English Phonetics and Phonology

To success in mastering any language requires knowledge in speaking, writing and

reading the language. The speaking component requires the understanding in use of
correct pronounsiation emphasis and syntactic pathers. The written component requires
mastery of the alphabet, spelling and the ability to write, print or type the pattern.
In order to help linguist, media personal or individuals learning English as a second
language and others interested in correct pronunciation the International Phonetic
Alphabet was devised in 1886 a group of phoneticians from France , Germany , Brittany
and Denmark met to discuss the adoption of a universal system of pronunciation. The
IPA based on an alphabet written by a British phonetician named Henry Sweet and it
represented the first successful attempt to systemize the pronunciation of speech sounds
across most languages. The IPA provides the user with a universally accepted symbol for
each of the speech sounds. 5 main sections: vowels, consonants, other symbols, diacritics,
suprasegmental. The last 3 are a subsection of the IPA used to enchase and further the .
The other symbol subsection allows for the transcription of additional sounds not fully
represented in the consonants and vowels categories. Diacritics are symbols designed to
be added to consonant, vowel or other symbol to further describe the phoneme.
Suprasegmental provide information on stress, boundaries, pitch (tonul vocii) and timing.
[ ] = used for a phonetic transcription but a narrow – doar un cuvant
| | = slant lines, used for a phonetic transcription but a broad – propozitie
: indicates that the sound represented by the preceding symbol is long
 High vertical stroke – which is placed immediately before a syllable and indicates the
Primary stress
˛ Low vertical stroke -which is placed immediately before a syllable and indicates the
Secondary stress
No capital letters and no punctuation marks are used in the phonetic transcription. It is
important to remember that the letter of the alphabet is used for spelling words while the
phonetic symbols are used to indicate the sounds that make up a word. The study of
pronunciation consists of 2 fields phonetics and phonology.
Phonetics is the branch of linguistics that studies sounds. The word phonetics cams from
the Greek word phone meaning sound or voice. Phonetics studies the way in which the
speech sounds are produced transmitted and received, the way in which speech sounds
function in a language. In addition, it deals with whole range of phenomena, included in
the structure of languages such as stress, intonation, rhythm, although an independent
science phonetics is closely connected with some others branches of linguistics such as
lexicology (a change in the arrangement of the phonemes bring about a change of
meaning) grammar (Stress may distinguish different parts of speech (present and to
present) [ ́ prezant ] [prízent].
Intonation may render a sentence as declarative, interrogative or imperative. Tom came
yesterday. Tom came yesterday?
Branches of phonetics
General phonetics
-studies the speech sounds of a language of the world in general
Special phonetics
-studies the phonetic system of a given language.
If reference is made to the different stages in the speech event 3 different branches of
phonetics may be distinguished.
1 The articulatory
Studies the transmition of the speech sounds and their production, the organs used to
produces sounds and their movement.
2 Acoustic phonetics
Studies the transmition of the sounds through the air in the form of sounds waves and
also the acoustic properties of sound
3 Auditory phonetics
Studies the perception of speech sounds by the listener

Phonology

Studies the way which phonetic elements function in a language

Phonology is primary concern with how we integrate and systemize sounds. The study of
the phonology of English looks at the vowels, the consonants and suprasegmental feature
or the language.

PHONEMES

VOWELS CONSONANTS

SINGLE DIFTONGS VOICED VOICELESS

VOWELS

SHORT LONG

SUPRASEGMENTAL FEATURES

INTONATION STRESS

WORD SENTENCES
STRESS STRESS

Phonemes
Are different sounds within a language. Although there are slide differences in how
individuals articulate sounds we can still describe reasonably, accurately how each sound
is produced. Sounds may be voice or voiceless/unvoiced. Voiced sounds occur when the
vocal cords in the larynx are vibrated. The set of phonics consist of 2 categories vowel
sounds and consonant sounds. Vowel sounds are all voiced and may be single [e] in [let]
or a combination involving a movement from one vowel sound to another [leit] diftong.
This combinations are hold diftong, single vowel sounds may be short [bee] or long
[heat]. Consonant sounds may be voiced or voiceless. Suprasegmental features phonemes
are unites of sounds which we can analyze .They are also known as segments.
Suprasegmental features are features of speech which generally apply to groups of
segments or phonemes. The features that are important in English are stress, intonation,
and how sounds change in connected speech .With regard to individual words we can talk
about word stress. Usually one syllable in a word will sound more prominent than the
others as for instance paper, bottle. With the regard to utterances stress gives rhythm of
speech. One or more word within utterance are selected by the speaker as worthy of
stressing and thus they are made prominent to the listener. Intonancion on the other hand
is the way in which the pitch of the voice goes up and down in the course of an utterance.
Utterance stress and intonation patterns are often liked to the communication of meaning.
The next examples display how stress can have an equally significant role to play in the
communication of meaning
I’d like a cup of herbal TEA. – Simple request
I’d like a cup of HERBAL tea. - Specific
I’d like a CUP of herbal tea. – Difference
Types of pronunciation English is the national languages in many countries including
United Kingdom , Usa , Canada , Australia, New Zeeland and South Africa but there are
great differences in the pronunciation of English in these countries and even within the
same country ,may be hear different pronunciation.
The differences may have various causes such as locality, social environment, level of
education even age and sex. When people who have the same native language can
understand one another and at the same time notice consistent differences in each others
speech. We say that they speak different dialects of the same language.
There are differences in speech of educated and uneducated people. People of limited
education in sudden part of England omit the sound “h”. Help – elp, hospital – ospital .In
cockney which is a London dialect the word House (hause – haeuse) .Even within a
speech community such as Great Brittan or the USA one encounters considerable
diversification in pronunciation. Sometimes the differences are so great that people
speaking different dialect find it rather difficult to understand each other. Discussion of
dialect frequently leads to the question of a standard. Therefore, it is necessary to choose
from among the numerous varieties of English one that is likely to be understood by most
people. One kind of pronunciation of English enjoys the status of standard it is that
variety of British English used by educated speakers. In the sudden part of England
including the London area. This accent is referred to as RP (Received pronoaunciation =
accepted to the royal court). The RP is entirely intelligible to speakers of English
everywhere and it is amply described in books of English phonetics and has always been
the first choice in teaching English to foreigners. It has been adopted as the form of
pronunciation for BBC announcers.
19.10.2010

The speech Mechanism

In their totality are refered to as the speech bract or the speech mechanism

The speech mechanism is divided into 3 main parts

-the lhorax and the lungs –where the air streem is produced
-the larynx-where the sound is generated through the movement of the vocal coards
-the cavities – which act an resonator
And they are desdeveden according to the function

The ihorax,lungs larynx and ..

The air streem required to produce speech is started in the horax on chart.In vocal activity
is caused by peling the air streem from the lungs who`s primary function is related to
respiration.
The larynx /…. Undergoes important modification in the open leval of the ressperatory
bact before it becomes a speech act.
The air streem pares through the larynx which contains the vocal coards.The opening
between the vocal cord is known as the glottis.
-the vocal cords made various problems in ordon to perform various breathing on
speaking function
a)the vocal cords may be capt apart no the glottis is open and when the air comes out of
the langs there is no vibration of the vocal cord.The portion is characterustuc for the
voiceless consonants.
b)the vocal cords are lously breath togethern so the glotin is closed and the unbsde when
subjected to the cus previon from the langs.This partition is characteristic for the voced
consonants an vowels.
3.