Consonants in English and Arabic

PhoneticsPhonetics• Phonetics: It is the study of the production and

reception of speech sounds. It is concerned with the sounds of language, how these sounds are articulated and how hearer perceives them.

• Articulatory phonetics (production) علمالنطقي األصوات

• Auditory phonetics (perception) األصوات علمالسمعي

• Acoustic phonetics (physical properties and transmission of sounds): intensity, duration and frequency. الفیزیائي األصوات علم

Articulatory PhoneticsArticulatory Phonetics

Consonants & Vowels Consonants & Vowels • A vowel soundA vowel sound is produced with an open is produced with an open

passage of air in the mouth. Vowel sounds passage of air in the mouth. Vowel sounds produced are articulated with a free airflow. produced are articulated with a free airflow.

• A consonant soundA consonant sound is formed when the is formed when the airstream is restricted or stopped at some point airstream is restricted or stopped at some point in the vocal tract. Consonants are produced in the vocal tract. Consonants are produced with some narrowing (obstruction) of the with some narrowing (obstruction) of the articulatory passageway.articulatory passageway.

ConsonantsConsonants1.1. The state of the glottis (voiced or voiceless vocal The state of the glottis (voiced or voiceless vocal

cords): cords): When the vocal cords are open, the When the vocal cords are open, the consonant sound is voiceless; When they are consonant sound is voiceless; When they are vibrating, the consonant is voiced. vibrating, the consonant is voiced.

2.2. The Place of articulation: The Place of articulation: It is the point where the It is the point where the contact between the articulators takes place. contact between the articulators takes place.

3.3. The manner of articulation: The manner of articulation: how the airstream is how the airstream is modified by the vocal tract to produce sounds. It modified by the vocal tract to produce sounds. It depends on the degree of closure or constriction of depends on the degree of closure or constriction of the articulators – how close together or far apart the articulators – how close together or far apart they are. they are.

[b]

6

Bilabial Nasal [m]

Bilabial Stop [b]

7

[t[ ,]d :]airflow stopped(at the alveolar ridge)

Dental sounds ]ð , θ [

Activity Activity 1- Provide the phonetic symbol representing each of the 1- Provide the phonetic symbol representing each of the

following sounds:following sounds:

1.1. Voiced labiodental fricative Voiced labiodental fricative

2.2. Voiced alveolar lateral Voiced alveolar lateral

3.3. Voicelss glottal fricativeVoicelss glottal fricative

4.4. Voiced velar nasal Voiced velar nasal

5.5. Voiced dental fricative Voiced dental fricative

6.6. Voiced palatal fricative Voiced palatal fricative

Activity Activity 2- Provide the appropriate three-part articulatory 2- Provide the appropriate three-part articulatory

description for the consonant sounds represented in by the description for the consonant sounds represented in by the following symbols: following symbols:

1.1. / d/ dʒ / ʒ /

2.2. /n / /n /

3.3. /w / /w /

4.4. / f/ / f/

5.5. / p/ / p/

6.6. / / ʃʃ / /

Consonant Consonant ClassificationsClassifications Natural Classes Natural Classes are groups of sounds in a are groups of sounds in a

language that share some articulatory or language that share some articulatory or auditory features. In order for a group of auditory features. In order for a group of sounds to be a natural class it must include sounds to be a natural class it must include all of the sounds that share a particular all of the sounds that share a particular feature or a group of features. feature or a group of features.

[b, d, g ] voiced oral stops[b, d, g ] voiced oral stops [p, t, k ] voiceless oral stops [p, t, k ] voiceless oral stops [ p, l, w ] [ p, l, w ]

Consonant Classifications …Cont’dConsonant Classifications …Cont’d Obstruents Obstruents are consonants produced with an are consonants produced with an

obstruction of the airflow. The sounds in this obstruction of the airflow. The sounds in this category arecategory are stops, fricatives, affricatesstops, fricatives, affricates..

Sonorants Sonorants are consonants produced with a relatively are consonants produced with a relatively open passage for the airflow. They includeopen passage for the airflow. They include nasals, nasals, liquids and glides. liquids and glides.

Sibilant Sounds: Sibilant Sounds: are characteristically intense are characteristically intense consonants which are produced with a hissing consonants which are produced with a hissing sound by directing the air through a narrow channel sound by directing the air through a narrow channel in the vocal tract towards the sharp edge of the in the vocal tract towards the sharp edge of the teeth. They include all teeth. They include all fricativefricative and and affricateaffricate sound sound consonants including [s, z, ʃ, ʒ, tʃ, dʒ ]. consonants including [s, z, ʃ, ʒ, tʃ, dʒ ].

