PHONETICS

 Phonetics (from the Greek word φωνή,

phone = sound/voice)
 It is the study of speech sounds
(phones ) about its :

 production
 audition
 perception
 BRANCHES OF LINGUSTICS

• Articulatory phonetics: the study of the production of

speech sounds by the articulatory and vocal tract by
the speaker.

• Acoustic phonetics: the study of the physical

transmission of speech sounds from the speaker to
the listener.

• Auditory phonetics: the study of the reception and

perception of speech sounds by the listener.
 PHONOLOGY

 Phonology studies the systems of

phonemes, abstract cognitive units
of speech sound or sign which
distinguish the words of a
language.
Phonetics Phonology
• Phone • Phoneme
Phoneme Mental unit Meaningful Not realized

Physical/environ
Phone Meaningless Realized
mental unit

Variation of
Allophone Phonetic unit variations
phoneme
PHONE – PHONEME - ALLOPHONE

PHONEME

PHONE

ALLOPHONES
 SPELLING AND PRONUNCIATION

In English we have 26 letters in the alphabet .

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
5 VOWELS LETTERS 21 CONSONANT LETTERS

But there are more than 40 sounds.

That is the reason that there is no relation between the

sound and the letter.
 USES OF A DICTIONARY

A dictionary it’s not only to look for a meaning or translation .

It has many other uses, and we are going to see how we can use
effectively.

Look at this example:

NUMBER OF SYLLABLES STRESSED SYLLABLE PART OF SPEECH

. . ..
met ro pol i tan /ˌmetrə‘pɑːlətən / adj. related to a
city and its suburbs.

PRONUNCIATION MEANING
 ARTICULATORY ANATOMY
Can you recognize some parts of the articulatory anatomy in the
picture?

9
7 3
4
11
6 7
8
9 8
5 4
1 13
12
2 6 2
3 4 14
10 5
11
12
13 1
14 10
Articulation of Phonemes:

VOWELS
Vowels are classified by:

1. Part of the tongue

2. Position of the tongue
3. Position of the lips
4. Length of the sound
5. Tense of Muscles
6. Voicing (all vowels are voiced)
 Front Centre Back

Close High / /
i:/ I / U u:
/
/ / /

Mid Open Middle /e/ /@ / /

/E // V / 3: O:
/ / /
/Q
Open Low /{ / A: /
/ /

Part of the tongue Height of the tongue Position of the lips

 VOWELS AND DIPHTHONGS
MOUTH SHAPES

/iy/ as in ME
/ü/ as in FIRST /u/ as in YOU

/I/ as in IT
/U/ as in PUT

/ey/ as in ATE /ú/ as in UP

/‰/ as in EGG /ow/ as in GO

/A/ as in FAT /Ø/ as in ALL

/å/ as in HOT

/aw/ as in HOUSE

/ay/ as in MY

/Øy/ as in BOY
/I/ - /ʊ/
/Λ/ - /ɒ/
/ə/ - /e/
/æ/
 THE SOUND /I/
The tongue is positioned
forward and slightly
lower in the oral cavity
than for /i/,with the sides
in contact with the teeth
laterally and the tip The velopharyngeal
positioned behind the port is closed
lower teeth

The lips are

unrounded

The mandible is
slinghtly lower than for
/i/
The vocal folds are
STEP-BY-STEP DESCRIPTION adducted and
vibrating.
 THE SOUND / ʊ /
The tongue body is back and
elevated into a mid-high position
with contact against the upper
molars, while the tongue root is not The
as retracted as other back vowels. velopharyngeal
port is closed

The vocal folds

are adducted
The lips are
and vibrating
usually rounded
and protruded
The mandible is
elevated but may lower
STEP-BY-STEP DESCRIPTION slightly.
 THE SOUND / Λ /
Although variable,the
tongue is in the center of The velopharyngeal
the oral cavity. port is closed

The lips are

unrounded 4The vocal folds are
adducted and
vibrating

The jaw is slightly

lowered,although its
position varies depending
on phonetic contex.
STEP-BY-STEP DESCRIPTION
 THE SOUND / ɒ /
The tongue body is back but lower
than /u/, with the primary
constriction in the pharyngeal
region

