Weeks 1&2: Phonetics I

Question 1

Define: PHONETICS

Answer 1

The study of speech sounds

Question 2

Name: THE SPEECH ORGANS

Answer 2

• Mouth
• Tongue
• Lungs
• Nose

Question 3

Name: THE THREE STAGES OF SPEECH PRODUCTION

Answer 3

1. Initiation
2. Phonation
3. Articulation

Question 4

Define: INITIATION

Answer 4

Air passes from the lungs, upwards and outwards through the vocal tract - typically using egressive pulmonic airflow

Question 5

Define: PHONATION

Answer 5

Air is converted into vibrations and takes place in the larynx

Question 6

Define: ARTICULATION

Answer 6

Air is manipulated to create a specific sound in the upper vocal tract (mouth and nose)

Question 7

What is the vocal tract made up of?

Answer 7

Larynx + Mouth + Nose

Question 8

Name: THE SEVEN ARTICULATORS (aka places of articulation)

Answer 8

• Teeth
• Epiglottis
• Lips
• Uvula
• Velum
• Alveolar Ridge
• Tongue

Question 9

Define: PLACES OF ARTICULATION

Answer 9

A set of locations in the vocal tract where speech sounds are produced

Question 10

Define: CONSONANTS

Answer 10

Sounds produced with closure (or near-closure) in the vocal tract

Question 11

Define: VOWELS

Answer 11

Sounds produced with no closure in the vocal tract

Question 12

What stricture do CONSONTANTS use?

Answer 12

Closed/narrow stricture

Question 13

What stricture do VOWELS use?

Answer 13

Open stricture - with no closure in the vocal tract

Question 14

Define: STRICTURE

Answer 14

The degree of closure in the vocal tract

Question 15

Name: THE TWO ‘SEMI-VOWELS’

Answer 15

‘y’ and ‘w’

Question 16

Define: VOICING

Answer 16

The vibrating of the vocal folds during phonation

Question 17

What determines if a sound is VOICED?

Answer 17

When the vocal folds are vibrating

Question 18

What determines if a sound is VOICELESS?

Answer 18

When the vocal folds are not vibrating

Question 19

Name: THE FOUR TYPES OF PHONATION

Answer 19

• Voiceless
• Whisper
• Creak
• Voiced

Question 20

Define: MANNER OF ARTICULATION

Answer 20

The way the airstream is affected as it flows from the lungs and out of the nose and mouth

Question 21

Name: THE FOUR MANNERS OF ARTICULATION

Answer 21

• Plosives
• Fricatives
• Approximants
• Nasals

Question 22

Define: PLOSIVES

Answer 22

A small ‘explosion’ of air released from behind the articulators, creating a short burst of sound that can’t be sustained e.g. /p/, /d/

Question 23

Define: NASALS

Answer 23

There’s complete closure in mouth and an open velum, forcing air through the nose. They can be maintained e.g. /ŋ/ as in anger, swing

Question 24

Define: APPROXIMANTS

Answer 24

Produced by bringing one articulator close of another without actually touching or creating audible friction e.g. /r/, /w/, /j/, /l/

Question 25

Define: FRICATIVES

Answer 25

Produced by bringing two articulators close together, forcing air through a narrow channel and creating audible friction e.g. /f/, /v/, /s/, /z/