Phonetics Lesson 03: Speech Organs & IPA - PDF

PHONETICS LESSON 03 SPEECH ORGANS AND THE INTERNATIONAL PHONETIC ALPHABET SPEECH ORGANS WHAT IS MEANT BY SPEECH ORGANS IN PHONETICS? In phonetics, speech organs refer to the different parts of the human body that are involved in producing speech sounds. These organs work...

PHONETICS LESSON 03 SPEECH ORGANS AND THE INTERNATIONAL PHONETIC ALPHABET SPEECH ORGANS WHAT IS MEANT BY SPEECH ORGANS IN PHONETICS? In phonetics, speech organs refer to the different parts of the human body that are involved in producing speech sounds. These organs work together to articulate and modulate the airflow from the respiratory system to create the sounds of speech. 1- LUNGS AND DIAPHRAGM Function: The lungs provide the airflow necessary for speech, while the diaphragm controls the force and volume of this airflow. Role in Speech: Air from the lungs is pushed through the vocal tract to create sound.  2- LARYNX (VOICE BOX) Function: The larynx contains the vocal folds, which can be opened or closed to control the flow of air and produce sounds. Role in Speech: The vocal folds vibrate when air passes through them, creating the basic sound source for speech. 3- PHARYNX Function: The pharynx is a muscular tube that connects the nasal and oral cavities to the larynx and esophagus. Role in Speech: It serves as a resonating chamber, influencing the quality and timbre of speech sounds. 4- ORAL AND NASAL CAVITIES Function: The oral cavity and nasal cavity are spaces where speech sounds are formed and shaped. Role in Speech: The articulators in the oral cavity shape the airflow to produce specific speech sounds. The nasal cavity allows for the passage of air during nasal sounds. 5- TONGUE Function: The tongue is a highly flexible muscular organ that plays a crucial role in articulating speech sounds. Role in Speech: Movements of the tongue against the roof of the mouth, teeth, or other parts of the oral cavity contribute to the production of different speech sounds. 6- TEETH Function: Teeth provide a surface against which the tongue can articulate, influencing the production of specific speech sounds. Role in Speech: The interaction between the tongue and teeth affects the quality and characteristics of certain consonant sounds. 7- LIPS Function: The lips can be used to shape and modify the airflow during speech. Role in Speech: Lip movements contribute to the production of various speech sounds, especially in the articulation of bilabial consonants (e.g., /p/, /b/). 8- SOFT PALATE (VELUM) Function: The soft palate can be raised or lowered to control the airflow into the nasal cavity. Role in Speech: It plays a crucial role in distinguishing between oral and nasal sounds by either allowing or blocking airflow through the nasal passage. 9- HARD PALATE Location: It is the bony front part of the roof of the mouth. Role in Speech: The hard palate provides a firm surface against which the tongue can articulate, contributing to the production of various speech sounds. 10- UVULA Function: The uvula is a small, fleshy projection hanging down from the soft palate. Role in Speech: It is involved in the articulation of certain sounds, particularly in some dialects or languages where the uvula may contribute to the production of guttural or uvular sounds. 11- ALVEOLAR RIDGE Location: This is a raised ridge of tissue just behind the upper front teeth. Role in Speech: The alveolar ridge is a point of contact for the tongue during the production of alveolar consonants (e.g., /t/, /d/, /n/). 12- EPIGLOTTIS Location: The epiglottis is a flap-like structure located at the base of the tongue, just above the larynx. Role in Speech: It helps prevent food and liquid from entering the windpipe during swallowing but is not directly involved in speech production. THE INTERNATIONAL PHONETIC ALPHABET Definition: The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) is a standardized system for representing the sounds of spoken language. 1- CONSONANTS /p/ (as in "pat"): [p] /b/ (as in "bat"): [b] /t/ (as in "top"): [t] /d/ (as in "dog"): [d] /k/ (as in "cat"): [k] /g/ (as in "go"): [ɡ] /f/ (as in "fish"): [f] /v/ (as in "van"): [v]  /θ/ (as in "think"): [θ] /ð/ (as in "this"): [ð] /s/ (as in "sit"): [s] /z/ (as in "zip"): [z] /ʃ/ (as in "ship"): [ʃ] /ʒ/ (as in "treasure"): [ʒ] /tʃ/ (as in "chat"): [tʃ] /dʒ/ (as in "judge"): [dʒ] 2- VOWELS  /iː/ (as in "see"): [iː] /ɪ/ (as in "sit"): [ɪ] /eɪ/ (as in "day"): [eɪ] /ɛ/ (as in "bed"): [ɛ] /æ/ (as in "cat"): [æ] /ɑː/ (as in "car"): [ɑː] /ɒ/ (as in "hot"): [ɒ]  /ɔː/ (as in "port"): [ɔː] /ʊ/ (as in "put"): [ʊ] /uː/ (as in "boot"): [uː] /ə/ (schwa, unstressed): [ə] /aɪ/ (as in "time"): [aɪ] /aʊ/ (as in "house"): [aʊ] /ɔɪ/ (as in "boy"): [ɔɪ] END OF THE LESSON