Phonetics: Coarticulation and the /r/ Sound

Coarticulation

• Coarticulation is the influence of the target phoneme on surrounding phonemes.
• This study focuses on /u/, /l/, and /n/ which are significantly affected by coarticulation.
• While other consonants have unique qualities, these three require more detailed explanation.

The Turned R /r/

• The orthographic "r" varies significantly in pronunciation across languages.
• The IPA uses seven symbols for /r/ on the consonant chart, plus rhoticity in a diacritic section, and /ɜ/ in the vowel section.
• The IPA (1996) indicates that /r/ is now often used in initial positions of unstressed syllables and unaspirated consonant-vowel combinations.

Variations of the /r/ in CCV Syllables

• Coarticulation greatly affects the /r/ sound.
• When /r/ follows voiceless stops (/p/, /t/, /k/), or voiceless fricatives (/f/), it becomes voiceless.
• However, in CCV clusters like /stu/, /sku/, and /spu/, the /r/ remains unchanged.

Variations of the /r/ in VC Syllables

• Phonological rules dictate that /r/ only appears in syllables with certain vowels (/i/, /ɛ/, /æ/, /ɔ/, and diphthongs /ai/, /aʊ/).
• /r/ can be paired with /ju/ (e.g., fire), creating either monosyllabic or bisyllabic words.
• The open-mid, central, unrounded vowel /ɜ/ is frequently used with rhoticity in GAP pronunciations.
• Centering diphthongs involving /r/ such as /ɪər/, /ɛər/, and /ɔər/ frequently replace formal /ju:/ sounds in everyday speech.

Variations of the /r/ in VC Syllables (cont.)

• In combination with the vowels /i/ or /e/, the /r/ changes or blends.
• When followed by back vowels like /o/, the /r/ is often omitted in conversational speech.

The Eng /ŋ/

• Nasal coarticulation and phonological rules limit /ŋ/'s vowel pairings to /i/, /ɛ/, /æ/, /ɔ/, /ʌ/, and /a/.
• /ŋ/ is found at the medial and final positions of words/syllables.
• The vowel's pronunciation shifts when followed by /ŋ/ due to nasality.

The Lower-case L /l/

• The /l/ is the only lateral approximant in GAP, and its pronunciation varies with position.
• In initial CVC positions, /l/ is a voiced lateral approximant.
• When following a vowel, preceding a consonant, or at the end of a word, /l/ often becomes velarized (dark /l/).

The Lower-case L /l/ (cont.)

• When followed by front vowels, /l/ becomes retracted.
• /l/ pairs with back vowels, allowing the /l/ to be often omitted in conversational speech.
• /l/ can be monosyllabic or bisyllabic depending on the vowel/diphthong combination.
• Word-internal /l/ can become syllabic in unstressed syllables.

This quiz explores the influence of coarticulation on phonemes, focusing specifically on the sounds /u/, /l/, and /n/. Additionally, it examines the variations of the /r/ sound in different syllabic contexts, highlighting its behavior in conjunction with voiceless stops and fricatives.