introduction to phonetics and phonology. vowels articulated with a relatively free air passage,...

Introduction to Phonetics Introduction to Phonetics and Phonologyand Phonology

Vowels Vowels • articulated with a relatively free air articulated with a relatively free air

passage, without a significant narrowing or passage, without a significant narrowing or an obstacle in the vocal tractan obstacle in the vocal tract

• without audible frictionwithout audible friction

• ttheir articulation is accompanied by the heir articulation is accompanied by the vibration of the vocal cordsvibration of the vocal cords

• the differences in the shape of the mouth the differences in the shape of the mouth caused by different positions of the tongue caused by different positions of the tongue and the lipsand the lips

• easy to see the differences in the shape of easy to see the differences in the shape of the lips, but very difficult to see and the lips, but very difficult to see and explain how the tongue is positioned explain how the tongue is positioned differentlydifferently

• Vowels must be learnt by listening and Vowels must be learnt by listening and imitatingimitating

• there are 20 English vowels, there are 5 there are 20 English vowels, there are 5 Serbian vowels – very important to learn Serbian vowels – very important to learn how to increase the number of the how to increase the number of the positions of the tongue and articulate positions of the tongue and articulate these differences to the best of our ability these differences to the best of our ability

• DEFINITION:DEFINITION:

• a voiced sound in forming which the air a voiced sound in forming which the air issues in a continuous stream through the issues in a continuous stream through the pharynx and mouth, there being no pharynx and mouth, there being no obstruction and no narrowing such as would obstruction and no narrowing such as would cause audible frictioncause audible friction

• there is no there is no place of articulationplace of articulation for vowels, for vowels, so the description of vowels in done in a so the description of vowels in done in a different way different way

• the tongue is the most important speech the tongue is the most important speech organ in the articulation of vowels, so organ in the articulation of vowels, so vowels are primarily described by the vowels are primarily described by the position of the tongueposition of the tongue

TONGUE TONGUE

• The area of our vocal tract in which vowels The area of our vocal tract in which vowels are produced is commonly referred to as are produced is commonly referred to as the vowel spacethe vowel space: the part of the vocal : the part of the vocal tract lying just below the palato-velar zone tract lying just below the palato-velar zone of articulation of articulation

• the body of the tongue is just raised the body of the tongue is just raised towards towards the palate to some degree, never the palate to some degree, never coming too close or touching itcoming too close or touching it

• because of this, it is very difficult to because of this, it is very difficult to describe the exact articulatory position the describe the exact articulatory position the tongue assumes during the production of a tongue assumes during the production of a vowelvowel

• it is customary to 'capture' the position of it is customary to 'capture' the position of the tongue in a two-dimensional ‘net’ or the tongue in a two-dimensional ‘net’ or ‘grid’: vowel space is regarded as a ‘grid’: vowel space is regarded as a two-two-dimensional coordinate systemdimensional coordinate system, , defined by two parametersdefined by two parameters

• the the horizontal horizontal dimension - we specify dimension - we specify which which part of the tonguepart of the tongue body is raised body is raised to the highest point to the highest point

• the the vertical vertical dimension - we specify dimension - we specify how how highhigh that part of the tongue is raised: that part of the tongue is raised: the the degree of raisingdegree of raising. .

• THIS WE REPRESENT GRAPHICALLY by THIS WE REPRESENT GRAPHICALLY by means of a stylised and simplified means of a stylised and simplified rectangular shaperectangular shape

• Part of the tongue:Part of the tongue: a three-way a three-way distinction - distinction - frontfront vowels, vowels, central central vowels, vowels, backback vowels vowels

• Degree of raising: Degree of raising: four categories: open, four categories: open, half-open, half-close and close half-open, half-close and close

• BUT these terms actually describe the width BUT these terms actually describe the width of the air passage, and not the position of of the air passage, and not the position of the tongue! the tongue!