The velopharyngeal
port is closed

The mandible is
slightly lowered
The vocal folds are
adducted and
The lips are rounded vibrating
and producted
STEP-BY-STEP DESCRIPTION
 THE SOUND / ə /
Although variable,the
tongue is in the center of The velopharyngeal
the oral cavity. port is closed

The lips are

unrounded The vocal folds are
adducted and
vibrating

The jaw is slightly

lowered,although its
position varies depending
on phonetic contex.
STEP-BY-STEP DESCRIPTION
 THE SOUND / e /
The tongue is positioned
forward and high in the oral
cavity with the sides in
The velopharyngeal
contact with the teeth
port is closed
laterally and the tip
positioned behind the lower
teeth

The lips are

unrounded, and The vocal folds are
may be retracted adducted and
vibrating

The mandible is elevated

STEP-BY-STEP DESCRIPTION
 THE SOUND / æ /
the tongue is positioned
slightly forward and low in
the oral cavity,with the tip
The velopharyngeal
positioned behind the lower
port is closed
teeth

the lips are

The vocal folds are
unrounded but
adducted and
may be retracted
vibrating

the mandible is lowered

more than for any other
STEP-BY-STEP DESCRIPTION front vowel
/ i: / / u: /
/ ɑ: / / ɔ: /
/ ɜ: /
 THE SOUND / i: /
the tongue is positioned
forward and high in the oral
cavity with the sides in
the velopharyngeal
contact with the teeth
port is closed
laterally and the tip
positioned behind the lower
teeth

the lips are

the vocal folds are
unrounded, and
adducted and
may be retracted
vibrating

the mandible is
elevated
STEP-BY-STEP DESCRIPTION
 THE SOUND / u: /
the tongue body is elevated
into a high and back positioned
with contact against the upper
the velopharyngeal
molars, while the tongue root is
port is closed
advanced to open the
pharyngeal airway

the lips are

the vocal folds are
rounded and
adducted and vibrating
protruded

the mandible is
elevated
STEP-BY-STEP DESCRIPTION
 THE SOUND / ɑ: /
the tongue body is
positioned back and low
in the oral cavity the velopharyngeal
port is closed

the lips are

the vocal folds are
unrounded and
adducted and
wide open
vibrating

the mandible is
lowered more than
the rest of the back
STEP-BY-STEP DESCRIPTION vowels
 THE SOUND / ɔ: /
the tongue is positioned back
and in a low-mid position with
respect to height
the velopharyngeal
port is closed

the lips are

the vocal folds are
rounded, but less
adducted and vibrating
than /u/ or /o/

the mandible is slightly

lowered
STEP-BY-STEP DESCRIPTION
 THE SOUND / ɜ: /
Although variable, the
tongue is slightly above the
neutral position with some
the velopharyngeal
bunching in the palatal
port is closed
region

the lips are

the vocal folds are
usually rounded
adducted and
vibrating

the mandible is
slightly lowered
STEP-BY-STEP DESCRIPTION
 ARTICULATION
OF
PHONEMES:

CONSONANTS
Consonant sounds are classified by their:

 Place of Articulation (the point and articulators we use )

 Manner of Articulation (how we stop the air)

 Voicing (if the vocal cord vibrate or not)

/p/ /t/
/ t∫ / /k/
/f/ /θ/
/s/ /∫/
 THE SOUND / p /
tongue position may vary
depending on phonetic context
the velopharyngeal
port is closed
the lips are
brought together
to obstruct oral
cavity

air pressure built up

behind obstruction is
released by parting
lips, producing noise the vocal folds are
burst adducted
STEP-BY-STEP
DESCRIPTION
 THE SOUND / t /
the front and sides of the
tongue contact the alveolar
ridge anteriorly and laterally
the velopharyngeal
port is closed

lip configuration
may vary
depending on
phonetic context

air pressure built up

behind obstruction
is released by
parting lips, the vocal folds are
producing noise adducted
burst STEP-BY-STEP DESCRIPTION
 THE SOUND / t∫ /
the front and sides of the
tongue contact the alveolar
ridge anteriorly and laterally
the velopharyngeal
port is closed
lip configuration
may vary
depending on
phonetic context

air pressure built up behind

obstruction is released by
lowering the tongue, and is
followed by frictional noise
associated with fricative
portion of the sound
the vocal folds are
adducted
STEP-BY-STEP DESCRIPTION
 THE SOUND / k /
The tongue dorsum is elevated and
retracted to contact the back of the hard
palate and the soft palate, depending on
The velopharyngeal
phonetic context
port is closed

