

Spectrogram

Answer 1

Allows you to see all the frequencies that combine to produce a sound. Spectrograms of audio can be used to identify spoken words phonetically.

Question 2

Narrow Transcription

Answer 2

A close transcription, indicating precise details of the sounds. It captures as many aspects of a specific pronunciation as possible and ignores as few details as possible. Using the diacritics provided by the IPA, it’s possible to make very subtle distinctions between sounds.

Question 3

Complementary Distribution

Answer 3

The relationship between two different elements of the same kind in which one element is found in one set of environments and the other element is found in a non-intersecting set of environments. It allows us to predict for every English word, which of the two allophones it will contain.

Question 4

Minimal Pair

Answer 4

A pair of words which differ in only one sound, but have different meanings. Example: /f/ and /v/ in fan and van, or the /e/ and /ɪ/ in desk and disk.

Question 5

Released Consonant

Answer 5

A release of air that has been built up.

Question 6

Unreleased Consonant

Answer 6

A stop with no audible release, also known as an unreleased stop or an applosive, is a stop consonant with no release burst.

Question 7

Free Variation

Answer 7

An alternative pronunciation of a word (or of a phoneme in a word) that doesn’t affect the word’s meaning.

Question 8

Neutralisation

Answer 8

The elimination of a phonemic distinction in a particular phonological context. Example: The words “medal” and “metal” and “ladder” and “latter” cannot be distinguished by pronunciation alone.

Question 9

Final Devoicing

Answer 9

Occurrence of a voiced phoneme with a voiceless allophone in word-final position.

Question 10

Velarised

Answer 10

Secondary articulation of consonants by which the back of the tongue is raised toward the velum during the articulation of the consonant.

Question 11

Aspiration

Answer 11

A stop that is produced with an extra “breath of air”

Question 12

Prevocalic Slot

Answer 12

Onset of a syllable, usually includes more than one consonant.

Question 13

Voiced Alveolar Flap

Answer 13

A sound in which the tongue very quickly taps the alveolar ridge once.

Question 14

Intervocalic

Answer 14

A consonant that occurs between two vowels.

Question 15

t/d Flapping

Answer 15

A process in which the contrast between the two phonemes is neutralised in a particular phonetic context:

Question 16

Non-rhotic speakers

Answer 16

Pronounce /r/ only if it is followed by a vowel sound in the same phrase or prosodic unit as a “linking and intrusive r. The r-sound cannot occur in word-final position.

Question 17

Rhotic speakers

Answer 17

Articulate /r/ in all positions, such as word-final position.

Question 18

Constituents

Answer 18

The elements that make up a syllable.

Question 19

Syllabic Consonants

Answer 19

Consonants that occupy the central part of the syllable.

Question 20

Nucleus

Answer 20

Sometimes called peak, it’s the central part of the syllable, most commonly a vowel. Also filled with a diphthong, or a syllabic consonant.

Question 21

Coda

Answer 21

Comprises the consonant sounds of a syllable that follow the nucleus. Postvocalic slot/Not Obligatory.

Question 22

Cognates

Answer 22

Words that have a common etymological origin; often inherited from a shared parent language, but they may also involve borrowings from some other language.

Question 23

Syllabification

Answer 23

The division or structure of words into syllables, either in speech or in writing.

Question 24

Maximal Onset Principle

Answer 24

Principle determining underlying syllable division. It states that intervocalic consonants are maximally assigned to the onsets of syllables in conformity with universal and language-specific conditions.

Question 25

Sonority Sequencing Principle

Answer 25

Principle stating that sounds preceding the nucleus must rise in sonority, and sounds following the nucleus must fall in sonority.