• MOST RECENT: MOST RECENT: open, open-mid, close-open, open-mid, close-mid mid and and closeclose

• another important aspect: another important aspect: vowel durationvowel duration - phonetic, physical property - the amount - phonetic, physical property - the amount of time necessary to complete the of time necessary to complete the articulation of the segmentarticulation of the segment

• the ‘manner’ of articulationthe ‘manner’ of articulation for vowels for vowels different from the manner of articulation different from the manner of articulation for consonantsfor consonants

• 'simple' 'simple' oror 'pure' vowels 'pure' vowels - the resonator - the resonator has a particular, typical shape has a particular, typical shape throughout throughout the productionthe production

• we put our articulators in a certain position we put our articulators in a certain position and keep this position for some time - a and keep this position for some time - a relatively steady period of vowel relatively steady period of vowel productionproduction

• simplesimple vowelsvowels or or monophthongsmonophthongs

• a whole set of long vowels which are not a whole set of long vowels which are not simple or stable in this respectsimple or stable in this respect

• during their production there is an during their production there is an observable and significant observable and significant glide glide from one from one articulatory position to anotherarticulatory position to another

• the glide occupies the central portion of the glide occupies the central portion of the vowelthe vowel

• diphthongs diphthongs or or glidesglides

• a diphthong can be said to have a diphthong can be said to have two two vowel targetsvowel targets, , joined together by the joined together by the glideglide

TENSE vs. LAX VOWELS • some vowels might share the same features

for tongue height, tongue highest point, and lip rounding (e.g. /i/ as in heat and /I/ as in hit - both front high unrounded vowels)

• such pairs of vowels are usually distinguished by a tense vs. lax feature: /i/ is produced with greater vocal tract constriction than /I/

• /i/ is a tense vowel, whereas /I/ is a lax vowel

• tense vowels are also longer

LIP ROUNDING

• vowels are also distinguished according to the shape of the lips while producing them

• e.g. /u/ as in moon is produced with rounded lips, whereas // as in man is an unrounded vowel

SERBIAN vs. ENGLISH SERBIAN vs. ENGLISH VOWELS VOWELS • all the pure vowels of English and Serbian are all the pure vowels of English and Serbian are

differentdifferent• even the pronunciation of those vowels which even the pronunciation of those vowels which

are commonly regarded as ‘the same’ in are commonly regarded as ‘the same’ in Serbian and English can be problematic for Serbian and English can be problematic for Serbian studentsSerbian students

• what we need to do when acquiring the vowel what we need to do when acquiring the vowel system of English is completely re-structure system of English is completely re-structure the whole vowel space in both perceptual and the whole vowel space in both perceptual and articulatory termsarticulatory terms

• we have to learn how to use a whole new we have to learn how to use a whole new system of categories when speaking English system of categories when speaking English and listening to English speechand listening to English speech

English English monophthongsmonophthongs

• /// / • pronounced with a part of the tongue nearer pronounced with a part of the tongue nearer

to the centre than to the front, raised just to the centre than to the front, raised just above the close-mid positionabove the close-mid position

• the lips are loosely spread, the tongue is the lips are loosely spread, the tongue is lax, with the side rims making slight contact lax, with the side rims making slight contact with the upper molars with the upper molars

• spelling patterns: spelling patterns: ii hithit, , y y cyst, cylinder, city cyst, cylinder, city ( (NBNB also also ieie cities), cities), ee exchange, English; exchange, English; also: also: women, busy, buildingwomen, busy, building

• DISTINCTIVE FEATURESDISTINCTIVE FEATURES

• Type of articulationType of articulation VowelVowel

• Manner of articulationManner of articulation MonophthongMonophthong

• Part of the tongue Part of the tongue Front to centralFront to central

• Degree of raising Degree of raising Above close-midAbove close-mid

• Lip positionLip position Slightly spread to Slightly spread to neutralneutral

• Degree of tenseness Degree of tenseness LaxLax

• LengthLength ShortShort

• /i:/ /i:/ • the front of the tongue is raised to a the front of the tongue is raised to a

height slightly below and behind the front height slightly below and behind the front close positionclose position

