Phonetics 2

vowels

No constriction of airflow. Air moves freely and continuously through the vocal track. Tongue and lips make constrictions, responsible for shaping specific vowels

how to describe vowels?

height → backness → tense/lax → round/unround

Vowels Parameter: Tongue height

• high: /i/ /I/ /ʊ/ /u/

• mid: /e/ /ɛ/ /ə/ /ʌ/ /ɔ/ /o/

• low: /æ/ /a/

Vowels Parameter: Tongue Backness

• Front: /i/ /I/ /e/ /ɛ/ /æ/

• Central: /ə/ /ʌ/

• Back: /ʊ/ /u/ /ɔ/ /o/ /a/

Vowels Parameter: Tenseness

• Tense: /i/ /e/ /u/ /ɔ/ /o/

• Lax

Tense

• longer in pronunciation

• more tension in the tongue and mouth muscles

Lax

• shorter pronunciation

• less tension in the tongue and mouth muscles

Vowels Parameter: Lip Roundedness

• rounded: /ʊ/ /u/ /ɔ/ /o/

• unrounded

Types of vowel sounds: Monophthongs

1 vowel

• cat (k æ t)

• sit (s I t)

Types of vowel sounds: Diphthongs

2 vowels

• [aɪ] - price

• [ɔI] - choice

• [aʊ] - mouth

/ʌ/ and /ə/ are

similar/identical vowel qualities

/ʌ/ is

stressed, ex: but

/ə/ is

unstressed, ex: believe

There are vowels variations in

many languages, even in the same language but different dialects

Syllables

• Hat [h æ t] = 1 syllable

• Many [m ɛ n i ] = 2 syllables

• Magazine [m æ. g ə. zin ] = 3 syllables

1 syllable need at least

1 vowels

Every syllable must contain a vowel, bust doesn’t have to contain

consonants

Syllable structure

syllable (CV, CVC, CCVC, CCVCC, CCCVCCC)

• onset - consonants (C) - H

• nucleus - vowels (V) - æ

• coda - consonants (C) - t

Syllabic consonants

consonants that forms an entrie syllable without vowel. these consonants act as nucleus

All of the Syllabic consonants

[n] [m] [ŋ] [l] [ɹ]

Syllabic consonants are common in

causal or fast speech

depicted by a dash below it when write

see note

Manner of Articulation

From airstream fully constructed in vocal track → little/no constriction in vocal track

Manner of Articulation: Stop

complete oral closure, airstream fully obstructed

Manner of Articulation: Fricative

narrow opening, turbulent airflow

Manner of Articulation: Affricate

closure then fricative

Manner of Articulation: Nasal

velum lowered, airflow through nasal cavity

Manner of Articulation: Approximant 1 & 2

constriction doesn’t block airstream or cause turbulence

Manner of Articulation: Glide

Very little to no constriction