Unit 2 step 4-Introduction to linguistics

Step 4 – Speech sounds and Semantics

Student
Jeniffer Sulay Lozano Beltrán
ID
1.026.555.120
Group
518017-1

Tutor
Luz Adriana Perdomo

Introduction to linguistics
Universidad Abierta y a Distancia (UNAD)

Funza, July 07th 2020

Unit 2 step 4-Introduction to linguistics

Activitiy

1. Questions 1 and 2-page 21 text: “The phoneme: the same but different” by McMahon
a. A learner of English as a second language has the following pronun-ciations (note that [ʃ]
is the symbol for the first sound in ship, and [ð] for the first sound in the):
that[dat] fish[fIʃ] sat[sat] loss[lɒs]

leather[lεðə] dog[dɒg] miss[mIʃ] push[pus]

sing[ʃIŋ] leader [li:ðə] head[hεd]

How might you explain these non-native pronunciations?

“Alphabetic spelling systems are frequently based on the phonemes of a

language”( McMahon,2016,p.18), so in that order; some linguists teachers have taught English

language to speakers that in their maternal language had lackerdorthographies, although we

know that is important don´t assume that we can simply read the phoneme system off the

spelling system, because there isn´t always o one-to-one correlation, this point affects the

phoneme in learners for our native phoneme system.

Other aspect is that in our language (Spanish) doesn´t exist contrast between aspirated

(th) and unaspirated (t) that in English is used frequently.

Finally, all these aspects made that an English learner isn´t distinguishing the correct

English sounds and is getting confused with minimal pairs. As in “that” [dat ] instead for [ðæʈ ]
Unit 2 step 4-Introduction to linguistics

How do you think this learner would pronounce the bold-faced consonants in

Daddy,either, loathe;ship,pass,dish,usher?

WORD CORRECT PRONOUNCE

Daddy ɖæɖi
Either iːðeɾ
Loathe ɭəʊð
Ship ʃɪp
Pass pɑːs
Dish ɖɪʃ
Usher /ˈʌʃɚ/

b. Do the following sounds contrast in English? Find minimal pairs to support your

hypothesis, ideally for initial, medial and final position in the word. Where minimal

pairs for all positions do not seem to be avail-able, write a short statement of where

the sound in question can and cannot be found. [m n ŋ p b t d k g l r]

The followings sound contrast because they have minimal phonetic difference

Minimal pair Initial Medial Final

[m] [n ] Mow Comb Beam
No Cone Bean
Minimal pair Initial Medial Final
[b ] [p ] Bump Rapid Rib
Pump Rabbit Rip

Minimal pair Initial Medial Final

[t ] [d ] Tent Bite Sat
Dent Bide Sad

Minimal pair Initial Medial Final

[k ] [g ] Coat Ankle Back
Goat Anger Bag
Unit 2 step 4-Introduction to linguistics

Minimal pair Initial Medial Final

[l ] [r ] Lot Blues Peel
Rot Bruise Peer