• the lips are spread the lips are spread • the tongue is tense, with the side rims the tongue is tense, with the side rims

making a firm contact with the upper making a firm contact with the upper molarsmolars

• spelling patterns: spelling patterns: eeee see,see, ea ea sea, cease, sea, cease, ieie piece, piece, eiei seize, seize, eo eo people,people, eyey key, key, e e these, these, ii police, police, uayuay quay quay




• Part of the tongue Part of the tongue FrontFront

• Degree of raising Degree of raising CloseClose

• Lip positionLip position SpreadSpread

• Degree of tenseness Degree of tenseness TenseTense

• LengthLength LongLong

• /e//e/

• the front of the tongue is raised between the front of the tongue is raised between the close-mid and open-mid positionsthe close-mid and open-mid positions

• the lips are loosely spread and are slightly the lips are loosely spread and are slightly wider apart than for /wider apart than for ///

• the tongue may have more tension than in the tongue may have more tension than in the case of /the case of //, the side rims making a light /, the side rims making a light contact with the upper molars contact with the upper molars

• spelling patterns: spelling patterns: ee tell, bet, tell, bet, ea ea spread, spread, a a any, many, ALSO: friendany, many, ALSO: friend, , said, burysaid, bury





• Degree of raising Degree of raising Open-mid to Open-mid to close-close- midmid

• Lip positionLip position Neutral (or only Neutral (or only slightly slightly

spread)spread)



• /æ//æ/

• the mouth is slighly more open than for /e/the mouth is slighly more open than for /e/

• the front of the tongue is raised to a the front of the tongue is raised to a position midway between open and open-position midway between open and open-mid, with the side rims making a very mid, with the side rims making a very slight contact with the back upper molarsslight contact with the back upper molars

• the lips are neutrally open the lips are neutrally open

• the tongue itself has more tension than for the tongue itself has more tension than for /e//e/

• SPELLING PATTERNS: SPELLING PATTERNS: aa bad, mad, stamp, bad, mad, stamp, pack, pack, aiai plaitplait





• Degree of raising Degree of raising Open to open--Open to open--midmid

• Lip positionLip position NeutralNeutral



• /ʌ//ʌ/

• articulated with a considerable separation articulated with a considerable separation of the jaws and with the lips neutrally open of the jaws and with the lips neutrally open

• the centre of the tongue is raised just the centre of the tongue is raised just above the fully open positionabove the fully open position

• there is no contact between the tongue there is no contact between the tongue and the upper molars and the upper molars

• spelling patterns: spelling patterns: uu sun, sudden, sun, sudden, o o son, son, London, London, oo oo blood, blood, ouou enough, enough, also: also: ddoeoess




• Part of the tongue Part of the tongue CentralCentral

• Degree of raising Degree of raising Open to open--Open to open--midmid




• /ɑ://ɑ:/

• this normally long vowel is articulated with this normally long vowel is articulated with a considerable separation of the jaws and a considerable separation of the jaws and the lips neutrally open the lips neutrally open

• a part of the tongue between the centre a part of the tongue between the centre and back is in fully open position and back is in fully open position

• no contact is made between the tongue no contact is made between the tongue and the upper molars and the upper molars

• spelling patterns: spelling patterns: aa grass, grass, ear ear heart, heart, au au laughlaugh

• NBNB a, e + r, l a, e + r, l car, calm, clerk, parkcar, calm, clerk, park




• Part of the tongue Part of the tongue BackBack

• Degree of raising Degree of raising OpenOpen




• ////• this short vowel is articulated with wide this short vowel is articulated with wide

open jaws and slight, open lip-roundingopen jaws and slight, open lip-rounding

• the back of the tongue is in the fully open the back of the tongue is in the fully open position, there is no contact between the position, there is no contact between the tongue and the upper molarstongue and the upper molars

• spelling patterns: spelling patterns: oo hot, hot, aa wander, watch, wander, watch, ou ou cough, cough, NBNB knowledgeknowledge





• Degree of raising Degree of raising Open (just Open (just above)above)

