Terminolgy Flashcards
Phonetics
The study of how speech sounds are made, transmitted and received
Phonology
Study of how sounds are organised in different languages and aims to explain how variations occur
Phonemes
The smallest possible unit of sound - each language has a relatively small fixed set that make up the sounds of that language
English has 44
Vowels
Sounds that have no structure in the vocal tract - air escapes in an unimpeded way through the mouth or nose
Monopthongs
Vowels with a single perceived auditory quality (one sound)
E.g plait the one vowel sound is represented by 2 letters (ai)
Diphthong
Vowels where two vowel qualities can be heard
E.g my, so and how even though they only have 1 vowel letter
Tripthongs
Vowels where three vowel qualities can be heard
E.g player, royal and fire
Consonants
Sounds that are made by a closure in the vocal tract or by a narrowing which is so marked that air cannot escape without producing audible friction
Stops
Complete closure at some point in the vocal tract - air pressure builds up behind the closure and is then released explosively (p, t, b)
Fricatives
Close approximation between two organs so that the movement of air between them causes audible friction (f, z, s)
Approximants
(Vowel like) open approximation - same articulation as vowels but classified with constants on functional grounds (r, j)
Place of articulation
Labio-dental = the lips and teeth though (f, v)
Bilabial = two lips touch (b, m)
Constant cluster
Multiple constants that can be split into 2 phonemes - pronounce both letters e.g black
Diagraph
Two consonants but one sound e.g ‘wh’ in while
What’s a split diagraph
Two diagraphs in one word split by a vowel e.g shine “sh” “ne”
What re the processes of learning to speak
-babies have to learn to control the vibrations of their vocal chord
-air flow from lungs needs controlling = sound
-vocal organs: lips, teeth, and mouth are manipulated to form sounds
-combine different elements to form words