Introduction to Phonetics & PhonologyIntroduction to Phonetics & Phonology

Dr S.J. Hannahs

Lecture 1 -- SEL1006/SEL8117

Semester 1, 2009-10

Newcastle University

Structure of the module

One hour lecture per week

One hour seminar per week (compulsory)

End-of-semester two-hour exam in January

What is phonetics?

What is phonetics?

Phonetics is the study of speech sounds.

What is phonetics?

Phonetics is the study of speech sounds.

a) how they’re produced (articulatory phonetics)

What is phonetics?

Phonetics is the study of speech sounds.

a) how they’re produced (articulatory phonetics)

b) their physical characteristics (acoustic phonetics)

What is phonetics?

Phonetics is the study of speech sounds.

a) how they’re produced (articulatory phonetics)

b) their physical characteristics (acoustic phonetics) and

c) how they’re perceived (auditory phonetics).

What is phonetics?

In this module we’ll concentrate on:

a) how they’re produced (articulatory phonetics)

Sound/symbol correspondence

Sound/symbol correspondence The need for a transcription system

Sound/symbol correspondence The need for a transcription system

Consider written English

Sound/symbol correspondence The need for a transcription system

Consider written English

enough

Sound/symbol correspondence The need for a transcription system

Consider written English

enough through

Sound/symbol correspondence The need for a transcription system

Consider written English

enough through thorough

Sound/symbol correspondence The need for a transcription system

Consider written English

enough through thorough thought

Sound/symbol correspondence The need for a transcription system

Consider written English

enough through thorough thought bough

Sound/symbol correspondence The need for a transcription system

Consider written English

enough through thorough thought bough

think

Sound/symbol correspondence The need for a transcription system

Consider written English

enough through thorough thought bough

think those

Sound/symbol correspondence The need for a transcription system

Consider written English

enough through thorough thought bough

think those thistle

Sound/symbol correspondence The need for a transcription system

Consider written English

enough through thorough thought bough

think those thistle thong

Sound/symbol correspondence The need for a transcription system

Consider written English

enough through thorough thought bough

think those thistle thong

church

Sound/symbol correspondence The need for a transcription system

Consider written English

enough through thorough thought bough

think those thistle thong

church chemistry

Sound/symbol correspondence The need for a transcription system

Consider written English

enough through thorough thought bough

think those thistle thong

church chemistry loch

Sound/symbol correspondence The need for a transcription system

Consider written English

enough through thorough thought bough

think those thistle thong

church chemistry loch Cheryl

International Phonetic AlphabetIPA

Devised in the 19th Century to help describe the sounds of languages independently of a language’s orthography (= writing system).

Under continuous revision.

Last major revision was in 1993.

Sound/symbol correspondence

enough through thorough thought bough [ʌf] [u:] [ə] [ɔ:] [aʊ]

think those thistle thong [θ] [ð] [θ] [θ]

church chemistry loch Cheryl [tʃ] [k] [x] [ʃ]

Transcription – the art of reducing speech to writing Don’t be influenced by English spelling!! Transcribe what is, not what ‘ought’ to be For instance, speech sounds can influence

neighbouring sounds: i[n] Newcastle i[m] Bolton i[ŋ] Carlisle

Trust your ears, not your years of education!!

Transcription – the art of reducing speech to writing

Remember: a word in isolation may be spoken differently to a word in connected speech to = [tu:] give it to him = [gɪv ɪt tə ɪm]

Transcription – the art of reducing speech to writing

Remember: a word in isolation may be spoken differently to a word in connected speech to = [tu:] give it to him = [gɪv ɪt tə ɪm]

compare

International Phonetic AlphabetIPA

Nota bene! The current IPA chart appears in Davenport & Hannahs (2005:xvi)

Seminars

Will begin next week, not this week

Next week’s seminar exercises will be: Exx 1-5, in Davenport & Hannahs, Ch. 2, p.17

In the meantime, read Chapters 1 & 2 of Davenport & Hannahs