Phonetics and Phonology Quiz

Phoneme

• The smallest unit of sound that can change the meaning of a word
• Example: /t/ in time vs. /d/ in dime

Allophone

• Variations of a phoneme that do not change the meaning of a word
• Example: [p] in pot (aspirated) and [p] in spot (unaspirated) are both allophones of the same phoneme /p/

Minimal Pair

• Two words that differ by only one sound, showing that the sounds are different phonemes
• Example: time [taɪm] vs. dime [daɪm]

Complementary Distribution

• When two sounds never occur in the same environment, they are in complementary distribution
• Example: [eɪ] and [eï] do not change meaning but occur in different contexts

Phonological Rules

• Language-specific rules that dictate sound patterns
• Example: shorter vowels before voiceless consonants

Consonants

• Speech sounds produced by obstructing airflow in various ways
• Classified based on place of articulation, manner of articulation, and voicing

Place of Articulation

• Where the consonant sound is produced in the vocal tract
• Bilabial: both lips ([p], [b])
• Labiodental: lip and teeth ( [f], [v])
• Dental: tongue against the teeth ( [θ], [ð])
• Alveolar: tongue against the alveolar ridge ( [t], [d])
• Post-alveolar: just behind the alveolar ridge ([ʃ], [ʒ])
• Velar: back of the tongue against the soft palate ( [k], [g])
• Glottal: glottis ( [h])

Manner of Articulation

• How the airflow is constricted
• Plosive: complete obstruction ( [p], [t])
• Nasal: airflow through the nose ([m], [n])
• Fricative: close together but not completely obstructed ([f], [s])
• Affricate: begins as a plosive and releases as a fricative ([tʃ], [dʒ])
• Approximant: less obstruction than fricatives ([r], [l])
• Lateral: airflow around the sides of the tongue ([l])

Voicing

• Whether the vocal cords vibrate during articulation
• Voiced: vocal cords vibrate ([b], [d])
• Voiceless: vocal cords do not vibrate ([p], [t])

Diphthongs

• A sequence of two vowels that functions as a single sound and always forms one syllable

Syllabic Consonants

• Consonant sounds that can be prolonged slightly and function as the nucleus of a syllable

Intonation

• The use of voice pitch for linguistic purposes other than distinguishing words
• Ex. for a definition, provide context and clarity. or for asking

Diacritics

• Marks added to IPA symbols to modify their meaning, indicating features like aspiration or voicelessness

Vocal Tract

• The organs involved in speech production, including:
  • Lungs
  • Larynx “the main source for sounds of speech “
  • Pharynx
  • Oral cavity
  • Nasal cavity

Test your understanding of key concepts in phonetics and phonology, including phonemes, allophones, and minimal pairs. This quiz covers essential terminology and rules that govern sound patterns in language.