Metalanguage: Phonetics & Phonology

Voicing

Refers to whether the vocal cords vibrate during the articulation of the consonant. Voiced consonants (e.g., /b/, /d/) involve vibration, while voiceless consonants (e.g., /p/, /t/) do not.

Place of Articulation

Describes where in the vocal tract the airflow is constricted to produce the consonant. Examples include bilabial (both lips, e.g., /p/), alveolar (tongue against the alveolar ridge, e.g., /t/), and velar (tongue against the soft palate, e.g., /k/).

Manner of Articulation

Refers to how the airflow is modified as it passes through the vocal tract. Examples include stops (complete closure, e.g., /p/), fricatives (partial obstruction, e.g., /s/), and nasals (airflow through the nose, e.g., /m/).

Height

Indicates how high the tongue is in the mouth when producing the vowel. Examples include high (e.g., /i/ in beat), mid (e.g., /ɛ/ in bet), and low (e.g., /a/ in bat).

Backness

Describes how far back the tongue is in the mouth. Examples include front (e.g., /i/ in beat), central (e.g., /ə/ in sofa), and back (e.g., /u/ in boot).

Roundedness

Refers to whether the lips are rounded or unrounded when producing the vowel. Rounded vowels (e.g., /u/) involve rounded lips, while unrounded vowels (e.g., /i/) do not.

Assimilation

The process where a sound becomes similar to a neighbouring sound, such as in input pronounced as /ˈɪnpʊt/ becoming /ˈɪmpʊt/.

Vowel Reduction

The weakening of a vowel in unstressed syllables, often resulting in a schwa (/ə/), as in photograph (/ˈfoʊtəˌɡræf/) vs. photography (/fəˈtɒɡrəfi/).

Elision

The omission of a sound in connected speech, such as friendship pronounced as /ˈfrɛn(d)ʃɪp/.

Insertion

The addition of a sound to make pronunciation easier, as in drawing pronounced as /ˈdrɔːrɪŋ/.

The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)

A standardized system of phonetic notation designed to represent all the sounds of human speech. Each symbol corresponds to a specific sound, allowing linguists to transcribe languages accurately and consistently.

The Transcription of English (Harrington, Cox & Evans, 1997)

Refers to a framework for transcribing Australian English using the IPA, as described in their influential work. The transcription system accounts for specific phonetic and phonological characteristics of Australian English, such as vowel qualities and intonation patterns.

Pitch

The highness or lowness of a voice, often used to convey meaning or emotion.

Stress

The emphasis placed on certain syllables or words, making them stand out in speech.

Volume

The loudness or softness of speech, contributing to emphasis and emotion.

Tempo

The speed of speech, which can indicate mood or urgency.

Intonation

The variation in pitch across an utterance, used to convey questions, statements, or emotions.

Alliteration

The repetition of initial consonant sounds in close succession, as in Peter Piper picked a peck.

Assonance

The repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words, as in the rain in Spain.

Consonance

The repetition of consonant sounds, particularly at the end of words, as in stroke of luck.

Onomatopoeia

Words that imitate natural sounds, such as buzz or clang.

Rhythm

The pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in speech or writing.

Rhyme

The repetition of similar ending sounds in words, often used in poetry.