Introduction to Linguistics

Ms. Suha Jawabreh

Lecture # 5

Review: The Organs of Speech

The Larynx and the Vocal Folds

Review: Place of Articulation

-Place of Articulation is the location at which two speech organs approach or come together in producing a speech sound.

1. Bilabials : These are sounds formed using both (= bi) upper and lower lips (= labia)

-The initial sounds in the words: bat , pat , map , and walk are all bilabials.

-These sounds are represented by the symbols : [b] , [p] , [m], [w].

2. labiodentals: These are sounds formed with the upper teeth and the lower lip.

-The initial sounds of the words fat , vat are labiodentals.

-These sounds are represented by the symbols: [f], [v].

3. Dentals: These sounds are formed with the tongue tip behind the upper front teeth.

- The initial sounds in the words: three and then are dentals.

-These sounds are represented by the symbols: [θ], [ð].

4. Alveolars: These sounds are formed with the front part of the tongue on the alveolar ridge.

The initial sounds in the words : top, dip, sit , zoo, nut, lap and rip.

- These sounds are represented by the symbols: [t], [d], [s], [z], [n], [l], [r].

5. Alveo-palatals: These sounds are produced with the tongue at the very front of the palate, near the alveolar ridge.

- The initial sounds in the words: ship, chip, gem, and the middle consonant sound in words like pleasure are alveo-palatal.

- These sounds are represented by the symbols: [ʃ], [tʃ], [ʒ], [dʒ].

6. Palatals: One sound which is produced with the tongue in the middle of the palate is the [j] sound to be found at the beginning of words like you and yet.

7. Velars: These sounds are produced with the back of the tongue against the velum ( the soft palate) .

- The initial sounds in the words: kid, gigand the middle consonant sound in words like English are velars.

- These sounds are represented by the symbols: [k], [g], [ŋ].

8. Glottals: There is one sound that is produced without the active use of the tongue and other parts of the mouth. It is the sound [h].

- The sound [h] is produced with the air passing through the opening between the separated vocal folds. This opening is called the glottis.

- The sound [ h] occurs at the beginning of words like house and have.

Manner of Articulation

- Manner of articulation describes how the tongue, lips, jaw, and other speech organs are involved in making a sound.

- The concept is often only used for the production of consonants.

Today, we’ll learn about a third way to describe sounds: their manner of articulation

-[d], [n], and [z] are all voiced alveolar sounds

- What makes them different sounds?

-Their manner of articulation is different.

1. [d] is a stop (complete closure)

2. [z] is a fricative (incomplete closure)

3. [n] is a nasal (Airstream is allowed to flow out through the nose)

-Manner of articulation: the various configurations produced by positioning the lips, tongue, velum, and glottis in different ways.

★ Oral vs. Nasal

★ Stops

★ Fricatives

★ Affricates

★ Liquids

★ GlidesApproximants

Oral vs. Nasal

❖ The velum: soft part at the back of the mouth behind the uvula.

❖ The velum can be raised and lowered.

★ When raised: blocks airflow through the nasal passage (the nose) ➙ oral sounds

★ When lowered: air flows through the nasal passage ➙ nasal sounds

- Look at the animations of [p] and [m] on the UIowa Phonetics

Website.

http://www.uiowa.edu/~acadtech/phonetics/english/english_main.swf

http://www.uiowa.edu/~acadtech/phonetics/english/english_main.swf

❖ Nasal consonants in English:

[m]: bilabial nasal, as in map

[n]: alveolar nasal, as in nap

[ŋ]: velar nasal, as in sang

Stops

❖ Stops: consonants made with a complete closure either in the

oral cavity or in the glottis.

★ English stops: bilabial, alveolar, velar, glottal

❖ Try holding the sounds [p], [t] and [k]: what happens to the

airflow?

1. Oral stops: complete closure in the oral cavity and the velum is raised.

★ Oral stops: [p, t, k, b, d, g]

2. Glottal stop: [ʔ] complete closure in the glottis.

★ Always voiceless

3. Nasal stops: complete closure in the oral cavity, but the velum is lowered. Air escapes through the nasal passage.

★ Nasal stops: [m, n, ŋ]

★ More sonorous than other stops (louder, more intense): airflow is not as restricted.

★ Always voiced

❖ Look at the animations of stops on the

UIowa Phonetics Website.

http://www.uiowa.edu/~acadtech/phonetics/english/english_main.swf