Activity Activity 3- List the members of the following natural classes: 3- List the members of the following natural classes:

1.1. Alveolar obstruent consonants Alveolar obstruent consonants 2.2. Voiced labial consonants Voiced labial consonants 3.3. Velar oral stop consonantsVelar oral stop consonants4.4. dental fricative consonants dental fricative consonants

4- Describe the following natural class:4- Describe the following natural class:1.1. [r, l ] [r, l ] 2.2. [f, s, ʃ , Ɵ ][f, s, ʃ , Ɵ ]3.3. [ w , y ] [ w , y ]

Arabic PhoneticsArabic Phonetics: األصوات القدامىفيعلم العرب العلماء جھود1 -: الدؤلي األسود أبو

لتفادي وذلك العربیة الحروف على الحركات وضعالشعوب اختالط مع العرب بھا وقع الذي الخطأ

والقبائل.2: أحمد- بن الخلیل١. الخاصبالھمزة- الرمز شرفوضع له كان٢. الشدة- رمز وضعھذا- ٣ یومنا إلى نستعملھا التي الضبط عالمات اخترع

. والكسرة والضمة بالفتحة المتمثلةلجھاز- ٤ دقیقة دراسة قدموا الذین األوائل من كان

النطق.٥. صوتیا- ترتیبا النطق بترتیبحروف قام

Arabic PhoneticsArabic Phonetics القدامىفيعلم العرب العلماء جھود

األصوات:

ه:سیبوی- 3في- ١ مخالفا صوتیا ترتیبا الحروف رتب

شیخ ترتیب أحمد الخلیل هذلك .بن

٢. مخرجا- عشر ستة إلى األصوات قسمفمنھا- ٣ صفاتھا حیث من األصوات قسم

الغنة، ،ذات ذات اللینة، صفیریة.الھاویةو المكررة المنحرفة، االستطالة،

Arabic PhoneticsArabic Phoneticsورسالت - 4 سینا حدوث ه ابن أسباب

الحروف:والطبیة التشریحیة الدراسة سینا ابن اعتمد

بتقسیم قام وقد النطق لجھاز والفیزیائیة:هرسالت فصول إلىستة

الصوت- 1 تموج ، فيسببحدوث عنده وھو. بسرعة دفعة الھواء

2: الحروف- الھواء فيسببحدوث حال ویقسمجانبین إلى للصوت الحادث ذاتي المتموج

. والمحابس المخارج یتوقفعلى واألخر3. الحنجرة- تشریح في

Arabic PhoneticsArabic Phoneticsوكتاب - 5 الجرجاني القاھر فيشرح ه عبد المقتصد

: والتكملة اإلیضاح: إلى وقسمها األصوات صفات عن تحدث

والھمس- 1 الجھر وتشمل العامة األصوات. واالعتدال والرخاوة والشدة

والمنفتحة- 2 المطبقة وتشمل الخاصة الصفاتوذات والصفیریة والمنخفضة والمستعلیة

وذات واالستطالة . الغنة واللین المداالنحراف- 3 وتشمل لألصوات المفردة الصفات

. والمھتویة الھاویة واألصوات والتكریركاإلدغام - 4 الصوتي التشكیل ناقشقضایا ثم

. وغیرھا واإلبدال

Arabic Consonant Sounds Arabic Consonant Sounds الصوامتالصوامت

: الصوامت أسستصنیفالنطق- ١ Manner of Articulation ھیئة

النطق- ٢ Place of Articulation مواضع

والھمس- ٣ الجھروالترقیق- ٤ التفخیم

Arabic Consonant Sounds Arabic Consonant Sounds الصوامتالصوامت : النطقي : الجهاز النطقي الجهاز

الحلق، اللسان، الحنك، سقف األسنان، الحلق، الشفتان، اللسان، الحنك، سقف األسنان، الشفتان،( الصوتية األحبال ، )الحنجرة الصوتية األحبال ، الحنجرة

: الحنك سقف : أقسام الحنك سقف أقساماللسان- 11 تلي التي وهي اللسان- اللثة تلي التي وهي alveolar Ridgealveolar Ridgeاللثةاللثة- 22 يلي الذي المخرز الصلب الجزء وهو اللثة- الغار يلي الذي المخرز الصلب الجزء وهو الغار

( األعلى( السقف من الصلب )الجزء األعلى( السقف من الصلب Hard PalateHard Palate الجزءالطري- 33 الجزء وهو الطري- الطبق الجزء وهو سقف //الطبق من سقف الرخو من الرخو

