classifying speech sounds

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Classifying Speech Sounds

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Introduction1. In every language there are a number of 

Phonemes which function in a to distinguishmeanings of different words in the language.

2. The difference phonemes /p/ and /b/ in Englishcan cause us to hear in the words: ‘pin’ and‘bin’; the difference between /ɪ/ and /ᴂ/ makesdifference words as in /bit/ and /bat/.

3. Phoneme symbols should be between slant

brackets /e/, /s/; and phonetics symbols shouldbe in square brackets *ɛ+, *ŋ+ 

4. For an example the word ‘ostrich’. It can bewritten in phonemic transcription as /ɐstrɪtʃ /

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Cont… 

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Vowels

1. The most basic vowel [i] (similar to the vowel

word ‘key’ and *a+ as in ‘half’: similar vowels

are found in the great majority of the world’s

languages.

2. In [i], the tongue is close to the palate, while[a] the mouth is open, with the tongue low in

the mouth.

3. Therefore, it’s classified that *i] as a closevowel and [a] as an open vowel.

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Cont… 

4. Another basic vowel is [u]. This is different from

[i] in two ways.

5. Obvious differences:

a. Lips are rounded in [u], but unrounded or

spread (as for ‘smile’) in *i].

b. Difficult to observe when the back tongue is

raised for [u] while in [i] it is the front of the

tongue is raised.

c. As a result, [i] is a front vowel, while [u] is a back

vowel.

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Where do other vowels fit in?

6. On the open/close scale, we place them in two

intermediate levels: mid-close and mid-open.

7. In between front and back, we put it as central.

8. Vowel space known as Cardinal Vowel Diagram.

9. [i] is a front close unrounded vowel, while [u] is a

back close rounded vowel. The vowel [e] is a front

mid-close unrounded vowel, while *ɔ+ is a back

mid-open rounded vowel.

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The Cardinal Vowels

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Consonants1. All the consonants are the result of obstructing

the flow of air through the vocal tract.

2. FOUR characteristics of consonants:

a. Voiced or Voiceless sound

b. Places of Articulation

c. Manner of Articulation

d. The airstream used to make the consonant.

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Voicing

1. /b/, /d/, and /g/: make plosive sound. Often

occur in the beginning of a word.

2. /v/, /z/, and /ʒ/: Fricatives sound 

3. /m/, /n/, and /l/: make full voicing.

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Places of Articulation

1. Lips: bilabial ( /bin/, /pin/, /man/

2. Front teeth; lower lip touches the upper frontteeth: Labio dental /fan/, van/

3. Tongue touches the teeth: Dental /think/,

/that/

4. Behind upper front teeth: Alveolar ridge; If tongue is in contact, then the place is alveolar.

/tin/, /din/, /sin/ /zip/ /lip/5. Front tongue and hard palate: Palatal /ship/

/yet/ /Italian/

6. 6. Back of the tongue: Velar /cap/ gap/

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Places of Articulation

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Bilabial sound: pit

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Labio-dental sound: fit

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Dental sound: thin

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Alveolar sound: sin

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Palato-alveolar sound: ship

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 Palatal sound: yes

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Velar sound: cool

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Manner of Articulation

Manner Description

1. Plosive -A consonant which stops air from escaping. .

- When the air is released, there is short explosive noise

called plosion. Eg: Pie, buy, tie, come,etc 

2. Nasal -A consonant involves a complete closure in the oral

cavity.Air is allowed to escape through the nose. Eg: map, nap,

hang

3. Fricative - Constriction which allows the air to escape with

difficulty.- A hissing sound is produced. Eg: Fin, thin, shin, zip

4. Affricate - A consonant which starts as a plosive, ends with a

fricative. Eg: church, judge

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Cont… Manner Description

5. Tap & Flap -Tap: the tongue is briefly flicked up against the roof of the

mouth.

-Interrupts the flow of air for a short time. (Spanish: ‘pero’,

Italian ‘caro’)

-Flap: tongue is curled back and then flicked forward against the

alveolar ridge. (Hindi: ‘bara’)

6. Approximants -A class of sounds.-Lateral: centre of the tongue is in close contact with the roof of 

the mouth but the sides of the tongue are lowered that air can

escape along the sides of the tongue. Eg: Led, Hill

Post-alveolar: Used to refer to the ‘r’ sound, the tongue is

slightly curled backwards bur does not make contact with the

upper surface of the mouth. Eg: hurry, red, car

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International Phonetic Association (IPA)

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