English Phonetics and Phonology

1. Introduction to Phonetics and Phonology

2010.03.25.

English Phonetics and Phonology: Lectures Code: AN123 K1 Status: required Lecturer: Dr Vermes Albert E-mail: vermes@ektf.hu Internet: gemini.ektf.hu/~vermes Objectives: The course is intended to introduce students to English phonetics and phonology by providing a general outline of such phenomena as well as by focusing attention on the essential phonetic and phonological characteristics of the English language. Topics: 1. Introduction to the course. Pronunciation, phonetics and phonology 2. Basic concepts in phonetics and phonology 3. Articulatory description and classification of consonant sounds 4. Articulatory description and classification of vowel sounds 5. Phonological description of the English consonants 6. Phonological description of the English vowels 7. Spelling regularities for the English consonants 8. Regularities of spelling and pronunciation for the English vowels 9. English syllable structure 10. Stress in simple words 11. Stress in complex words 12. Sentence stress and rhythm in English 13. English intonation: forms and functions 14. Sentence types and intonation in English Evaluation: Students will be required to take a written exam at the end of the semester.

2010.03.25.

Required readings: Ndasdy . 2006. Background to English Pronunciation : Phonetics, Phonology, Spelling : For Students of English at Hungarian Teacher Training Institutions. Budapest: Nemzeti Tanknyvkiad. Suggested readings: Andrs, L. T. and Stephanides, E. 1988. An Outline of Present-day English Structure. Volume 1: Phonetics and Phonology. Budapest: Tanknyvkiad. Giegrich, H. J. 1992. English Phonology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Gimson, A. C. 1991. An Introduction to the Pronunciation of English. London: Edward Arnold. Jones, D. 1993. An Outline of English Phonetics. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Kovcs, J. and Siptr, P. 2000. jra angolra hangolva. Budapest: Helikon Kiad. Ndasdy, . 2003. Practice Book in English Phonetics and Phonology. Budapest: Nemzeti Tanknyvkiad. OConnor, J. D. 1991. Phonetics. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books. Roach, P. 1991. English Phonetics and Phonology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Roach, P. 1992. Introducing Phonetics. London: Penguin Books.
2010.03.25. 3

1. What is this course about?

English pronunciation: those elements of knowledge that do not appear in writing, or cannot be directly inferred from the written form of the language (Ndasdy 2006: 23).

2010.03.25.

2. What are the specific aims?

I. Phonetic knowledge II. Phonological (systematic) knowledge III. Spelling regularities

2010.03.25.

I. Phonetic knowledge
Phonetic knowledge: the production and perception of (a) Segmental elements Absolute differences: cf. H sz and E so Relative differences: cf. H ing and E sing (b) Suprasegmental elements Stress: cf. H hotel and E hotel Rhythm: cf. H A nagyija egy helyes reg nni. E Her granny is a nice old lady. Intonation: cf. H Itt lakik? and E Is she living here?
2010.03.25. 6

II. Phonological (systematic) knowledge

(a) Sound composition: cf. then /Den/ and den /den/ (b) Sound alternations: cf. rebel (n) /reb@l/ and rebel (v) /rIbel/ (c) Morpheme alternations: cf. the act /DI{kt/ and the fact /D@f{kt/ inactive vs. impossible (d) Rules of stressing and intonation: cf. congratulate and congratulation
2010.03.25. 7

III. Spelling regularities

rob and robe, hit and hitting

2010.03.25.

3. Definitions
Phonetics Articulatory phonetics Acoustic phonetics Auditory phonetics Phonology Segmental phonology Suprasegmental phonology
2010.03.25. 9

Phonetics
Phonetics is the science which studies the characteristics of human sound-making, especially those sounds used in speech, and provides methods for their description, classification and transcription.

2010.03.25.

10

Branches of phonetics
Articulatory phonetics is the study of the way speech sounds are made (articulated) by the vocal organs. Acoustic phonetics studies the physical properties of speech sounds, as transmitted between mouth and ear. Auditory phonetics studies the perceptual response to speech sounds, as mediated by ear, auditory nerve and brain.
2010.03.25. 11

Phonology
Phonology is a branch of linguistics which studies the sound systems of languages. Out of the very wide range of sounds the human vocal apparatus can produce, and which are studied by phonetics, only a relatively small number are used distinctively in any one language. The sounds are organised into a system of contrasts, which are analysed in terms of phonemes, distinctive features or other such phonological units, according to the theory used.

2010.03.25.

12

Phonology (cntd.)
The aim of phonology is to demonstrate the patterns of distinctive sound found in a language and to make as general statements as possible about the nature of sound systems in the languages of the world. In other words, phonology is concerned with the range and function of sounds in specific languages and with the rules which can be given to show the types of phonetic relationships that relate and contrast words and other linguistic units.
2010.03.25. 13

Branches of phonology
Segmental phonology analyses speech into discrete segments, such as phonemes. Suprasegmental phonology analyses those features which extend over more than one segment, such as rhythm and intonation.
2010.03.25. 14

4. Relationship of phonetics and phonology

Language is a complex and dynamic system of conventional symbols that is used in various modes for thought and communication (Committee on Language, American SpeechLanguage-Hearing Association. ASHA, June 1983, 25, 44).

2010.03.25.

15

Linguistics
Linguistics may be defined as the scientific study of language, which aims at an explicit, consistent and complete description of linguistic phenomena.
Different branches of linguistics deal with different levels of the language system; phonetics with the raw material of sound and phonology with how these sounds are used.
2010.03.25. 16

Saussures and Chomskys distinction

la language
la langue competence phonology la parole performance phonetics

2010.03.25.

17

5. Readings
Ndasdy, . 2006. Background to English Pronunciation. Budapest: Nemzeti Tanknyvkiad. Chapter 1. Suggested readings: Andrs L. T. and Stephanides, E. 1988. An Outline of Present-day English Structure. Volume 1: Phonetics and Phonology. Budapest: Tanknyvkiad. Chapter 1. Gimson, A. C. 1991. An Introduction to the Pronunciation of English. London: Edward Arnold. Chapter 1.
2010.03.25. 18