Speech Mechanism Lecture Notes PDF

Key Terms Phoneme - a unit of sound significant in a specific language (E.g., /s/ is a phoneme in English Grapheme – The symbols (letters) used in a writing system such as our alphabet A single sound represented by two Digraph –...

Key Terms Phoneme - a unit of sound significant in a specific language (E.g., /s/ is a phoneme in English Grapheme – The symbols (letters) used in a writing system such as our alphabet A single sound represented by two Digraph – letters (e.g., th, sh, ea) Phonetic Alphabet - a collection of symbols used for writing words phonetically  More Terms - a variant of a phoneme; often not Allophone noticed by native speakers (e.g, spin, pin) Minimal Pair - Two words that are pronounced the same except for one sound (e.g., Sue, zoo) Voiced Sound - A sound produced with the vocal folds (cords) vibrating (e.g. voiced /z/ as opposed to voiceless /s/) Diphthong - “a double vowel sound” - two vowels appearing together as the nucleus of a syllable  PHONETICS Study of the physical properties of speech- sounds – how they are made – how they are heard – how they are transmitted PHONOLOGY Study of the linguistic properties of speech-sounds – the “sound system” of language – the sound systems of individual languages  PHONETICS Study of the physical properties of speech-sounds Articulatory Phonetics – how they are made Auditory Phonetics – how they are heard Acoustic Phonetics – how they are transmitted  PHONETICS Universal: the study of the sounds produced in human speech PHONOLOGY Local: the study of the sound system of one single language or variety of language Lecture 2 Speech Mechanism Stages of the Speaking Pro Breathing stage Phonation stage Phonation Stage Resonation stage Articulation Stage Breathing Stage  Air moves from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure Breathing, which primarily is concerned with maintaining life,is secondarily a force assistingin vocalization. It consistsof two phases--- inhalation and exhalation.  LUNGS Serve as the reservoir of air As you inhale, fill the lungs comfortably in preparation for speaking.  Diaphragm A large sheet of muscle separating the chest cavity from the abdomen Forms the floor of the chest and the roof of the abdomen Gives pressure to the breath stream  PHONATION STAGE Phonation takes place when voice is produced in speaking as the expiratory air stream from the lungs goes up through the trachea or windpipe to the larynx.  Larynx Principal organ of phonation Found at the top of the trachea Protuberance is known as the “Adam’s apple”  Vocal Cords A pair of bundles of muscles and cartilages Open and close at various degrees  Trachea Also known as windpipe Passageway of air going up from the lungs Resonation Stage The voice produced in phonation is weak. It becomes strong and rich only when amplified and modified by the human resonators. Resonation is the process of voice amplification and modification.  Pharynx Common passageway for air and food Located behind the nose and mouth and includes the cavity at the back of the tongue Divisions of the pharynx: – Nasal pharynx – Oral pharynx – Laryngeal pharynx  Nose Consists of the external and internal portions Nostrils – openings of the external nose Nasal cavity – internal nose; directly behind the external nose through which the air passes on its way to the pharynx Septum – divides the external and internal nose into two separate passageways  Mouth Divided into the vestibule and the oral cavity proper Vestibule – felt by placing the tongue tip outside the teeth but inside the lips Oral cavity – felt by retracting the tongue, closing the jaws and moving the tongue about  RESONATORS: Upper part of the larynx Oral cavity pharynx Nasal cavity ARTICULATION STAGE Articulation occurs when the tone produced in the larynx is changed into specific sounds. This is the result of the movement of the articulators towards the points of articulation.  Lips Highly flexible Can be moved into numerous positions essential to articulation  Teeth Serve as important surfaces in articulation Embedded in the alveolar ridge or gum ridges of the oral cavity  Dome Also known as the hard palate Bony roof of the mouth Serves as an important surface against which the tongue makes contact  Uvula Small nub on the lower border of the soft palate Movable tip at the midline of the free border of the soft palate  Velum Also known as the soft palate Separates the nasal pharynx from the oral cavity A flexible curtain attached along the rear border of the hard palate  Tongue Flexible organ consisting of muscles, glands and connective tissues Parts of the tongue: – Apex or tip – Blade Front Center Back root  Articulators Lower jaw Uvula Lower lip Velum Tongue  Upper lip Upper teeth Points of Upper articulation alveolar ridge Hard palate Soft palate How to describe consonants Voicing Place of articulation Manner of articulation /p  PLACE OF ARTICULATION  labials/bilabials [p], [b], [m]  dentals/interdentals [ð] [θ]  labiodentals [f], [v]  alveolars [t], [d], [s], [z], [n], [l],  palatals [ž]/[ʒ], [š]/[ʃ], [ʧ]/[č], [ʤ],  velars [k], [g], [ŋ]  glottals [h]  Summary: place of articulation category places examples bilabials Two lips [b], [p], [m] Labio- Lip & teeth [f], [v], dentals Inter-dentals Between teeth [θ], [ð] alveolars Alveolar ridge [t], [d], [n], [l] [s], [z] palatals palate [ž]/[ʒ], [š]/[ʃ], [ʤ], [ʧ]/[č] velars Velum [k]. [g], [ŋ] glottals glottis [h]