chapter 3web.ntpu.edu.tw/~language/course/phonetics/chapter 3.pdf · chapter 3 the consonants of...

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Chapter 3Chapter 3

The Consonants of EnglishThe Consonants of English

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The definition of The definition of ““consonantconsonant””

In In articulatoryarticulatory phoneticsphonetics, a , a consonantconsonant is a is a soundsound in in spoken spoken languagelanguage that is characterized by athat is characterized by a closureclosure or or stricturestricture of the of the vocal tractvocal tract sufficient to cause audible sufficient to cause audible turbulence. The word turbulence. The word consonantconsonant comes from comes from LatinLatin and and means "sounding with" or "sounding together," the idea means "sounding with" or "sounding together," the idea being that consonants don't sound on their own, but occur being that consonants don't sound on their own, but occur only with a nearby only with a nearby vowelvowel, which is the case in Latin. , which is the case in Latin.

This conception of consonants, however, does not reflect This conception of consonants, however, does not reflect the modern linguistic understanding which defines the modern linguistic understanding which defines consonants in terms of vocal tract constriction.consonants in terms of vocal tract constriction.

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Place of ArticulationPlace of ArticulationManners of Manners of ArticulationArticulation BilabialBilabial LabiodentalLabiodental DentalDental AlveolarAlveolar PalatalPalatal VelarVelar

/k//k//g//g/

FricativesFricativesVoicelessVoicelessVoicedVoiced

/f//f//v//v/

//PP////DD//

/s//s//z//z/

//SS////ZZ//

/h//h/

AffricateAffricateVoicelessVoicelessVoicedVoiced

/t/tSS///d/dZZ//

NasalNasal--voicedvoiced /m//m/ /n//n/ //NN//

LiquidLiquid--voicedvoiced /l//l/ /r//r/ [[……]]

/hw//hw//w//w//j//j/

/t//t//d//d/

GlotalGlotalStopStopVoicelessVoicelessVoicedVoiced

/p//p//b//b/

Glide/ApproximantGlide/ApproximantVoicelessVoicelessVoicedVoiced

/hw//hw//w//w/

3. An overview of the English consonant3. An overview of the English consonant

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3.13.1 Stop ConsonantsStop Consonants

3.1.13.1.1 AspirationAspirationAspirationAspiration is a period of is a period of voicelessnessvoicelessness after the stop articulation after the stop articulation and before the start of the voicing for the vowel. If you put a and before the start of the voicing for the vowel. If you put a sheet sheet of thin paper in front of your lips while saying of thin paper in front of your lips while saying ““pie,pie,”” you can feel the you can feel the burst of air that comes out during the period of burst of air that comes out during the period of voicelessnessvoicelessness after after the release of the stop.the release of the stop.

In a narrow transcription, aspiration may be indicated by a smalIn a narrow transcription, aspiration may be indicated by a small l raised raised hh, [, [HH]. Accordingly, these words may be transcribed as [ p]. Accordingly, these words may be transcribed as [ pHHaaII, , ttHH aaII, k, kHH aaII ]. You may not be able to feel the burst of air in ]. You may not be able to feel the burst of air in ““tie, tie, kyekye””because these stop closures are made well inside the mouth cavitbecause these stop closures are made well inside the mouth cavity.y.

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3.1.23.1.2 Vowel onset and aspirationVowel onset and aspiration

Try the following set of sounds and examine the VOT:Try the following set of sounds and examine the VOT:tie sty dietie sty die pie spy buypie spy buy kyekye sky guysky guy

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What may happen if /s/ is clustered with /t/, /k/, and /p/? FiguWhat may happen if /s/ is clustered with /t/, /k/, and /p/? Figure re 3.1 shows that two things are to happen for any stop consonant 3.1 shows that two things are to happen for any stop consonant before vowels.before vowels.

1.1. If the stop consonant is voiceless, there will be a period of If the stop consonant is voiceless, there will be a period of ““aspirationaspiration”” before the VOT (vowel onset time).before the VOT (vowel onset time).

2.2. If the stop consonant is voiced, there will not be a period of If the stop consonant is voiced, there will not be a period of ““aspirationaspiration”” before the VOT.before the VOT.

3.3. Figure 3.1 shows that the Figure 3.1 shows that the ““aspirationaspiration”” simply does not exist.simply does not exist.

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3.1.33.1.3 Identify the following termsIdentify the following terms

1. Noise burst:1. Noise burst:

2. Vowel onset:2. Vowel onset:

3. Closure: 3. Closure:

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3.1.43.1.4 the ending consonantsthe ending consonants

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3.1.53.1.5 The length difference of vowels (How the The length difference of vowels (How the ending consonants affect the vowel)ending consonants affect the vowel)

1.1. a. advocatea. advocateb.b. actionactionc.c. acknowledgeacknowledge

2.2. a.a. beadbeadb. beakb. beakc. becausec. because

3.3. a.a. figmentfigmentb.b. fixturefixturec.c. fixationfixation

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3.1.63.1.6 The diacritic [The diacritic [||]: no audible release]: no audible release

1.1. advocateadvocateactionaction[[:Qk|Sn`:Qk|Sn`]]

2. 2. ““ItIt’’s a big day.s a big day.””

