ARTICULATORY ARTICULATORY PHONETICSPHONETICS

Taken from:Taken from: “ “A course in English Phonetics for A course in English Phonetics for

Spanish Speakers”Spanish Speakers” by Diana Finch and by Diana Finch and Héctor Ortiz Lira.Héctor Ortiz Lira.

““Gimson’s Pronunciation of English” Gimson’s Pronunciation of English” Revised by Alan CruttendenRevised by Alan Cruttenden

THE LINGUISTIC SCIENCES

PHONETICS LINGUISTICS

PHONETICS(phonic substance)

PHONOLOGY(organization and

function of the phonic substance)

ARTICULATORYPHONETICS

ACOUSTIC PHONETICS

AUDITORYPHONETICS

GRAMMAR ANDSEMANTICS

ARTICULATORY PHONETICSARTICULATORY PHONETICSThe Speech MechanismThe Speech Mechanism

VOCAL TRACT

In English and Spanish we normally use the outgoing In English and Spanish we normally use the outgoing stream of air to produce our speech sounds, we shall stream of air to produce our speech sounds, we shall

consider the whole speech mechanism from bottom to top consider the whole speech mechanism from bottom to top following the passage of air as we exhale. The following are following the passage of air as we exhale. The following are

the elements that we must consider:the elements that we must consider:LUNGSLUNGSLARYNX (at the top end of the trachea containing the LARYNX (at the top end of the trachea containing the VOCAL FOLDS)VOCAL FOLDS)CAVITIES OR RESONATORSCAVITIES OR RESONATORS– PHARYNXPHARYNX– NOSE (NASAL) CAVITYNOSE (NASAL) CAVITY– MOUTH (ORAL) CAVITYMOUTH (ORAL) CAVITY

ARTICULATORSARTICULATORS– PALATEPALATE– TONGUETONGUE– TEETHTEETH– LIPSLIPS

THE LUNGS:THE LUNGS:

These have the consistency of two large sponges which These have the consistency of two large sponges which are made to expand to take in air (inhalation), and are made to expand to take in air (inhalation), and contract to let it out (exhalation). They are situated within contract to let it out (exhalation). They are situated within the rib cage or thorax. Below the lungs, and separating the rib cage or thorax. Below the lungs, and separating them from the stomach, is a flat muscle called the them from the stomach, is a flat muscle called the DIAPHRAGM. The lungs themselves are incapable of DIAPHRAGM. The lungs themselves are incapable of any active movement, and expansion or contraction any active movement, and expansion or contraction must be carried out by the muscles that join them to the must be carried out by the muscles that join them to the rib cage and/or by lowering the diaphragm. The function rib cage and/or by lowering the diaphragm. The function of the lungs is that of a motor or activator that sets the of the lungs is that of a motor or activator that sets the passage of air into the movements of inhalation and passage of air into the movements of inhalation and exhalation.exhalation.

THE LARYNXTHE LARYNX

A rigid structure situated at the top of the A rigid structure situated at the top of the trachea and below the pharynx. The trachea and below the pharynx. The important part of the larynx in speech is important part of the larynx in speech is that it contains the first valve or trap that that it contains the first valve or trap that can interfere with the passage of the air-can interfere with the passage of the air-stream: the VOCAL FOLDS. These are stream: the VOCAL FOLDS. These are two bands of muscle lying across the two bands of muscle lying across the centre of the larynx.centre of the larynx.

THE VOCAL FOLDSTHE VOCAL FOLDS

At the front the vocal At the front the vocal folds are fixed side by folds are fixed side by side to the inside of the side to the inside of the thyroid cartilage; at the thyroid cartilage; at the back they are attached back they are attached to the two arytenoid to the two arytenoid cartilages, which thank cartilages, which thank to muscular action can to muscular action can bring the vocal folds bring the vocal folds together or draw them together or draw them apart.apart.

For normal breathing For normal breathing the vocal folds are the vocal folds are open forming a V-open forming a V-shape, the back ends shape, the back ends forming the two points forming the two points of the V. The space of the V. The space between them is between them is called the GLOTTIS.called the GLOTTIS.

The vocal folds can The vocal folds can also be brought tightly also be brought tightly together, so that no together, so that no air can pass through.air can pass through.

When the vocal folds When the vocal folds come into light come into light contact the air contact the air passing through them passing through them causes them to causes them to vibrate. The sound vibrate. The sound produced by this produced by this vibration is what we vibration is what we call VOICE.call VOICE.

Vocal folds in action:Vocal folds in action:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gv4evDGLgjQv=Gv4evDGLgjQ

THE RESONATORSTHE RESONATORS

The human speech mechanism has three The human speech mechanism has three resonators (cavities that can change the resonators (cavities that can change the quality of an existing sound):quality of an existing sound):– THE PHARYNX: which can change its shape THE PHARYNX: which can change its shape

slightly.slightly.– THE NASAL CAVITY: which is constant in THE NASAL CAVITY: which is constant in

shape.shape.– THE ORAL CAVITY: which is extremely THE ORAL CAVITY: which is extremely

variable.variable.

THE ARTICULATORSTHE ARTICULATORS

These are all situated in or surrounding These are all situated in or surrounding the oral cavity. They are the:the oral cavity. They are the:– TONGUETONGUE

TIPTIPBLADEBLADEFRONTFRONTBACKBACK

– PALATEPALATE– TEETHTEETH– LIPSLIPS

THE PALATETHE PALATE

The palate is a concave structure separating the The palate is a concave structure separating the mouth from the nasal cavity. Although the palate mouth from the nasal cavity. Although the palate is not physically separated into parts, it is useful is not physically separated into parts, it is useful to divide it when describing speech sounds into:to divide it when describing speech sounds into:– ALVEOLAR RIDGE: The prominence just behind the ALVEOLAR RIDGE: The prominence just behind the

upper teeth.upper teeth.– HARD PALATE: the bony,immovable part that lies HARD PALATE: the bony,immovable part that lies

over the centre of the mouthover the centre of the mouth– SOFT PALATE or VELUM: The movable part at the SOFT PALATE or VELUM: The movable part at the

back which can be raised or lowered. The tip of the back which can be raised or lowered. The tip of the velum is called the UVULA. velum is called the UVULA.

THE TONGUETHE TONGUE

It is useful to think of the tongue as being It is useful to think of the tongue as being divided into:divided into:– THE TIP: extreme endTHE TIP: extreme end– THE BLADE: lying immediately under the THE BLADE: lying immediately under the

alveolar ridge.alveolar ridge.– THE FRONT: lying under the hard palate.THE FRONT: lying under the hard palate.– THE BACK: lying under the velum.THE BACK: lying under the velum.

The blade and tip can be moved independently The blade and tip can be moved independently of the rest. The whole tongue moves backwards of the rest. The whole tongue moves backwards and forwards, and up and down. It can interfere and forwards, and up and down. It can interfere with the air-stream by coming into light contact with the air-stream by coming into light contact with the palate causing friction, or it can make with the palate causing friction, or it can make complete contact with the palate producing a complete contact with the palate producing a stop.stop.

The upper teeth are used in speech to interfere The upper teeth are used in speech to interfere with or stop the air-flow with the help of the with or stop the air-flow with the help of the tongue of the lower lip.tongue of the lower lip.

The lips constitute the very mobile outer edges The lips constitute the very mobile outer edges of the mouth, and can adopt different shapes.of the mouth, and can adopt different shapes.