Understanding Consonant Sounds: Articulation and Classification
Consonants
Producing a consonant involves some kind of constriction above the level of the glottis. Consonants are classified according to three parameters:
Voicing
When the vocal folds vibrate, we get a voiced sound (vowels and some consonants); if not, then the sound is called voiceless.
Voiced: /b, d, g, v, ð, z, ʒ, d͡ʒ, m, n, ŋ, l, r, j, w/
Voiceless: /p, t, k, f, θ, s, ʃ, t͡ʃ, h/
Place of Articulation
This specifies where the airstream is constricted. According to this parameter, we distinguish
Read MoreSound Change: Origins, Regularity, and Assimilation
Unit 4: Sound Change
Sound change is the appearance of a new phenomenon in the phonetic/phonological structure of a language.
Origin and Spread of Sound Changes: Two Views
- Neogrammarian: Sound change is mechanical and relentless and admits no exceptions.
- Lexical Diffusion: (a more satisfactory answer) Not all words are affected by a change simultaneously. Changes eventually fizzle out, and some words are left unaffected.
The Nature of Sound Change
- Regularity: regular vs. sporadic sound changes
- Context
English Phonetics: Pronunciation Rules and Intonation
Pronunciation Rules
- Dentalization: (n, t, d) + ð
- Glottalization: t + consonant (e.g., fútbol, that chair)
- Elision: In a cluster of 3 consonants (t, d) in the middle (e.g., I moved to England)
- Coalescence: t + j = ʧ; d + j = ʤ
- Word Boundaries: won’t + a
- Aspiration: (p, t, k) + a vowel in a stressed syllable (e.g., people)
- Devoicing: (p, t, k) + w, j, l, r approximants in a stressed syllable (e.g., play)
- Dark L:
- Final position, after a vowel (e.g., feel, fill)
- After a vowel, before a consonant (e.g., help,
English Phonetics: Voicing, Aspiration, and Fluency
Consonant Sounds
- /ʃ/ Lenis post-alveolar fricative
- /f/ Fortis labio-dental fricative
- /v/ Lenis labio-dental fricative
- /s/ Fortis alveolar fricative
- /tʃ/ Fortis post-alveolar affricate
- /m/ Lenis bilabial nasal
- /n/ Lenis alveolar nasal
- /ŋ/ Lenis velar nasal
- /l/ Lenis alveolar lateral approximant
- /r/ Lenis post-alveolar approximant
- /w/ Lenis labial-velar approximant
- /j/ Lenis palatal approximant
Vowels Before Fortis and Lenis Consonants
What is the difference between vowels before fortis and lenis consonants?
Read MoreUnderstanding Phonetics: Clipping, Plosives, and Gradation
Pre-Fortis Clipping
Pre-fortis clipping: This refers to how vowels are lengthened or shortened based on whether they are followed by voiced or voiceless sounds. It’s known that “short” vowels can be longer than “long” ones when followed by voiceless phonemes /p, t, k, f, θ, s, ʃ, tʃ/, a shortening process called pre-fortis clipping. For example, in “bead” vs. “beat,” the vowel /i:/ is longer in “beat” because /t/ is a voiceless phoneme.
Rhythmic Clipping
Rhythmic Clipping: This is the reduction
Read MoreConnected Speech and Intonation in English
Introduction
In connected speech, some phenomena occur at word boundaries, often changing the sounds substantially. For example, sounds may be:
- Elided (e.g., give [h]im a letter)
- Assimilated (e.g., give me > ‘gimme’)
- Linked (e.g., the idea of > the idea[r]of)
- Geminated (e.g., this summer > this[s:]ummer)
Elision
Elision is the deletion of a sound or group of sounds. It is normally optional, but widespread. It is mostly motivated by articulatory economy. It affects individual consonants (Cs)
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