Introduction to Phonetics Course PDF

Introduction to Phonetics Course Phonetics is the science that studies human speech sounds, how sounds are produced, how they are transferred from the speaker to the hearer and how we perceive them. Branches of phonetics 1. Articulatory phonetics studies the parts of the body used in producing...

Introduction to Phonetics Course Phonetics is the science that studies human speech sounds, how sounds are produced, how they are transferred from the speaker to the hearer and how we perceive them. Branches of phonetics 1. Articulatory phonetics studies the parts of the body used in producing speech (vocal organs). 2. Acoustic phonetics studies how sounds are transferred through the air as sound waves. 3. Auditory phonetics studies how sounds are heard and perceived. Why study phonetics? Pronunciation Mistakes Which English? There are many English accents as there are speakers of it. English pronunciation varies in different geographical areas. English accents have more similarities than differences. Choose your accent (American vs. RP). Letters vs. Sounds The same letter can represent different sounds and different letters can represent the same sound. International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) was invented so that each sound is represented by one and the same symbol. This is known as transcription. The Basic Sounds There are 24 different consonants and 20 vowels in English.  Vowels vs. Consonants VOWELS CONSONANTS Made with an open vocal tract. Made when vocal organs Air moves freely. interfere with the air stream.  Course description The course introduces learners to the study of speech sounds. Learners develop skills in perceiving, articulating and transcribing vowel and consonant sounds using IPA symbols. They will also be acquainted with the distinguishing features of both consonants and vowels. The course touches upon pronunciation differences between main English accents and provides useful examples from some world languages. The concept of stress is also tackled with view to its effect on rhythm. The course also discusses the functions of intonation. Main Topics ▪Speech organs ▪Consonants ▪Vowels ▪Phonetic transcription ▪Syllables ▪Rhythm and Stress ▪Intonation ▪English Accents Textbook Conclusion No book can really teach you practical phonetics. Only close listening and practice can do that.