Phonology Exam PDF

The Sound Pattern of Language What is phonology? Phonology is the description of the systems and patterns of speech sounds in a language. It is, in effect, based on a theory that every adult speaker of a language unconsciously knows about the sound patterns of that language. Phonology is concerned w...

The Sound Pattern of Language What is phonology? Phonology is the description of the systems and patterns of speech sounds in a language. It is, in effect, based on a theory that every adult speaker of a language unconsciously knows about the sound patterns of that language. Phonology is concerned with the abstract or mental aspect of the sounds in a language rather than with the actual physical articulation of speech sounds. What is the difference between phonology and phonetics? We can see that phonology is concerned with the abstract representation of sounds in our minds that enables us to recognize and interpret the meaning of words on the basis of the actual physical sounds we say and hear. Phonetics is the branch of linguistics that deals with the physical production and reception of sound. Phonology is about the underlying design, the blueprint of each sound type, which may vary in different physical contexts. We call these distinct sounds phones. Phonetics is not concerned with the meaning of sounds but instead focuses on the production, transmission, and reception of sounds. Phonetics is not concerned with the meaning of sounds but instead focuses on the production, transmission, and reception of sounds In short: Phonology = abstract, mental organization of sounds and sound patterns in a language. Phonetics = physical articulation, transmission, and perception of speech sounds. Both areas are complementary, with phonology focusing on the "rules" and structure of sounds in a language, while phonetics deals with the tangible details of sound production and hearing. What is a phoneme? Each one of these meaning distinguishing sounds in a language is described as a phoneme. An essential property of a phoneme is that it functions contrastively. There are two phonemes f and v in English because they are the only basis of the contrast in meaning between the words fat and vat or fine and vine. Is a phoneme always pronounced the same way ? Why or why not? What is an allophone? Minimal pairs and sets Phonemic distinctions in a language can be tested via pairs and sets of words. When two words such as fan and van are identical in form except for a contrast in one phoneme, occurring in the same position, the two words are described as a minimal pair. When a group of words can be differentiated, each one from the others, by changing one phoneme (always in the same position in the word), they are described as a minimal set. When two words are identical in form except for a contrast in one phoneme, occurring in the same position, the two words are described as a minimal pair. When a group of words can be differentiated, each one from the others, by changing one phoneme (always in the same position in the word), then we have a minimal set. Natural Classes When two sounds share some features, they are sometimes described as members of a natural class of phonemes. Phonemes that have certain features in common tend to behave phonologically in some similar ways. Syllables They are units of pronunciation having one vowel sound, with or without surrounding consonant sounds, forming the whole or a part of a word. Syllables are sometimes referred to as the "beats" of a word that form its rhythm, and breaking a word into syllables can help you learn the phonetic spelling of English. one syllable: then ðɛn they ðeɪ the ðə time taɪm a ə two syllables rescue ˈrɛskju charcoal ˈ ʧɑrˌk ə ʊl three syllables: alphabet ˈ æl fəˌbɛt four syllables : activity ækˈtɪ və ti five syllables : electricity ɪˌlɛkˈtrɪ sə ti Types of syllables 1) Closed Syllable A closed syllable is a unit of pronunciation with a vowel sound that ends with a consonant sound such as: bat, plant, shop and rabbit. bæt , plænt , ʃɑp ænd ˈ ræ bɪt 2) Open Syllable An open syllable is a unit of pronunciation that ends with a vowel sound such as go, me, you, potato and play. ɡəʊ , mi, ju pəˈteɪˌtəʊ ænd pleɪ  Syllable initial two consonant clusters There are, therefore , 26 two consonant clusters in English: /sm /, sn /, st /, sw /, sk /, sl /, sp /, sf /, θ w /, dw /, tw /, θ r /, dr /, tr /, kw /, kr /, kl /, pr /, fr /, br/, gr /, pl /, fl /,bl /, gl / and ʃr Syllable initial three consonant clusters