Phonetics Midterm

Phonology

Branch of linguistics that studies the structure and function of sounds within a language, including how the particular sounds used in each language form an integrated system for encoding information and how such systems differ from one language to another

What is fundamental frequency?

Rate of vocal fold vibration, higher frequency=higher pitch

Articulatory Phonetics

How speech sounds are formed (anatomical structures and motions involved in the production of speech sounds)

Acoustic Phonetics

The acoustic properties of sound waves produced by articulation (time, frequency, amplitude)

Abduction

Vocal folds are moved apart, trachea is unblocked for respiration

Adduction

vocal folds brought together, closing off airflow to and from the trachea, vocal folds can be brought together to vibrate against each other, prevents choking

Where are the vocal folds during respiration?

They are held wide apart (abducted) to allow for unrestricted airflow

Auditory Phonetics

How sounds are perceived through the ear (physiological processes involved in the reception of speech)

Clinical/Applied Phonetics

Application of phonetics in the clinic (assessment and treatment of articulatory disorders), deals with errors or abnormalities in the production of speech sounds

Phonetics vs. Phonology

Phonetics: Studies production, acoustic properties, and perception of speech sounds

Phonology: Studies structure and pattern of sounds in a particular language (How sounds are arranged and how they function within the language)

“Phon”

Sound

Phoneme

Smallest unit of sound that can differentiate between meaningful units

3 Ways To Recognize Phonemes

1. Phonemes are sounds, not spellings.

2. Sounds must be produced with articulators.

3. Try not to slow down too much

How many phonemes in “Note?”

3

How many phonemes in “Looking?”

5

Allophones

Contextual variants of a phoneme, differ in production (and sometimes sound), do not have the capability to differentiate the meaning between two items (ex. pit, spit, lamb, wool)

How many phonemes in “clouds?”

5

How many phonemes in the word “mix?”

4

Morpheme

Smallest unit in a language that carries meaning

How are morphemes and phonemes related?

Phonemes are units of sound that make up units of meaning i.e morphemes

Orthography

System of written symbols used for the writing of a language

Grapheme

unit in the writing system of a language (26 graphemes in English)

Allograph

Any one letter or combination of letters that represents a particular phoneme (ex. /f/ sound can be spelled “fish,” “phonetics,” “cough”)

Lexicon

List of morphemes in a language

Phonotactic Constraints

Restrictions in a language on the permissible combinations of phonemes (ex. absence of “ng” at beginning of words in English)

Macroculture

National (or international) cultural traits shared in a general way; crosses local boundaries

Microculture

Patterns of shared behavior & ideas particular to localized regions or particular groups

Modal Phonation (everyday)

Vocal folds adducted during their closed phase and have moderate tension, regular phonation w/ moderate pitch

Whisper Phonation

Vocal folds are held slightly apart, tensed: also rigid which prevents them from vibrating. The partially opened glottis forms a narrow opening which causes turbulence.

Breathing System (ATLAT)

Accessory muscles, thorax, lungs, abdomen, trachea

Breathy Phonation

Vocal folds are tensed for vibration, but not fully adducted (no complete closures), air flow continues throughout the cycle

Falsetto Phonation

Vocal folds are VERY tense and held in such a way as that a small area can vibrate=high fundamental frequency (LAAAA)

Vocal Fry Phonation

Vocal folds are loose, but fully adducted=low fundamental frequency and irregular vibration

An individual can be part of many ___ at once

Microcultures

Microcultures influence

An individual’s speech and language

Cultural stereotyping

Inappropriate assumptions of beliefs and behaviors associated w/ particular cultures

Dialects are

Rule governed and systematic, aren’t just an “accent”

An example of a semantic difference between dialects

Tennis shoes vs. sneakers

An example of a pragmatic difference between dialects

Standing really close to someone, calling someone of authority sir/ma’am (social use)

An example of a phonological difference between dialects

An accent

An example of morpho-syntactic difference between dialects

The car needs washed

Idiolect

A much smaller scale phenomenon of a dialect, reflective of what is going on with an individual (ex. how you speak with your best friend)

Social Dialect (sociolect)

Varieties of a language spoken by a definable social or demographic group, ex. AAE, high vs. lower-class in Britain (sitting room vs. lounge)

Foreign Accent/L1 Influenced Speech

Rules governing a speaker’s native language may intrude on production in English-speakers may produce words in a way that conforms more “naturally” to their native language

An example of L1 Influenced Speech

A Spanish speakers adding “e” in front of words that start with “s”

Code Switching

When bilingual or bi-dialectal speakers switch between one dialect or language to another, can be topical or situational (talking to mom vs. talking to friend)

ASHA’s stance on accents/dialects

No dialect or accent is a disorder of phonology! Elective services can be offered if someone wants to speak closer to “typical” standard English

Dialect

A variation in language that is shared among a particular speech community, can reflect membership in any kind of speech community

Language…

Reflects the culture from which it arises, is fundamental to cultural identity/identity itself

Acculturation

Influence of one culture on another

Respiratory System

Provides power for speech, egressive airflow

Laryngeal System

The source of voicing/phonation

Supralaryngeal System

Cavities & articulators that shape each sound (super shapes)

Egressive airflow

Produced with an outward flow of air from the lungs, as most speech sounds

Ingressive airflow

Inward flow of air

Muscles of Inspiration

Diaphragm, External intercostal, Intercartilaginous internal intercostal, Scalene muscles/sternocleidomastoid (DIES)

Muscles of Expiration

Interosseous internal intercostals, Abdominal muscles

What is the diaphragm?