الغار يلي الذي الغار الحنك يلي الذي Soft PalateSoft Palateالحنك UvulaUvulaاللهاة- اللهاة- 44

الحروف الحروف مخارج مخارج

الجوف، ” 1.1. هي الرئيسية الحروف الجوف، ” مخارج هي الرئيسية الحروف مخارج “ واالنف والشفتان، واللسان، “ والحلق، واالنف والشفتان، واللسان، والحلق،

الصوامت الصوامت صفات صفات

.1.1: اإلنفجارية :األصوات اإلنفجارية Stop soundsStop sounds األصوات

.2.2 : االحتكاكية : االصوات االحتكاكية Fricative SoundsFricative Soundsاالصوات

المزدوجة 3.3. المركبة المزدوجة االصوات المركبة بين ::AffricateAffricateاالصوات بين وتجمع وتجمعأو المزجي الصوت البعض ويسميه والرخاوة أو الشدة المزجي الصوت البعض ويسميه والرخاوة الشدة

) ( اإلنجليزية وفي ج وهو ) ( المركب اإلنجليزية وفي ج وهو ddʒʒالمركبالجانبية 4.4. أو المتوسطة الجانبية األصوات أو المتوسطة ,Lateral, liquid, Lateral, liquid األصوات

semi-vowel soundsemi-vowel sound :: ليست التي االصوات ليست هي التي االصوات هيدون بمجراه الهواء يمر كأن بالرخوة وال دون بالشديدة بمجراه الهواء يمر كأن بالرخوة وال بالشديدة

الفم في مجراه الن اما نوع اي من انحباس او الفم احتكاك في مجراه الن اما نوع اي من انحباس او احتكاكصوت ) في كما التضييق او السد بنقطة المرور صوت ) يتجنب في كما التضييق او السد بنقطة المرور يتجنب

) في ( ) كما استقرار ذي غير التضييق ألن أو و و ( ل في ( ) كما استقرار ذي غير التضييق ألن أو و و ل .) ( ) ن ) ، م في كما األنف عبر يمر الهواء ألن أو ر (. صوت ( ) ن ) ، م في كما األنف عبر يمر الهواء ألن أو ر صوت

Bالشفوي

ة

LD الشفوية

اللسانية

IDبين

األسنانية

Dاألسناني

ة

Aاللثو

ي ة

Pالغارية

Vالطب

قي ة

Gالحنجر

ية

Phالحلقي

ة

Uاللهو

ية

Stop ب تط,,

د,ض

ك ق

Fric ف ث،ذ،

ظ

ز، ص

،س

،

ش غ، خ

، ءهـ

ع، ح

Affri ج Nas. م نLat. لTrill رGlid و ي

والهمس والهمس الجهر 33 الجهر -- : يتذبذب التي وهي المجهورة : الصوامت يتذبذب التي وهي المجهورة الصوامت

بها النطق عند الصوتيان بها الوتران النطق عند الصوتيان ج، الوتران ب،ل، غ، ع، ظ، ض،ط، ز، ر، ذ، د، خ،

ي و، ن، م،

: المهموسة يتهز الصوامت ال التي يتهز وهي ال التي وهيبها النطق عند الصوتيان بها الوتران النطق عند الصوتيان الوتران

ھ ك، ف، ص، ش، س، خ، ح، ث، ت،

والترقيق -4 -4 والترقيق التفخيم التفخيمیصاحب المفخمةالصوامت الصوامت التي االصوات تلك وهي

الى اللسان مؤخرة ارتفاع عن ناتج سمعي أثر إنتاجھا ( . خصضغط بلفظ وهيمجموعة الطبق باتجاه أعلى

قظ (: ھما قسمین إلي التفخیم ینقسمكلى - ١ (تفخیم ص،ض،ط،ظ ) ویشملجزئي - ٢ (.تفخیم خ،غ،ق ) ویشتمل

مرققة مقابالت كلیا تفخیما المفخمة للصوامت یوجدھي:

– س ص – د ض – ت ط – ذ ظ

: المرققة إنتاج الصوامت یصاحب عندما الترقیق یحدث . االحرف الغار اتجاه في اللسان مقدم ارتفاع الصامت