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3.1.73.1.7 The glottal [The glottal [//] sound] sound

1.1. [[:/√/√:/√/√]]

2. 2. rap, rat, rackrap, rat, rack

3.3. beaten, kitten, fattenbeaten, kitten, fatten

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3.1.83.1.8 The nasal The nasal plosionplosion1.1. What is What is ““homorganichomorganic””??2.2. hidden [hidden [:hIdn`:hIdn`]]3.3. beaten, kitten, fatten [beaten, kitten, fatten [:fQ/n`:fQ/n`]]

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3.1.93.1.9 The [The [RR] sound] sound

1.1. What is What is ““lateral lateral plosionplosion””??2. 2. little [little [:lIRl`:lIRl`]]3.3. city [city [:sIRi:sIRi]]

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3.23.2 FricativesFricatives

1.1. What is What is ““fricativefricative””??2.2. WhatWhat’’s the difference between s the difference between ““ricerice”” & & ““riserise””??3.3. What is What is ““obstruentsobstruents””??

ObstruentsObstruents is referred to as a natural class of is referred to as a natural class of sounds consisting of stops, fricatives, and affricates.sounds consisting of stops, fricatives, and affricates.

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3.33.3 AffricatesAffricates

1.1. What is What is ““affricateaffricate””??An affricate is a sequence of stop followed by a An affricate is a sequence of stop followed by a homorganic fricative.homorganic fricative.

2.2. What are the affricates in English?What are the affricates in English?3.3. Are /Are /tsts/, //, /tPtP/ affricates? Why?/ affricates? Why?

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3.43.4 NasalsNasals

1.1. Compare the following soundsCompare the following soundssinsinsingsingsinksink

2.2. Try to read Try to read Jack and meJack and meJack and KateJack and Kate

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3.53.5 ApproximantsApproximants

1.1. What are approximants?What are approximants?

2.2. What are the sound qualities of these approximants?What are the sound qualities of these approximants?

3.3. What are the functions of these approximants?What are the functions of these approximants?

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3.63.6 Rules for English consonant allophonesRules for English consonant allophones

(1)(1)Consonants are longer when at the end of a phrase.Consonants are longer when at the end of a phrase.

ExamplesExamplesbib, did, don, nodbib, did, don, nod

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(2)(2)Voiceless stops /p, t, k/ are aspirated when they are Voiceless stops /p, t, k/ are aspirated when they are syllable initial.syllable initial.

ExamplesExamplespip, pip, test, test, kickkick[p[pHIpHIp, , ttHEstHEst, , kkHIkHIk].].

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(3)(3)ObstruentsObstruents——stops and fricativesstops and fricatives——classified as voiced classified as voiced (that is, /b, d, g, v, (that is, /b, d, g, v, DD, z, , z, ZZ/) are voiced through only a /) are voiced through only a small part of the articulation when they occur at the small part of the articulation when they occur at the end of an utterance or before a voiceless sound.end of an utterance or before a voiceless sound.

ExamplesExamplesListen to the /v/ in "Try to improve." and Listen to the /v/ in "Try to improve." and to the /d/ in to the /d/ in ““Add two."Add two."

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(4)(4)SoSo--called voiced stops and affricates /b, d, g, dcalled voiced stops and affricates /b, d, g, dZZ/ are / are voiceless when syllable initialvoiceless when syllable initial, except when immediately , except when immediately preceded by a voiced sound. preceded by a voiced sound.

ExamplesExamplesAs in As in aa daydayCf. thiCf. thiss dayday

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(5)(5)Voiceless stops /p, t, k/ are Voiceless stops /p, t, k/ are unaspiratedunaspirated if immediately if immediately preceded by an /s/. preceded by an /s/.

ExamplesExamplesspew, stew, skewspew, stew, skew

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(6)(6)Voiceless Voiceless obstruentsobstruents (stops and affricates) /p, t, k, t(stops and affricates) /p, t, k, tSS/ / are longer than the corresponding voiced are longer than the corresponding voiced obstruentsobstruents /b, /b, d, g, dd, g, dZZ/ when at the end of a syllable. / when at the end of a syllable.

ExamplesExamplescap, cabcap, cabback, bagback, bag

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(7)(7)The approximants /w, r, j, The approximants /w, r, j, ll/ are at least partially / are at least partially voiceless when they occur after initial /p, t, k/. voiceless when they occur after initial /p, t, k/.

ExamplesExamplesplay, play, twin, twin, cuecue[p[pl8eIl8eI, , ttw8Inw8In, , kj8ukj8u].].