Lip configuration
may vary
depending on
phonetic context

The vocal folds are

abducted
STEP-BY-STEP DESCRIPTION
 THE SOUND / f /
Lip configuration may vary
depending on phonetic context
The velopharyngeal
port is closed
The tongue
dorsum is
elevated and
retracted to
contact the back
of the hard
palate and the
soft palate,
depending on
phonetic context
The vocal folds are
abducted
STEP-BY-STEP DESCRIPTION
 THE SOUND / θ /
Tongue tip is brought just below the
upper teeth(interdental) or into slight
contact with the back of the upper
the velopharyngeal
teth(dental) to create a construction
port is closed
between tongue tip and upper teeth
Lip
configutation
may vary 0
depending on
phonetic context

Air forced between tongue

surface and cutting edge of
the upper teeth (interdental)
or inside surface of theeth
(dental) creates audible
frictional turbulence
The vocal folds are
abducted
STEP-BY-STEP DESCRIPTION
 THE SOUND / s /
The apex blade of the tongue are
elevated into contact with the hard
palate, leaving a narrow midline groove
the velopharyngeal
open
port is closed
The tonghe tip
may be raised or
lowered behind
upper teeth
The vocal folds are
abducted

Air forced under pressure

along midline groove
creates audible frictional
turbulence Lip configuration
may vary depending
on phonetic context
STEP-BY-STEP DESCRIPTION
 THE SOUND / ∫ /
The tip and blade of the tongue are
alevated into contact with the sides of
the palate and teeth, leaving a flattened
the velopharyngeal
midline groove a long the upper surface
port is closed
of the tongue
The lips may be
slightly rounded
and protruded,
but the degree
varies with
phonetic context

Air forced under pressure

along the flattened midline
groove and across the
teeth creates audible The vocal folds are
frictional turbulence abducted

STEP-BY-STEP DESCRIPTION
 /b/ /d/
/dʒ/ / g/
/v/ /ð/
/z/ /ʒ /
 THE SOUND / b /
The lips are The
brought together velopharyngeal por
to obstruct the is closed
oral cavity

Air pressure built

up behind
obstructionis
released by
parting lips,
producing nosise
burst Tongue position
may vary The vocal folds
depending on adducted and
phonetic context vibrating
 THE SOUND / d /
The front and sides of the
tongue contact the alveolar
ridge anteriorly and laterally
The velopharyngeal
port is closed

Lip configuration
may vary depending
on phonetic context

Air pressure built up

behind obstruction is The vocal folds are
released by lowering the adducted and
tongue, producing noise vibrating
burst
 THE SOUND / d ʒ /
The front and sides of the
tongue contact the alveolar
ridge anteriorly and laterally
The velopharyngeal
port is closed

Lip configuration
may vary depending
on phonetic context

Air pressure built up behind The vocal folds are

obstruction is released by lowering the adducted
tongue,and is followed by frictional
noise associated with fricative portion
of the sound
 THE SOUND / g/
The tongue dorsum is elevated
and retracted to contact the
black of the hard palate and the
soft palate,depending on
phonetic context

The
velopharyngeal
port us closed
Lip configuration
may vary depending
on phonetic context

The vocal folds are

Air pressure built up behind adducted and vibrating
obstruction is released by
lowering the tongue, producing
noise burst
 THE SOUND / v /
Air forced througth the lower lip
and upper teeth constriction
creates audible frictional
turbulence

The velopharyngeal
port is closed
The inner border of
the lower lip
contacts the upper
teeth to create a
constricton

The vocal folds are

Tongue position may adducted and
vary depending on vibrating
phonetic context
 THE SOUND / ð /
Tongue tip is brought forward just below
the upper teeth(interdental) or into slight
contact with back of the upper teeth
(dental) to create a comstruction between
the tongue tip and upper teeth
The velopharyngeal
port is closed