ر ) ( ، ل ، ا باستثناء الحروف باقي هي المرققة

Consonants that exist in Arabic onlyConsonants that exist in Arabic only

1.1. [q] [q] قق voiceless uvular stop voiceless uvular stop 2.2. [h] [h] حح voiceless pharyngeal voiceless pharyngeal

fricative fricative 3.3. [g] [g] غغ voiced velar fricative voiced velar fricative 4.4. voiced pharyngeal fricative voiced pharyngeal fricative عع [ [ ؟؟]]5.5. [x] [x] خخ voiceless velar fricative voiceless velar fricative 6.6. [t] [t] طط voiceless dental stop voiceless dental stop 7.7. [d] [d] ضض voiced dental stop voiced dental stop 8.8. [s] [s] صص voiceless dental fricative voiceless dental fricative 9.9. [z] [z] ظظ voiced dental fricative voiced dental fricative

Mistakes with Sounds not Existing in ArabicMistakes with Sounds not Existing in Arabic

1.1. [p] as in /pat/ tends to be substituted with [b]: [p] as in /pat/ tends to be substituted with [b]: I baid fif I baid fif bence bence a bicture of her. a bicture of her.

2.2. [v] tends to be substituted with [f] [v] tends to be substituted with [f] the van hit the tree the van hit the tree the fan hit the tree the fan hit the tree

3. [3. [ŋŋ] as in /king/ and /thing/ would be pronounced like ] as in /king/ and /thing/ would be pronounced like /s/sIIŋŋəə/ / /s /sIInnŋŋəə//

4. [tʃ ] as affricate is pronounced [ʃ ] 4. [tʃ ] as affricate is pronounced [ʃ ] /tʃeə//tʃeə/ chair, becomes chair, becomes /ʃeə//ʃeə/ share. share.

5. /ʒ / does not exist in Arabic, it is replaced with [dʒ] 5. /ʒ / does not exist in Arabic, it is replaced with [dʒ] əkeiʒən əkeiʒən əkeidʒənəkeidʒən

6. /t/ and /d/ are dental in Arabic rather than alveolar.6. /t/ and /d/ are dental in Arabic rather than alveolar.

7. [r] in Arabic is an alveolar trill rather 7. [r] in Arabic is an alveolar trill rather than alveolar retorfelx; English [r] is than alveolar retorfelx; English [r] is replaced by a schwa replaced by a schwa /ə/ in final positions; /ə/ in final positions; Arabic users tend to use [r] in all situations.Arabic users tend to use [r] in all situations.

Consonant Cluster in English and ArabicConsonant Cluster in English and Arabic

A A Consonant cluster is a group of Consonant cluster is a group of consonants which comes together consonants which comes together without a vowel sound between them without a vowel sound between them such as such as spspin, in, skskin, and in, and strstrand and

Two consonants: Two consonants: sphsphere, ere, slsleep, cueep, cutsts, , dodogsgs..

Three consonants: Three consonants: strstreet, rieet, riskedsked, , pluplungednged, fi, fix thx this.is.

Five consonants: miFive consonants: mixed swxed sweets.eets. Six consonants: fiSix consonants: first strrst stream.eam. Seven consonants: teSeven consonants: tempts strmpts strangers.angers.

Clusters may come at initial or final positions in English wordsClusters may come at initial or final positions in English words

1- Two consonants at the beginning of words:1- Two consonants at the beginning of words: 1. /s/ followed by /p, t, k, f, m, n, l, w/ as in 1. /s/ followed by /p, t, k, f, m, n, l, w/ as in spspare, are,

ststeam,eam,sksky, y, sphsphere, ere, smsmile, ile, snsneer, eer, slslow, and ow, and swearswear

/t/ followed by /r, w, j/ as in /t/ followed by /r, w, j/ as in trimtrim, , twin,twin, tunetune /k/ followed by /l, r, w, j/ as in /k/ followed by /l, r, w, j/ as in clipclip, , crimecrime, , queenqueen, ,

queuequeue /b/ followed by /l, r, j/ as in /b/ followed by /l, r, j/ as in blameblame, , brightbright, , beautifulbeautiful /d/ followed by /r, w, j/ as in /d/ followed by /r, w, j/ as in drydry, , dwelldwell, duty, duty /g/ followed by /l, r/ as in /g/ followed by /l, r/ as in glareglare, , grossgross.. /f/ followed by /l, r, j/ as in /f/ followed by /l, r, j/ as in flareflare, , frameframe, , fewfew /Ɵ/ followed by /r, w/ as in /Ɵ/ followed by /r, w/ as in threethree, , thwartthwart /ʃ/ followed by /r/ as in /ʃ/ followed by /r/ as in shrinkshrink.. /v, m, n, h/ followed by /j/ as /v, m, n, h/ followed by /j/ as in viewin view, , mutemute, , news,news, hugehuge

Clusters may come at initial or final positions in English wordsClusters may come at initial or final positions in English words

2- Three consonants at the beginning of words:2- Three consonants at the beginning of words: /spr/ as in spray, spread, spring./spr/ as in spray, spread, spring. /str/ as in struggle, straw, stress, strict./str/ as in struggle, straw, stress, strict. /skr/ as in scream, screen, screw, script./skr/ as in scream, screen, screw, script. /stj/ as in student, stupid./stj/ as in student, stupid. /skj/ as in skew, (this sequence is rare in /skj/ as in skew, (this sequence is rare in

English).English). /spl/ as in splash, splendid, split. /skw/ as in /spl/ as in splash, splendid, split. /skw/ as in

squad, square, squash, squeezes.squad, square, squash, squeezes.

