Chapter 2

Phonetics
----A branch of linguistics which studies the

characteristics of speech sounds and
provides methods for their description,
classification and transcription, e.g. [p]
bilabial, stop.
Three branches of
phonetics
Articulatory phonetics----from the speakers point of
view, how speakers produce speech sounds
Auditory phonetics----from the hearers point of view,
how sounds are perceived
Acoustic phonetics----from the physical way or means
by which sounds are transmitted from one to another.
Speech organs: three important

areas
Pharyngeal cavity ---- the throat;
The oral cavity ---- the mouth;
Nasal cavity ---- the nose.
The diagram of speech organs

1. Lips
2. Teeth
3. Teeth ridge
(alveolar)
4. Hard palate
5. Soft palate (velum)
6. Uvula
7. Tip of tongue
8. Blade of tongue
9. Back of tongue
10.Vocal cords
11.Pharyngeal cavity
12.Nasal cavity
Orthographic representation of speech

sounds
---- A standardized and internationally accepted system of
phonetic transcription is the International Phonetic Alphabet
(IPA). The basic principle of the IPA is using one letter to
represent one speech sound.
Broad transcription ---- used in dictionary and textbook for
general purpose, without diacritics, e.g. clear [ l ], [ pit ]
Narrow transcription ---- used by phonetician for careful study,

with diacritics, e.g. dark [ l ], aspirated [ p ]
Some major articulatory

variables
---- dimensions on which speech sounds may
vary:
Voicing---- voiced & voiceless
Nasality ---- nasal & non-nasal
Aspiration ----- aspirated & unaspirated
Classification of English speech

sounds
---- English speech sounds are generally classified
into two large categories:
Vowels
Consonants
Note: The essential difference between these two
classes is that in the production of the former the
airstream meets with no obstruction of any kind in
the throat, the nose or the mouth, while in that of the
latter it is somehow obstructed.
Classification of consonants
---- English consonants may be classified
according to two dimensions:
The manner of articulation
The place of articulation
The manner of articulation

stops/plosives: [p], [b], [t], [d], [k], [g];
fricatives: [f], [v], [s], [z], [W], [T], [F], [V], [h];
affricates: [tF], [dV];
liquids: [l](lateral), [r];
nasals: [m], [n], [N];
glides/semivowels: [w], [j].
bilabial: [p], [b], [m], [w];

labiodental: [ f ], [v];
dental: [W], [T];
alveolar: [t], [d], [s], [z], [n], [l], [r];
palatal: [F], [V], [tF], [dV], [ j ];
velar: [k], [g], [N];
glottal: [h].

1. Bilabial;
2. Labiodental;
3. Dental or
interdental;
4. Alveolar;
5. Palatoalveolar;
6. Palatal;
7. Velar;
8. Uvular;
9. Glottal.
The description of English

consonants
Place
manner
Voicing
Bilabial
Stops or
plosives
VL
[p]
VD
[b]
Fricatives
VL
Labiodental
Alveolar
Palatal
[t]
[d]
]
[s]
[F
[T
[z]
[V ]
[h]
VL
([tF] ) [tF]
VD
([dV]) [dV]
Nasals
VD
Liquids
VD
Glides
VD
[N
]
[n]
[l], [r]
[w]
Glottal
[g]
Affricates
[m]
Velar
[k]
[f ] [W
[v]
VD
Dental
[j
Classification of vowels
---- English vowels can be divided into two
large categories:
Monophthongs or pure/single vowels
Diphthongs or gliding vowels
Monophthongs or pure/single
vowels
----According to which part of the tongue is held
highest in the process of production, the vowels
can be distinguished as:
front vowels: [I:], [I], [e], [Z], [A], [B];
central vowels: [E:], [E], [Q];
back vowels: [u:], [u], [C:], [C], [B:].
According to the openness of the

mouth
Close: [I:], [I], [u:], [u].
Semi-close: [e], [E:];
Semi-open: [E], [C];
Open: [A], [B], [C], [B:], [Q];
The diagram of single vowel

classification by applying the two criteria
so far mentioned:
According to the shape of the lips or

the degree of lip rounding
rounded: [u:], [u], [C:], [C];
unrounded: [I:], [I], [e], [Z], [A], [B],
[E:], [E], [Q], [B:].
According to the length of the

vowels
long: [I:], [E:], [u:], [C:], [B:]
short: [I], [e], [Z], [A], [E], [Q], [B], [u],

[C].
Diphthongs/gliding vowels
[ei], [ai], [aU], [EU], [Ri], [iE],
[ZE], [UE].
Exercises: underline the words that begin

with a sound as required.
A bilabial consonant: mad sad bad cad pad had lad

A velar consonant: nod god cod pod rod
Labiodental consonant: rat fat sat mat chat vat pat
An alveolar consonant: nick lick sick tick kick quick
A palato-alveolar consonant: sip ship tip chip lip zip
A dental consonant: lie buy thigh thy tie rye
A glide: one war yolk rush
Underline the words that end with a sound as

required:
A fricative
pay horse tough rice breath push sing wreathe
hang cave message
A nasal
train bang leaf limb
A stop
drill pipe fit crab fog ride laugh rack through
tip
An affricate: rack such ridge booze
Underline the words that contain the

sound as required:
A central vowel:
mad lot but boot word
A front vowel:
reed pad load fate bit bed cook
A rounded vowel:
who he bus her hit true boss bar walk
A back vowel:
paid reap fool top good father
Describe the underlined consonants

according to three dimensions:
vd/vl
Letter
Brother
Sunny
Hopper
Itching
Lodger
Calling
Singing
Robber
either
place
manner
THANK YOU

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Phonetics

----A branch of linguistics which studies the

Speech organs: three important

The diagram of speech organs

Orthographic representation of speech

Narrow transcription ---- used by phonetician for careful study,

Some major articulatory

Aspiration ----- aspirated & unaspirated

Classification of English speech

The place of articulation

The manner of articulation

The place of articulation

bilabial: [p], [b], [m], [w];

The place of articulation

The description of English

Diphthongs or gliding vowels

According to the openness of the

Open: [A], [B], [C], [B:], [Q];

The diagram of single vowel

According to the shape of the lips or

According to the length of the

short: [I], [e], [Z], [A], [E], [Q], [B], [u],

Exercises: underline the words that begin

A bilabial consonant: mad sad bad cad pad had lad

Underline the words that end with a sound as

Underline the words that contain the

Describe the underlined consonants

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