A dome-shaped muscle that forms the floor of the chest (thoracic) cavity and separates the thoracic space from the abdominal space.

What are the intercostal groups?

Several groups of muscles that run between the ribs and help to form the walls of the chest cavity; they work together to help the ribcage expand and contract during respiration.

What are the two main accessory muscles in the neck?

Scalene triangle, Sternocleidomastoid

Scalene Triangle consists of

3 pairs of muscles, anterior, middle, & posterior, assists in elevating the upper ribs

Sternocleidomastoid

Connects the sternum & clavicle to the mastoid process of the skull, assists in elevating the sternum

What happens when you breathe in?

Chest expands, diaphragm contracts and moves downward, things contract! (get that air in here!)

What happens when you breathe out?

Chest contracts, diaphragm relaxes (moves upwards), things relax! (let that air free!),

Boyle’s Law

Pressure and volume have an inverse relationship

How does Boyle’s Law relate to respiration?

Larger the thoracic cavity, the less pressure there is on the air in the lungs (and vice-versa)

Tidal Breathing

Active inspiration, passive expiration, about 40/60 division of time for inhalation/exhalation

Speech Breathing

-Active, deeper inspiration (higher volume)

-Active, longer expiration to power speech

-“Checking action” in the respiratory system maintains an even flow of air through the vocal tract

Laryngeal System

Musculo-cartilaginous structure located at upper end of trachea, valve, size varies with age and gender, source of voicing/phonation

The bone in the Larynx is called the

Hyoid

Cartilages of the larynx (CTACE)

Cricoid, Thyroid, Arytenoid. Corniculate, Epiglottis

Phonation

Vocal folds are brought together (adducted) so that they can be set into vibration (production of voiced sound)

Phonation steps

1. Air pressure from the lungs builds up beneath the closed folds

2. The folds are forced apart slightly to allow a small amount of air through

3. Elasticity & physical forces* pull the folds together again

4. Air pressure begins to build again underneath the folds

Bernoulli Effect

Increased air flow results in decreased air pressure

Why is the Bernoulli Effect important?

Without combo of Bernoulli Effect and vibration of vocal folds then phonation wouldn’t be able to occur

Vocal folds

Help you swallow, breathe, and produce the sound of your voice

Articulation

Movement of one structure against another

Pharyngeal Cavity

Space between the larynx and the oral and nasal cavities

Oral Cavity

Space between the pharynx and the lips

Nasal Cavity

Space between the pharynx and the nostrils

Articulators

Velum, jaw, tongue, lips

Resonance

3 major air cavities (pharyngeal, oral, nasal) are shaped by the positions & movement of the articulators, cavities serve to selectively amplify vibrations

Fixed Articulators [3]

Upper incisors (upper front teeth), Hard palate, alveolar ridge

Mobile Articulators [5]

Lips, Mandible (lower jaw), Soft palate (velum), Tongue, pharyngeal cavity (walls move)

What does the “source filter theory” tell us?

you can have a perfectly working supralaryngeal system, respiratory, and phonatory systems and still not be able to produce speech: all systems need to be working!

How do the cavities of the vocal tract contribute to speech sound production?

Cavities are empty, but critical spaces, allow articulators and sound waves to move around, are formant structures of every sound

Where is the velum (soft palate) and what does it do?

Attached to the posterior of the hard palate, opens and closes the entrance to the nasal cavity

Velopharyngeal port

Space between soft palate and pharyngeal wall, open during nasal speech acts and closed for eating and oral sounds

For oral sounds the velum…

Velum is raised

For nasal sounds the velum…

Velum lowered

Jaw/Mandible

Contributes to movements of the tongue and lower lip

Tongue

connected to the mandible, capable of very complicated movements (the most movable articulator)

Body of tongue

Vowel production-determines position of the tongue

TMJ

Temporomandibular joint

Parts of tongue used for consonant production

Blade, dorsum, tip

Root of tongue

shapes the pharynx (vowel production)

The only time the soft palate/velum is used as a mobile articulator is for…

For nasal sounds, n, m, ng

Articulatory Positions of Lips

Open vs. closed, rounded vs. unrounded, spread vs. protruded

Consonant Production w/lips

Lips create obstruction through bilabial closing gestures and constriction by moving up the lower lip to upper incisors

What is most important for vowel production w/ lips?

The rounded/unrounded and spread/protruded aspects are the most important