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Questions and Answers
What is the noise produced when air escapes from behind a stricture?
What is the noise produced when air escapes from behind a stricture?
How many plosive sounds are there in English?
How many plosive sounds are there in English?
What is the first phase of plosive articulation?
What is the first phase of plosive articulation?
What is the name of the sound produced when the air pressure behind the closure is released?
What is the name of the sound produced when the air pressure behind the closure is released?
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What is the term for the movement of the two organs away from each other, releasing the air?
What is the term for the movement of the two organs away from each other, releasing the air?
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Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of plosive sounds?
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of plosive sounds?
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What is the stage where the air is held behind the closure?
What is the stage where the air is held behind the closure?
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What is the final phase of plosive articulation?
What is the final phase of plosive articulation?
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Which sound is a type of plosive sound?
Which sound is a type of plosive sound?
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What is the main characteristic of plosive sounds in terms of airflow?
What is the main characteristic of plosive sounds in terms of airflow?
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Study Notes
Phonemes and Speech Sounds
- A phoneme is a unit of sound that distinguishes one word from another in a particular language.
- Example: pen, pet, pin, bet
The Production of Speech Sounds
- All sounds we make when we speak are the result of muscles contracting.
- Speech sounds are produced through the movement of articulators above the larynx.
- The vocal tract consists of the oral cavity and nasal cavity.
The Larynx
- The larynx (voice box) is not part of the vocal tract, but is used for speech sounds.
- The larynx contains two pieces of tissue known as vocal folds or vocal cords.
- The vocal folds can be:
- Fully open (for some speech sounds)
- Closed (forcing air to vibrate, known as voicing)
- The larynx is located in the Adam's Apple.
Anatomy of the Vocal Tract
- The vocal tract consists of:
- Pharynx (tube that begins above the larynx)
- Soft palate (allows air to pass through the nose and mouth)
- Hard palate (roof of the mouth)
- Tongue
- Lips (important for speech)
Voicing and Consonants
- Voicing refers to whether or not the vocal cords are vibrating.
- The larynx produces voicing for some speech sounds.
- Consonants can be classified based on voicing:
- Voiceless (e.g., /p/, /t/, /k/)
- Voiced (e.g., /b/, /d/, /g/)
Plosives
- Plosives are consonant sounds made by stopping air flowing out of the mouth and then suddenly releasing.
- The manner of articulation for plosives involves:
- Closing phase: Organs move close to create a complete closure.
- Hold/occlusion/compression phase: Air is held behind the closure.
- Release or burst: Air is released, producing an audible sound.
- Post-release phase: Articulators move apart, and air pressure falls.
- There are 6 plosive sounds in English: /p/, /b/, /t/, /d/, /k/, /g/.
- Plosives can be classified based on:
- Manner of articulation
- Place of articulation (e.g., bilabial, alveolar, velar)
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Description
Test your understanding of phonetics with this quiz, covering topics such as phonemes, speech sound production, voicing and consonants, and plosives. Learn how to distinguish between words based on their sounds and more. Take this quiz to assess your knowledge of phonetics.