• Lip positionLip position Slightly roundedSlightly rounded



• //:/:/• this relatively long vowel is articulated this relatively long vowel is articulated

with medium lip roundingwith medium lip rounding

• the back of the tongue is raised between the back of the tongue is raised between the open-mid and close-mid positionsthe open-mid and close-mid positions

• there is no contact between the tongue there is no contact between the tongue and the upper molarsand the upper molars

• spelling patterns: spelling patterns: a a war, talk, war, talk, awaw saw, saw, o(o)r o(o)r corn, door, corn, door, oa oa board, board, ou ou thought, thought, au au taught taught NBNB four, broadfour, broad






• Lip positionLip position RoundedRounded



• ////• this short vowel is pronounced with a part this short vowel is pronounced with a part

of the tongue nearer to the centre than to of the tongue nearer to the centre than to the back raised just above the close-mid the back raised just above the close-mid positionposition

• the tongue is laxly heldthe tongue is laxly held

• there is no firm contact between the there is no firm contact between the tongue and the upper molarstongue and the upper molars

• the lips are closely but loosely roundedthe lips are closely but loosely rounded

• spelling patterns: spelling patterns: uu put, put, oooo wood, wood, o o wolf, wolf, ou ou could, could, NBNB womanwoman




• Part of the tongue Part of the tongue Central to backCentral to back

• Degree of raising Degree of raising Just above the Just above the close-close- midmid

• Lip positionLip position Loosely roundedLoosely rounded



• /u://u:/

• this long vowel is a close bacl vowel, but this long vowel is a close bacl vowel, but the tongue-raising is relaxed from the the tongue-raising is relaxed from the closest position and is somewhat closest position and is somewhat centralized from the true backcentralized from the true back


• the lips tend to be closely rounded the lips tend to be closely rounded

• spelling patterns: spelling patterns: oooo food, food, oo move, move, ou ou through, through, u u rude, rude, NBNB blue, chew, shoeblue, chew, shoe





• Degree of raising Degree of raising CloseClose

• Lip positionLip position Closely roundedClosely rounded



• //:/:/

• this vowel is articulated with the centre of this vowel is articulated with the centre of the tongue raised between close-mid and the tongue raised between close-mid and open-midopen-mid


• the lips are neutrally spread the lips are neutrally spread

• spelling patterns: spelling patterns: NBNB various vowel-various vowel-letters + r - letters + r - bird, work, earth, fern, bird, work, earth, fern, journey, spur, serve, turnjourney, spur, serve, turn




• Part of the tongue Part of the tongue CentralCentral





• ////• this vowel has a very high frequency of this vowel has a very high frequency of

occurrence in unaccented syllables occurrence in unaccented syllables

• central vowel with neutral lip positioncentral vowel with neutral lip position

• in non-final position the tongue is raised in non-final position the tongue is raised between open-mid and close-midbetween open-mid and close-mid

• when the vowel is close to velar when the vowel is close to velar consonants /k, g, consonants /k, g, /, the tongue may be /, the tongue may be slightly more raised and retracted slightly more raised and retracted

• in final positions the vowel may be in final positions the vowel may be articulated in the open-mid central articulated in the open-mid central position (similar to /position (similar to //) /)

• DISTINCTIVE FEATURESDISTINCTIVE FEATURES• Type of articulationType of articulation VowelVowel• Manner of articulationManner of articulation MonophthongMonophthong• Part of the tongue Part of the tongue CentralCentral • Degree of raising Degree of raising Open-mid allophone/ Open-mid allophone/

close-mid allophoneclose-mid allophone• Lip positionLip position NeutralNeutral• Degree of tenseness Degree of tenseness LaxLax• LengthLength ShortShort • SPELLING PATTERNS: SPELLING PATTERNS: NBNB practically any practically any

vowel letter - vowel letter - policempolicemaan, policemn, policemeen, n, ssuupport, pport, aarrange, quickrrange, quickerer, fam, famouous, cs, cupupboard…board…

introduction to phonetics and phonology. vowels articulated with a relatively free air passage,...

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