Subsystems of language – Phonetics and Phonology:

Question 1

What is “Phonetics” about?

Answer 1

Phonetics is the study of speech sounds, concerning how sounds from the voice are produced, transmitted and received, regardless of the language.

Question 2

What is “Phonology” about?

Answer 2

Phonology is the study of a sound system of a language, i.e. accents (English sounds very different from Italian. Australian English sounds very different from American English).

Question 3

How is sound produced from our mouths?

Answer 3

The air of the lungs passes through the vocal tract, converting the air into different vowel or consonant sounds, then exits the vocal tract through the mouth, nose or both.

Question 4

How are vowels (a, e, i, o, u) produced?

Answer 4

Vowels are produced when air is not blocked in its passage from the lungs to the vocal tract, but instead relies on the different shapes of the mouth, and the different positions of the tongue and lips.

Question 5

How do high and low vowels differ?

Answer 5

• High vowels (a, e, i) have the tongue positioned high in the mouth when said
• Low vowels (o, u) have the tongue positioned low in the mouth when said

Question 6

How are consonants (every other letter) produced?

Answer 6

Consonants are produced as the result of some type of constriction in the vocal tract. The location of this constriction is also known as the place of articulation; the point at which a sound is produced or articulated.

Question 7

What is the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)?

Answer 7

The IPA includes symbols that represent all the sounds (phones) in human speech, encompassing all languages and uses symbols to represent each visual sound.

Question 8

What are prosodic features and what are the 5 prosodic features?

Answer 8

Prosodic features are phonological properties that relate to the pronunciation of syllables, words and phrases.
These 5 prosodic features are:
- Stress
- Pitch
- Intonation
- Tempo
- Volume

Question 9

Briefly explain the 5 prosodic features.

Answer 9

• Stress – The emphasis of certain letters or words in a word or sentence.
• Pitch – The height of a sound.
• Intonation – The pattern of pitch changes in a speech.
• Tempo – The speed of which words are said.
• Volume – The overall effort placed on saying a full word or sentence. Unlike stress, it accounts for the whole word or sentence said, instead of parts.

Question 10

What is assimilation?

Answer 10

Assimilation is when a sound changes to become more of a neighbouring sound in connected speech as the speaker transitions from one sound to the other for more fluid pronunciation.
- (e.x. “I’m in bed” -> “I’m imbed” (imbed))
- (e.x. “That’s a lot” -> “thasala”)

Question 11

What is elision?

Answer 11

Elision is the omission (deletion) of a sound in connected speech.
- (e.x. “Fish and Chips” -> “Fish n’ Chips”)
- (e.x. “Australia” -> “Straya)

Question 12

What is vowel reduction?

Answer 12

Unlike elision, vowel reduction is the term for when vowels in unstressed positions are pronounced weaker and shorter, instead of being omitted entirely.
- (e.g. “Chocolate” -> “Choklit”)
- (e.g. “Sofa” -> “So-fuh”)

Question 13

What is insertion?

Answer 13

Insertion involves the addition of sounds where they don’t strictly belong.
- e.g. (“Humbling” -> “Humb-e-ling”)
- e.g. (“Apartment” -> “Apart-e-ment”)

Question 14

What is vibration?

Answer 14

Vibration is the term used for the vocal cords when a consonant sound is produced, and occurs when air is forced through the narrow opening between two folds of muscle.