Sounds of language: Phonetics and Applied Linguistics

SOUNDS OF LANGUAGE

Jourdanne Timbreza

Jose Rizal University

Master of Arts, Major in Language

Education

ABSTRACT

To know a language, one must know the sounds of the

language. The study of phonetics concerns itself with the

physical properties and sounds of speech. Mainly, it is discusses

how sounds are made and how these sounds are formed to

create a coherent thought or message in a chosen language,

which then will be passed onto listeners through the process of

oral communication. Before one may speak in a language, he

must know how words are said and which words to combine to

make these words.

ABSTRACT

Phones are unit of sounds which are then combined to form

syllables. These syllables are then combined to make words.

However, each syllable or phone, especially when combined,

has a unique sound attached to them. This is where

consonants and vowels enter the picture. They are then used

to translate these syllables and phones into something a

hearer may understand. How then should these elements be

combined or used? This shall be the main topic of this paper.

ROLE OF SPEECH SOUNDS

The basic knowledge a speaker should learn before

he learns a language is to recognize what the

language he aims to learn sounds like. It is only then

that he would be able to distinguish it's differences

and even its common traits with others from various

groups or families of language.

This point merely proves that to know a language

also means to know the sounds of a language .

PHONETICS

Phonetics is a branch of linguistics that aims to study

and describe the sounds and forms of both spoken and sign

language respectively.

They could also be referred to as sound differences.

From this information, it could be surmised that phonetics

is mainly concerned with the production, description and

differentiation of speech sounds.

PHONETICS

To the beginner, phonetics and phonology might be

confused to be the same discipline or study. However, upon

closer study, it should be noted that phonology concerns

itself with phonemes, abstract cognitive units of speech and

signs of language. Phonetics, on the other hand, concerns

itself with speech sounds, phones, syllables, consonants and

vowels. It also places utmost importance in the movement

of the vocal tract as speech sounds are produced. .

THE SPEECH TRAIN

Idea or concept is formulated within the brain of

the speaker. It will then be encoded into a common

language which he and the hearer both understand.

From the brain, the message is sent to the vocal

apparatus, which can also be associated with the

organs that compose the vocal tract. The muscles

and organs involved will then begin to position

themselves in order to produce the appropriate

speech sounds.

THE SPEECH TRAIN

The speech sounds travel through air until they

reach the ears of the hearer.

After hearing the speech sounds, (4) the brain of

the hearer starts to decode them until they arrive at

a thought which would prompt their own response.

THREE BRANCHES OF PHONETICS

Articulatory Phonetics pertains to the production of

speech sounds. It studies how the vocal tract reacts and

begins the procedure of generating the sounds of a language.

Auditory linguistics pertains to interpretation of speech

sounds within context.

Acoustic Phonetics concerned with the physical

properties of sounds (how the word is pronounced through

the speech sounds made)

THE VOCAL TRACT

The vocal tract is a group of organs involved in the

production of speech sounds.

Egressive pulmonic airstream is air pushed out of the

lungs.

Ingressive pulmonic airstream is produced when

speech sounds are made by breathing in.

PARTS OF THE VOCAL TRACT

Lungs

Larynx

Pharynx

Nasal cavity

Oral cavity

Glottis

M A N N E R A N D P L A C E O F A R T I C U L AT I O N

Place of articulation is defined as the point of contact

where the restriction or obstruction of airflow occurs in

the vocal tract.

Passive place of articulation is the more stationary

part of the vocal tract where articulation occurs ranging

from any part starting from the gums, upper teeth, roof

of the mouth and back of the throat.

M A N N E R A N D P L A C E O F A R T I C U L AT I O N

Active place of articulation is the more mobile

part of the vocal tract. These are parts are usually

found in some parts of the tongue and lips.

MAJOR PLACES OF ARTICULATION

Labials are divided into two kinds: Bilabial

sounds are made by bringing both lips together.

Labiodental sounds on the other hand, by allowing

the bottom of the lip to touch the upper teeth.

Dentals are formed using the tongue and teeth.

The tip of the tongue touches the upper teeth when

making /th/ and /t/ sounds. Interdentals which

occur when the tongue protrudes between the upper

teeth and the lower teeth.


Alveolars sounds occur when the blade of the

tongue touches or slightly touches the alveolar ridge.

This ridge is the roof of the mouth located behind

the upper teeth. Another alveolar sound such as

the /r/ sound allows the speaker to curl his tongue

just behind the alveolar ridge. This is called as post-

alveolar or retroflex.


Alveolars sounds occur when the blade of the tongue touches or

slightly touches the alveolar ridge. This ridge is the roof of the mouth

located behind the upper teeth. Another alveolar sound such as the /r/

sound allows the speaker to curl his tongue just behind the alveolar

ridge. This is called as post-alveolar or retroflex.

Palatals are made when the tongue makes contact with the palate.

If the tongue touches part of the front palate, it is an alveo-palatal

sound.


Velars occur when the consonant sounds are made

with the tongue touching the velum or soft palate.

Uvulars are made when the back of the tongue is

raised to touch the uvula. The uvula is the fleshy

bulge hanging down in the back of the throat.