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(8)(8)Stops are unexploded when they occur before another Stops are unexploded when they occur before another stop in words such asstop in words such as

ExamplesExamplesapt apt rubbedrubbed[[Qp|tQp|t] ] [[r√b|dr√b|d]]

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(9)(9)In many accents of English, syllable final /p, t, k/ are In many accents of English, syllable final /p, t, k/ are accompanied by a glottal stop.accompanied by a glottal stop.

ExamplesExamplestip, tip, pit, pit, kickkick[[tI/ptI/p,, pI/tpI/t,, kI/kkI/k]]

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(10)(10)In many accents of English, /t/ is replaced by a glottal In many accents of English, /t/ is replaced by a glottal stop when it occurs before an alveolar nasal in the stop when it occurs before an alveolar nasal in the same word.same word.

ExamplesExamplesbeatenbeaten

[[»bi/n1»bi/n1]]

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(11)(11)Nasals are syllabic at the end of a word when Nasals are syllabic at the end of a word when immediately after an immediately after an obstruentobstruent..

ExamplesExamplesleaden, leaden, chasmchasm

['['lEdn1lEdn1, , 'k'kQzm1Qzm1]]

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(12)(12)The lateral /l/ is syllabic at the end of a word when The lateral /l/ is syllabic at the end of a word when immediately after a consonant. immediately after a consonant.

ExamplesExamplespaddle, paddle, whistlewhistle

['p['pQdl1Qdl1, , ''wIsl1wIsl1]]

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(12a)(12a)The liquids /l, r/ are syllabic at the end of a word when The liquids /l, r/ are syllabic at the end of a word when immediately after a consonant. immediately after a consonant.

ExamplesExamplessabresabre,, razor,razor, hammer,hammer, tailortailor['se['seIbr1Ibr1,, 'r'reIzr1eIzr1,, 'h'hQmr1Qmr1,, ''teteIlr1Ilr1] ]

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(13)(13)Alveolar stops become voiced taps when they occur Alveolar stops become voiced taps when they occur between two vowels, the second of which is unstressed. between two vowels, the second of which is unstressed.

ExamplesExampleswinter, winnerwinter, winnerPanting, panning Panting, panning

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(13a)(13a)Alveolar stops and alveolar nasal plus stop sequences Alveolar stops and alveolar nasal plus stop sequences become voiced taps when they occur between two become voiced taps when they occur between two vowels, the second of which is unstressed. vowels, the second of which is unstressed.

ExamplesExamplesauntieauntieDanteDante

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(14)(14)Alveolar consonants become dentals before dental Alveolar consonants become dentals before dental consonants.consonants.Note that this rule applies to all alveolar consonants, not Note that this rule applies to all alveolar consonants, not just stops, and it often applies across word boundaries. just stops, and it often applies across word boundaries.

ExamplesExampleseighth, eighth, tenth, tenth, wealthwealth

[e[eIt5TIt5T, , ttEn5TEn5T, , wwEl5TEl5T].].

at thisat this[[Qt5 DIsQt5 DIs]]

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(15)(15)Alveolar stops are reduced or omitted when between Alveolar stops are reduced or omitted when between two consonants. two consonants.

ExamplesExamplesmost people most people

['['moUsmoUs 'p'pipl1ipl1] or ['] or ['moUstmoUst 'p'pipl1ipl1] ]

best game best game

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(16)(16)A homorganic voiceless stop may be inserted after a A homorganic voiceless stop may be inserted after a nasal before a voiceless fricative followed by an nasal before a voiceless fricative followed by an unstressed vowel in the same word. unstressed vowel in the same word.

ExamplesExamplessomethingsomething youngsteryoungster

['['s√ms√mppTINTIN] ] ['j['j√N√Nkkst´’st´’]]

concertconcert agencyagency

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(17)(17)A consonant is shortened when it is before an identical A consonant is shortened when it is before an identical consonant. consonant.

ExamplesExamplesbig game, top post big game, top post

stray tissue, straight issue, straight tissue stray tissue, straight issue, straight tissue

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(18)(18)Velar stops become more front as the following vowel in Velar stops become more front as the following vowel in the same syllable becomes more front. the same syllable becomes more front.

ExamplesExamples/k/ in "cap, kept, kit, key" /k/ in "cap, kept, kit, key"

[[kkQQpp, , kkEEptpt, , kkIItt, k, kii] ]

//gg/ in "gap, get, give, geese" / in "gap, get, give, geese" [[gQgQp, p, gEgEt, t, gIvgIv, , gisgis]. ].

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(19)(19)The lateral /l/ is The lateral /l/ is velarizedvelarized when after a vowel or before when after a vowel or before a consonant at the end of a word. a consonant at the end of a word.

ExamplesExampleslife life filefile clapclap talc talc [[laIflaIf] [] [faI…faI…]] [k[klQplQp] [] [tQ…ktQ…k

feelingfeeling feelfeel[[filINfilIN] ] [[fi…fi…]]

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