Clusters may come at initial or final positions in English wordsClusters may come at initial or final positions in English words

3. Two or more consonants at the end of the word:3. Two or more consonants at the end of the word: /s/ and /z/ at the end of nouns to form the plural as in /s/ and /z/ at the end of nouns to form the plural as in

facts, fields, books, dogs. facts, fields, books, dogs. /s/ and /z/ at the end of verbs in the third person in /s/ and /z/ at the end of verbs in the third person in

the present tense: eats, gives, risks, yields.the present tense: eats, gives, risks, yields. /t/ and /d/ at the end of verbs in the past tense: as in /t/ and /d/ at the end of verbs in the past tense: as in

wished, raised, risked, plunged.wished, raised, risked, plunged. /Ɵ/ at the end of nouns and numbers: as in width, /Ɵ/ at the end of nouns and numbers: as in width,

strength, seventh.strength, seventh. /Ɵ/ followed by /s/ at the end of plural nouns and /Ɵ/ followed by /s/ at the end of plural nouns and

numerals as in breadths, sevenths.numerals as in breadths, sevenths.

4. Three or more consonants at word boundaries as in 4. Three or more consonants at word boundaries as in bebest mst man, loan, long skng skirt.irt.

Activity Activity

Identify the consonant cluster in each of the following and Identify the consonant cluster in each of the following and decide the number of consonant sounds in each cluster:decide the number of consonant sounds in each cluster:

1.1. glimpsed glimpsed 2.2. finished finished 3.3. perfect square perfect square 4.4. my best frame my best frame 5.5. extraextra 6.6. angry boy angry boy 7.7. songs songs 8.8. girls girls 9.9. next student next student 10.10. script script

Consonant Cluster in ArabicConsonant Cluster in Arabic

initial medial final

English c c c

cc cc cc

ccc ccc ccc

- cccc cccc

Arabic c c c

- cc cc

Consonant Cluster in ArabicConsonant Cluster in Arabic

1.1. Arabic has no more than two consonant Arabic has no more than two consonant cluster which occur medially or finallycluster which occur medially or finally

2.2. Arabic users tend to add a vowel Arabic users tend to add a vowel (intrusive vowel) to break the consonant (intrusive vowel) to break the consonant cluster, e.g. cluster, e.g. floor floor f fiiloorloorexpensive expensive ex exiipensive pensive plastic plastic b biilastiklastikthree three th thiireereetranslate translate t tiiransiletransilet

grandfather grandfather grand grandiifatherfather

Gemination in Arabic and English Gemination in Arabic and English

In Arabic, gemination or consonant doubling involved In Arabic, gemination or consonant doubling involved some muscular intensity when pronouncing a some muscular intensity when pronouncing a sound, e.g. sound, e.g. akala akala لa aلأك bلakkala# akkala # أك bلأك أكdarasadarasaسaرaسدaرaد # darrasa # darrasa سbسدرbدر

In English, there is doubling of consonants in In English, there is doubling of consonants in written English but not in pronunciation. written English but not in pronunciation. Thus, words like /attack/ , /allow/ are Thus, words like /attack/ , /allow/ are doubled in writing only. doubled in writing only.

Arabic speakers tend to double or lengthen the Arabic speakers tend to double or lengthen the

doubled letters, e.g. doubled letters, e.g. /allow/ /allow/ /al-low/ /al-low/

/attack/ /attack/ /at-tack/ /at-tack/

Pedagogical implications Pedagogical implications

Differences in consonant systems of Differences in consonant systems of Arabic and English may lead to Arabic and English may lead to problems in pronunciation, problems in pronunciation, comprehension and communication comprehension and communication for users of the two languages.for users of the two languages.

Language teachers need to sensitize Language teachers need to sensitize their learners’ awareness of their learners’ awareness of problematic areas and design problematic areas and design activities which address potential activities which address potential errors that are likely to arise due to errors that are likely to arise due to these differences! these differences!