Analytic Framework: International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)

Purpose: Study of speech segments, particularly in English words

Development: Refined over a century

IPA Symbols: Used to represent sounds in English words

Physical Aspects: Examines human vocal tract involvement in sound production

IPA Chart: Accessible at internationalphoneticalphabet.org

Branches of Phonetics:

Articulatory Phonetics: Focuses on how speech sounds are made or articulated

Acoustic Phonetics: Examines physical properties of speech as sound waves in the air

Auditory Phonetics (Perceptual Phonetics): Deals with the perception of speech sounds via the ear

Speech Sound Production Awareness:

Generally unconscious

Requires focused attention on mouth movements for description

Focus on Consonants:

Initial emphasis on consonant articulation

Three Articulatory Features Described:

Voiced/Voiceless Distinction:

Differentiates sounds produced with vocal cord vibration (voiced) and without (voiceless).

Place of Articulation:

Specifies where in the vocal tract the constriction occurs during sound production.

Manner of Articulation:

Describes how the airflow is obstructed during sound production, e.g., stops, fricatives, etc.

Consonant Sound Production Process:

Originates with air pushed from lungs through the trachea to the larynx.

Larynx and Vocal Folds:

Vocal folds within the larynx play a crucial role.

Voiced and Voiceless Distinction:

Voiced Sounds:

Vocal folds drawn together.

Air from lungs pushes them apart with vibration.

Example sounds: Z-Z-Z-Z, V-V-V-V.

Voiceless Sounds:

Vocal folds spread apart.

Air from lungs passes through without vibration.

Example sounds: S-S-S-S, F-F-F-F.

Physical Sensation:

Feel the distinction by placing a fingertip on the Adam’s apple:

Voiced sounds: Feel vibration.

Voiceless sounds: No vibration.

Additional Sensory Check:

Place a finger in each ear:

Voiced sounds: Hear and feel vibration.

Voiceless sounds: No vibration sensed or heard.

Speech Path from Larynx to Vocal Tract:

Air passes through the larynx, travels up the pharynx, and exits through the oral and/or nasal tract.

Consonant Production in Speech:

Constriction of the oral tract shapes airflow during speech.

Most consonant sounds involve tongue and mouth movements.

Anatomy Focus:

Detailed visualization requires a "slice of head."

Figure 3.1 identifies key features: lips, teeth, and other components crucial for speech.

Describing Consonant Articulation:

Front-to-back approach starting at the mouth.

IPA symbols enclosed in square brackets denote specific sounds.

Familiar IPA Symbols:

Bilabial consonants ([p], [b], [m], [w]): Both lips involved.

Labiodentals ([f], [v]): Upper front teeth and lower lip involved.

Alveolar sounds ([t], [d], [s], [z], [r], [l], [n]): Tongue to rough area behind upper teeth.

Unfamiliar IPA Symbols:

Dental sounds ([θ], [ð]): "Theta" for voiceless, "eth" for voiced.

Palatals ([ʃ], [ʧ], [ʒ], [ʤ]): Produced where alveolar ridge meets the palate.

Palatal [j]: Voiced sound, as in "yes."

Velar Consonants:

Velars ([k], [ɡ], [ŋ]): Sounds produced toward the back of the mouth, involving the velum.

Voiceless Glottal Consonant:

[h]: Produced without active tongue use; voiceless glottal sound.

Summary of Place of Articulation:

Detailed summary provided but not explicitly mentioned in the excerpt.

Focus on Consonant Articulation:

Table 3.1 illustrates the place of articulation, emphasizing similarities and differences.

Example: [t] and [s] both voiceless alveolars.

Difference in Manner of Articulation:

[t]: Voiceless alveolar stop (consonant suddenly stops airflow).

[s]: Voiceless alveolar fricative (consonant produced by forcing air through a narrow opening, creating a hissing sound).

Analysis of Manner of Articulation (Table 3.2):

Provides a breakdown of how English consonants are pronounced.

Stops: Consonants that abruptly stop airflow.

Glides: Described as "approximants" or "semi-vowels" in some analyses.

Terminology Note:

Stops may also be referred to as "plosives."

Glides may be alternatively described as "approximants" or "semi-vowels" in certain analyses.

Consonant Sounds Summary Chart (Table 3.3):

Top Row: Place of Articulation Terms

Labels for the location of sound production (+V for voiced, -V for voiceless).

Left Column: Manner of Articulation Terms

Labels for how sounds are pronounced.

Glottal Stops and Flaps:

Glottal Stop ([ʔ]):

Produced when the glottis (space between vocal folds) briefly closes and releases.

Example use in casual speech: "Uh-uh" (meaning "no"), pronunciation of certain words like "bottle" or "butter."

Flap ([ɾ]):

Produced by a brief tap of the tongue tip against the alveolar ridge.

Example use in American English: Pronunciation of [t] and [d] between vowels, leading to distinctions like latter/ladder, metal/medal, and writer/rider becoming less distinct.

Flap Example:

Pronunciation of "butter" as "budder" involves a flap, represented by [ɾ].

Note on Misinterpretation:

Example of misinterpreted flap: Students confusing "Plato" with "playdough" due to mispronunciation.