Phonetics Overview

Phonetics

• Phonetics is the study of speech sounds.
• It focuses on the production, physical properties, and perception of sounds.

Articulatory Phonetics

• Articulatory phonetics is the study of how speech sounds are made.

Acoustic Phonetics

• Acoustic phonetics studies how speech sounds travel through the air.

Auditory Phonetics

• Auditory phonetics studies how speech sounds are perceived by the ear.

Consonant Classification

• Consonants are classified by three features:
  • Voiced/voiceless distinction
  • Place of articulation
  • Manner of articulation

Voiced and Voiceless Consonants

• Voiceless consonants are produced with spread vocal folds allowing air to pass freely.
• Voiced consonants involve drawn together vocal folds, causing air to vibrate.

Place of Articulation

• Bilabial: Both upper and lower lips are used.
  • English bilabial consonants include:
    • [b], [m], [w] (voiced)
    • [p] (voiceless)
• Labiodental: Upper front teeth and lower lip are used.
  • English labiodental consonants include:
    • [f] (voiceless)
    • [v] (voiced)
• Dental: Tongue tip is placed behind upper front teeth.
  • English dental consonants include:
    • [θ] (voiceless)
    • [ð] (voiced)
• Alveolar: Front of tongue touches the alveolar ridge (ridge behind upper teeth).
  • English alveolar consonants include:
    • [t], [s] (voiceless)
    • [d], [z], [n], [l], [r] (voiced)
• Palatal: Center of tongue approaches the palate.
  • English palatal consonants include:
    • [ʃ], [ʧ] (voiceless)
    • [ʒ], [ʤ], [ʝ] (voiced)
• Velar: Back of tongue touches the soft palate (velum).
  • English velar consonants include:
    • [k] (voiceless)
    • [g], [ŋ] (voiced)
• Glottal: Airflow is obstructed at the glottis (space between vocal folds).
  • English glottal consonants include:
    • [h] (voiceless)

Manner of Articulation

• Stops: Airflow is completely stopped and then released.
• Fricatives: Airflow is constricted, creating friction.
• Affricates: Start as stops then release as fricatives.
• Nasals: Air escapes through the nose.
• Liquids: Partial obstruction of the airflow.
• Glides: Similar to vowels but with more constriction.
• Approximants: Similar to glides, but with less constriction.

Vowel Classification

• Vowels have a relatively free airflow compared to consonants.
• All vowels are voiced.
• Vowels are classified based on tongue position in the mouth.
• Tongue height and backness are key features for vowel classification.

Phonetics

• Phonetics studies the characteristics of speech sounds.
• There are three main areas of phonetics:
  • Articulatory phonetics: How sounds are made.
  • Acoustic phonetics: How sounds travel through the air.
  • Auditory phonetics: How sounds are perceived by the ear.

Consonants

• Consonant sounds are produced with some form of obstruction in the vocal tract.
• Consonants are classified based on three main features:
  • Voicing: Voiced consonants are made with vocal fold vibration, voiceless consonants are made without vocal fold vibration.
  • Place of articulation: Where in the vocal tract the obstruction is made.
  • Manner of articulation: How the air is obstructed.

Voiced and Voiceless Consonants

• Voiced consonants: Vocal folds are drawn together, creating vibration as air passes through.
• Voiceless consonants: Vocal folds are spread apart, allowing air to pass freely without vibration.

Place of Articulation in Consonants

• Bilabials: Made by using both the upper and lower lips.
  • English Bilabials: [b], [m], [w] (voiced); [p] (voiceless)
• Labiodentals: Made using the upper front teeth and the lower lip.
  • English Labiodentals: [f] (voiceless); [v] (voiced).
• Dentals: Made by placing the tongue tip behind the upper front teeth.
  • English Dentals: [θ] (voiceless); [ð] (voiced).
• Alveolars: Made by placing the front part of the tongue on the alveolar ridge (the rough ridge behind and above the upper teeth).
  • English Alveolars: [t], [s] (voiceless); [d], [z], [n], [l], [r] (voiced).
• Palatals: Made by raising the center of the tongue towards the palate (the hard roof of the mouth).
  • English Palatals: [ʃ], [ʧ] (voiceless); [ʒ], [ʤ], [ʝ] (voiced).
• Velars: Made by raising the back of the tongue towards the soft palate (velum).
  • English Velars: [k] (voiceless); [g], [ŋ] (voiced).
• Glottals: Made by obstructing the airflow at the glottis (the opening between the vocal cords).
  • English Glottals: [h] (voiceless).

Manner of Articulation in Consonants

• Stops/Plosives: Airflow is completely blocked, then released. (e.g., [p], [b], [t], [d], [k], [g])
• Fricatives: Airflow is partially obstructed, creating friction. (e.g., [f], [v], [θ], [ð], [s], [z], [ʃ], [ʒ], [h])
• Affricates: Begin as stops, then release like fricatives. (e.g., [ʧ], [ʤ])
• Nasals: Air escapes through the nose. (e.g., [m], [n], [ŋ])
• Liquids: Airflow is less restricted than in fricatives, allowing air to flow around the tongue. (e.g., [l], [r])
• Glides: Tongue movement is very slight, resulting in brief articulation. (e.g., [w], [j])

Vowels

• Vowels are produced with a relatively free flow of air through the vocal tract.
• All vowels are voiced.
• The position of the tongue in the mouth determines the vowel sound.

This quiz covers the fundamentals of phonetics, focusing on the study of speech sounds, their production, and perception. It includes topics like articulatory phonetics, acoustic phonetics, and consonant classification. Test your understanding of voiced and voiceless consonants and their place of articulation.