Phonetics & Phonology ICU LNG101 Autumn 2024

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Questions and Answers

What type of sound is characterized by a stop closure followed by a slow release?

Nasal

Fricative

Glide

Affricate (correct)

Which of the following sounds are considered fricatives?

[l]

[d͡ʒ]

[t͡ʃ]

[v] (correct)

Which sound is classified as a glide?

[t]

[s]

[w] (correct)

[b]

Which of the following is a characteristic of liquids in phonetics?

They cause some obstruction but not sufficient for full friction. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of flaps in phonetics?

They involve a flick of the tongue against the alveolar ridge. Signup and view all the answers

What does articulatory phonetics study?

How speech sounds are made by the vocal organs. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes voiced sounds?

Formed when the vocal cords come together and vibrate. Signup and view all the answers

Which branch of phonetics focuses on the perception of speech sounds?

Auditory phonetics. Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes consonantal sounds from vowel sounds?

Consonantal sounds have a narrower airstream than vowels. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following pairs is an example of voiced and voiceless sounds, respectively?

B and P. Signup and view all the answers

What is orthography's role in scientific analyses of phonetics?

It is not reliable for analyzing speech sounds scientifically. Signup and view all the answers

Which factor affects the quality of vowel sounds?

The configuration of the vocal tract. Signup and view all the answers

What does the study of acoustic phonetics focus on?

The physical properties of speech sounds as they travel through air. Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes a phoneme from a phone?

A phoneme is a basic distinctive speech sound, while a phone is an actual speech sound. Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'free variation' refer to in English phonetics?

The ability to substitute a sound without altering the word's definition. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following examples represents complementary distribution?

[p] and [ph] where [ph] occurs at the beginning of a word. Signup and view all the answers

What defines a 'natural class' in phonology?

A set of phonemes characterized by a few distinctive features that reveal phonological patterns. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about glottal stops is accurate?

Glottal stops can be freely substituted without altering word meaning. Signup and view all the answers

Which combination of features differentiates the phonemes /p/, /t/, and /k/ from /b/, /d/, and /g/?

Labial versus alveolar place of articulation. Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between allophones and phonemes in terms of distribution?

Allophones are predictable and occur in non-overlapping environments. Signup and view all the answers

Which option correctly defines a phone?

A unit of sound that has a physical realization. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of assimilation in phonetics?

To make sounds more like neighboring sounds Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of dissimilation?

The pronunciation of 'fifth' as [fɪfθ] Signup and view all the answers

In the context of Vowel Nasalization, what happens to a vowel when followed by a nasal?

It undergoes nasalization Signup and view all the answers

What is the underlying principle of the High Vowel Devoicing rule in Japanese?

High vowels become voiceless between voiceless consonants Signup and view all the answers

What phonological rule best describes how the sounds [t] and [t͡ʃ] interact with each other?

Palatalization takes place Signup and view all the answers

When distinguishing between underlying and derived forms, what principle is often applied?

The simpler form is typically the underlying form Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes the role of palatalization in sound change?

It causes a sound to become more like a neighboring vowel Signup and view all the answers

What do the examples 'たたり' [tatari] and '近く' [t͡ʃi ̻kakɯ̻] demonstrate about sound distribution?

Certain sounds group together based on their articulatory features Signup and view all the answers

What form does the plural morpheme take if the noun ends in a voiceless consonant?

[s] Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following conditions leads to the plural morpheme taking the form [əz]?

The noun ends in a [+sibilant] sound Signup and view all the answers

According to Hypothesis 4, what phonetic condition applies to the plural morpheme when a noun ends in a voiceless consonant?

The property of nonvoicing is spread to the morpheme Signup and view all the answers

What is suggested about the shape of the plural morpheme in Hypothesis 4?

It is invariant and does not change Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a plausible plural form for a noun ending in a sibilant sound?

[əz] Signup and view all the answers

What does Hypothesis #3 claim about the plural morpheme's forms?

There are specifically three forms determined by voicing Signup and view all the answers

What occurs in Hypothesis 4 when a noun ends in a [+sibilant] consonant?

An [ə] is inserted before the plural morpheme Signup and view all the answers

Which hypothesis presents the strongest argument regarding the plural morpheme?

Hypothesis #4 Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Phonetics

Phonetics studies the speech sounds used in human languages to convey meaning.
Three branches of phonetics:
- Articulatory phonetics: Examines how speech sounds are produced by vocal organs.
- Acoustic phonetics: Analyzes the physical properties of speech sounds as they travel.
- Auditory phonetics: Investigates how the ear and brain perceive speech sounds.
Orthography is not reliable for phonetic analysis due to various spelling irregularities.

IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet)

A standardized representation of speech sounds, used in the course.
Distinguishes between different phonemes and allophones.

Articulatory Phonetics

Consonants: Produced with some restriction in the vocal tract; categorized as voiced or voiceless based on vocal cord vibration.
Vowels: Formed without significant obstruction; characterized by tongue height, tongue part, and lip position.

Types of Consonants

Voiced consonants: Vocal cords vibrate (e.g., [b], [d]).
Voiceless consonants: No vocal cord vibration (e.g., [p], [t]).
Fricatives: Partial obstruction, creating turbulence (e.g., [s], [f]).
Affricates: Combines stop closure with slow release (e.g., [t͡ʃ], [d͡ʒ]).
Liquids: Partial blockage with no friction (e.g., [l], [r]).
Glides/Semi-vowels: Minimal obstruction (e.g., [j], [w]).
Nasals: Produced with air escaping through the nose (e.g., [m], [n], [ŋ]).

Vowel Characteristics

Vowel production involves tongue height and position, as well as lip rounding.
English vowels exhibit tense vs. lax distinctions affecting pronunciation.

Free Variation

Occurs when two sounds can be used interchangeably without changing meaning (e.g., [t] vs. [ʔ] in English).

Phonetic Units

Phones: Actual speech sounds.
Phonemes: Distinctive sound units in a language.
Allophones: Variants of a phoneme, often influenced by surrounding sounds.

Phonemes and Distinctive Features

Phonemes can be analyzed as combinations of distinctive features (e.g., voicing, nasalization).
Natural classes: Groups of sounds defined by shared characteristics that influence phonological behavior.

Assimilation and Dissimilation

Assimilation: A sound changes to resemble neighboring sounds (e.g., nasalization in vowels).
Dissimilation: Similar sounds become less alike to maintain contrast (e.g., English fricative dissimilation).

Phonological Rules

Defined methods for predicting how phonemes manifest in different contexts.
Example: Plural morphemes in English can take different forms based on surrounding sounds, governed by phonological rules.

Hypotheses on Plural Morpheme Distribution

Various hypotheses assess the relationship between sounds and their plural forms, exploring conditions under which specific phonetic outcomes occur.

Contextual Examples

Examples of phonetic rules highlighted through specific words in English and Japanese, showing practical applications of phonological theory.

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Description

This quiz explores the fundamental concepts of phonetics and phonology as outlined in the ICU LNG101 course. Students will engage with the study of speech sounds and their roles in human language. Prepare to dive into the world of phonetic symbols and their meanings.