Lip configuration
may vary depending The vocal folds are
on phonetic adducted and vibrating
conmtext Air forced between tongue surface
and the cutting edge of the upper
teeth(interdental) or inside surface of
the teeth(dental) creates audible
frictional turbulence
 THE SOUND / z /
The apex and blade of the
tongue are elevated into
contact with the hard
palate,leaving a narrow
midline groove open
Air forced under pressure along
midline groove crates audible
frictional turbulence
The velopharyngeal
port is closed

The tongue tip may be

raised or lowered
behing the upper teeth The cocal folds are
Lip configuaration may adducted and
vary dependig on vibrating
phonetic context
 THE SOUND / ʒ /
The tip and blade if the tongue is elevated
into contact with the sides of the palate and
teeth, leaving a flattened midline groove
along the upper surface of the tongue

The velopharyngeal
port is closed

Air forced under pressure

The lips may be slightly
rounded and
protruded,but the degree
varies with phonetic
context
along the flattened midline
groove and across the
teeth creates audible
frictional turbulence
The cocal folds
abducted
/m/ / n /
/ŋ/ /h/
/l/ /r/
/w/ /j/
 THE SOUND /m/
Tongue position may
vary depending on
phonetic context.

The lips are

brought toether The velopharyngeal
to obstruct the port is open, allowing
oral cavity. acoustic energy and
airflow to pass
though the nose.

The vocal folds are

STEP-BY-STEP DESCRIPTION adducted and
vibrating.
 THE SOUND / n /
Lip configuration may
vary depending on
The velopharyngeal
phonetic context
port is open, allowing
acoustic energy and
airflow to pass
though the nose

The front and sides of the The vocal folds are

tongue contact the alveolar adducted and
ridge anteriorly and laterally vibrating
to obstruct the oral cavity
STEP-BY-STEP DESCRIPTION
 THE SOUND / ŋ /
The tongue dorsum is elevated
and retracted to contact the soft
palate,obstructing the oral
cavity
The velopharyngeal port
is open,allowing
acoustic energy and
airflow to pass through
the nose
Lip configuration
may vary depending
on phonetic context

The vocal folds are

adducted and vibrating
STEP-BY-STEP DESCRIPTION
 THE SOUND / h /
Lip and tongue
configuaration varies
depending on phonetic
context
The velopharyngeal
port is closed

Air forced under

pressure through the
laryngeal narrowing
creates audible
frictioanal turbulence
The vocal folds are
partially adducted to
create a narrowing of the
airway
STEP-BY-STEP DESCRIPTION
 THE SOUND / l /
The tongue tip and portion
of the tongue blade
contact the alveolar ridge The
in the midline velopharyngeal
port is closed.

Lip cofiguration
may vary
depending on
phonetic context

The vocal folds

are adducted
and vibrating
STEP-BY-STEP DESCRIPTION
 THE SOUND / r /
The tongue is elevated
towards the hard
palate in a bunched
configuration

The velopharyngeal
port is closed.

The lips are slightly

unrounded

4The vocal folds are

adducted and vibrating

The front of the tongue

is usually close to the
alveolar ridge but may
be retroflexed STEP-BY-STEP DESCRIPTION
 THE SOUND / w /
The tongue begins in
a high back position
similar to the vowel
/u/, but the airways
are slightly more
The velopharyngeal
constricted
port is closed.

The tongue glides from its

start position to a more The vocal folds are
open position for the adducted and vibrating
following vowel. Lips are
rounded and protuded, then
move to the configuration
for the following vowel. STEP-BY-STEP DESCRIPTION
 THE SOUND / j /
The tongue begins in a
high front position similar
to the vowel /i/, but the
airway is slightly more
constricted The velopharyngeal
port is closed

The tongue glides

from its start position
to a more open
position for the
following vowel

Lip configuration may The vocal folds are

vary depending on adducted and vibrating
phonetic context
STEP-BY-STEP DESCRIPTION
 VOWELS AND DIPHTHONGS
MOUTH SHAPES
/ / as in ME
/ / as in FIRST / / as in YOU

/ / as in IT
/ / as in PUT

/ / as in ATE / / as in UP

/ / as in EGG
/ / as in GO

/ / as in FAT / / as in ALL

/ / as in HOT

/ / as in HOUSE

/ / as in MY

/ / as in BOY