Pharyngeals are made by pulling the root of the

tongue back to the narrow of the pharynx.


Glottal consonant sounds are made when there is

a constriction of the glottis, which is the opening

between the vocal folds.

MANNER OF ARTICULATION

The Manner of Articulation are concerned with

how the airstream is affected when it is released

from the lungs and pushed out of the mouth or nose,

if it is blocked or partially blocked and vibrating or

non-vibrating.


Stops are made when there is a complete closure

or blockage of the airstream. These can be made

from the glottis to the lips. When stops are made, the

air is closed or restricted in the oral cavity for a few

seconds before it is released to make a vowel sound.

Nasals are phones which lower the velum in order

to permit the air to pass through the nose. The flow

of air is stopped at the oral cavity but it may pass

freely through the nasal cavity.


Fricatives are impartial blockages of places of

articulation. Since the flow of air is constricted, there

is friction which can either be voiced or voiceless.

Affricates are a combination of stops and

fricatives. There is a restriction of air which is

immediately followed by a gradual release of the

closure, which causes friction.


Laterals are when both sides of the tongue are lowered to

allow air to pass through them. The air proceeds through the

sides of the tongue but is blocked by the tongue from going

through the middle of the mouth.

Liquids are present in the /l/ and /r/ sounds. A restriction of air

occurs, but not enough to cause friction. Acoustically, they have

common elements. This is the reason why foreign speakers may

sometimes interchange them or confuse them with one another.


Glides are also known as semi-vowels for they are consonants

that resemble vowels. They are known to have the least

constriction at the point of articulation. The articulators move

but they do not meet each other. After articulating the

consonant, the tongue glides in place to ready itself for the

following vowel sound.

Approximants are similar to liquids in a way that articulators

are close enough to each other but no actual friction occurs.


Trills are produced by rapid vibrations of an

articulator. The vibrating sound is made when the tip

of the tongue is against the alveolar ridge.

Meanwhile, a flap is made by a flick of the tongue

against the alveolar ridge. These two are also

referred to as Rhotics.

CONSONANTS AND VOWELS

A consonant is defined as a speech sound that is made with

either complete or partial closure of the vocal tract.

The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) was created to

represent each consonant sound with a symbol. These symbols

are known as letters, which are used in communication.

Vowel sounds are pronounced with an open vocal tract.

There is no restriction of air at any point just above the glottis.


The tongue may shift position within pronunciation

of vowels the vocal tract, on the other hand is used

as a resonating chamber for the passing airstream

resulting to vibration. According to McGregor

(2009), this means that all vowels are voiced in all

languages.


Diphthongs are known as gliding vowels. When

the tongue is in constant motion throughout

traveling from one vowel sound to another, a

diphthong is produced. They are adjacent vowel

sounds occurring within the same syllable. To this

extent, they are the opposite of monophthongs

which refer to simple vowels. These monophthongs

are made when the tongue is immobile and only one

vowel sound emerges from a syllable


Lip roundings are dependent on the position or

shape of the lips, if they are rounded or spread.

Rounded vowels are produced with pursed or

rounded lips. The two types of rounding are:

protruded and compressed. Protruded rounding

pertains to when the corners of the mouth are drawn

together like a tube while their inner surface

remains visible. Compressed rounding, on the other

hand, the lips are drawn together horizontally with

only the outer surface visible.

CONCLUSION

There are various sounds present in the English language. Speech

sounds are often taken for granted, as many people do not seem

to realize how important they are in terms of learning or acquiring

a language. Oral communication plays a major role in phonetics.

This can only suggest that the elements of spoken language such

as phones, syllables, consonants, syllables and other phonetic

properties are also vital principles of language that should not be

overlooked. Therefore, the study of phonetics should always be

considered in comprehending the concept of language.

REFERENCES:

McGregor, W. B (2009) Linguistics: An Introduction. New York,

Continuum International Group.

Fromkin, V. , Rodman, R. &Hyams, N. (2010) Introduction to

Linguistics. Singapore, Cengage Learning Asia

Phonetics (n.d.) Retrieved on: February 24, 2010. Retrieved from:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phonetics

Consonants (n.d.) Retrieved on: February 26, 2013. Retrieved from:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vowel

Diphthongs (n.d.) Retrieved on: February 19, 2013. Retrieved from:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dipthong

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phonetics

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vowel

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dipthong

Lip Rounding (n.d.) Retrieved on: February 27, 2013. Retrieved from:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lip_rounding

Hembree, D. (2013) What Are the Acoustic Properties for Describing

Consonant & Vowel Sounds? Retrieved on: February 25, 2013. Retrieved

from: http://

www.ehow.com/list_7658647_acoustic-describing-consonant-vowel-sounds

.html

Glossary of Phonetic Terms.(n.d.)Retrieved on: February 25, 2013.

Retrieved from: http://

msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh361665%28v=office.14%29.aspx

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lip_rounding

http://www.ehow.com/list_7658647_acoustic-describing-consonant-vowel-sounds.html



http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh361665%28v=office.14%29.aspx

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh361665%28v=office.14%29.aspx