6
Phonology
What Chapter is Phonology?
What is Phonology?
Phonology is the study of the sound
system of language
What is Phonology?
Phonology is the study of the sound
system of language
Why sound system? Why not just
sound?
What is Phonology?
Phonology is the study of the sound
system of language
Why sound system? Why not just
sound?
Well, because we have another area,
phonetics, that studies sound in general
What is Phonology?
Phonology is the study of the sound system
of language
Why sound system? Why not just sound?
Well, because we have another area,
Phonetics, that studies sound in general
Phonology studies those sounds that are
meaningful in language- that make it possible
for us to produce meaningful words
The Vocal Tract
Part of studying phonology is
understanding and describing how
particular sounds are produced
The Vocal Tract
Part of studying phonology is
understanding and describing how
particular sounds are produced
To do so, we need to know some of the
anatomy of where sounds come from
The Vocal Tract
Part of studying phonology is
understanding and describing how
particular sounds are produced
To do so, we need to know some of the
anatomy of where sounds come from
Where does sound come from?
The Vocal Tract
Part of studying phonology is
understanding and describing how
particular sounds are produced
To do so, we need to know some of the
anatomy of where sounds come from
Where does sound come from?
It comes from our vocal tract
To produce sounds, we blow air
through our vocal tract and out of our
mouths-
To produce sounds, we blow air
through our vocal tract and out of our
mouthsHow we make different sounds will
depend on how we affect that air as it
passes through our vocal tract- we will
see more about this later
What parts of our anatomy constitute
our vocal tract?
Well, working from the inside down, lets
begin with the lips
Well, working from the inside down, lets
begin with the lips
Going back a little, we have the teeth
Well, working from the inside down, lets
begin with the lips
Going back a little, we have the teeth
We also have the tongue
Well, working from the inside down, lets
begin with the lips
Going back a little, we have the teeth
We also have the tongue
Behind the teeth, at the top, there isa
ridge that goes back toward the top of
the mouth- this is the alveolar ridge
Going back further, there is a bony
dome on the way to roof of the mouththis is called the palate
Going back further, there is a bony
dome on the way to roof of the mouththis is called the palate
Further up, the roof of the mouth gets
soft- this part is called the velum
Going back further, there is a bony dome on
the way to roof of the mouth- this is called the
palate
Further up, the roof of the mouth gets softthis part is called the velum
Going back, there is a dangling appendage at
the back of the mouth- this is the uvula
We also have the pharynx back there- it
is the back wall of the throat behind the
tongue
We also have the pharynx back there- it
is the back wall of the throat behind the
tongue
If we go down the vocal tract, we have
the epiglottis, the soft tissue which
covers the vocal cords during eating
We also have the pharynx back there- it
is the back wall of the throat behind the
tongue
If we go down the vocal tract, we have
the epiglottis, the soft tissue which
covers the vocal cords during eating
Down more, we have the esophagus
We also have the pharynx back there- it
is the back wall of the throat behind the
tongue
If we go down the vocal tract, we have
the epiglottis, the soft tissue which
covers the vocal cords during eating
Down more, we have the esophagus,
the tube going to the stomach
We also have the larynx, which
contains the vocal cords
We also have the larynx, which
contains the vocal cords
And finally, we have the trachea, the
tube that goes to the lungs
We also have the larynx, which
contains the vocal cords
And finally, we have the trachea, the
tube that goes to the lungs
Not all of these will be involved directly
with the production of sounds, but many
of them will- we will come back to them
soon
Just like morphology had the morpheme
as its most important concept, so does
phonology have an equally important
concept
Just like morphology had the morpheme
as its most important concept, so does
phonology have an equally important
concept- the phoneme
Just like morphology had the morpheme
as its most important concept, so does
phonology have an equally important
concept- the phoneme
A phoneme is the smallest meaningful
unit in a language
Some examples of Phonemes
Lets take the minimal pair:
Fat and pat
Some examples of Phonemes
Lets take the minimal pair:
Fat and pat- they differ only in the first
sound (f and p)- the other two sounds
are the same- this is why it is called a
minimal pair
Some examples of Phonemes
Lets take the minimal pair:
Fat and pat- they differ only in the first
sound (f and p)- the other two sounds
are the same- this is why it is called a
minimal pair
You ask yourself, does this one difference
in sound make a difference in the
meaning of the words?
Some examples of Phonemes
Lets take the minimal pair:
Fat and pat- they differ only in the first
sound (f and p)- the other two sounds
are the same- this is why it is called a
minimal pair
You ask yourself, does this one difference
in sound make a difference in the
meaning of the words? Yes!
We know fat and pat are different
words!
We know fat and pat are different
words! Well, this tells us that f and p are
different phonemes in English- because
they are what makes the difference in
these two words- they are meaningful to
us English speakers!
Well, of course, we know that p and f
are different in English. Who doesnt?
Well, of course, we know that p and f
are different in English. Who doesnt?
Okay, check this out:
Well, of course, we know that p and f
are different in English. Who doesnt?
Okay, check this out:
Suppose we recognized that there were
two different ways of pronouncing p in
English, one with a little burst of air
[p(h)] and one without [p]
Then, we could try two pronunciations
of pig-
Then, we could try two pronunciations
of pigP(h)ig
Then, we could try two pronunciations
of pigP(h)ig
Pig
Then, we could try two pronunciations
of pigP(h)ig
Pig
Are these different words?
Then, we could try two pronunciations
of pigP(h)ig
Pig
Are these different words?
No, they are both pig
But check this out:
But check this out:
What if I told you that in Thai, there was
one word p(h)aa which meant forest
and another word paa which means
split
But check this out:
What if I told you that in Thai, there was
one word p(h)aa which meant forest
and another word paa which means
split
Since the only difference between them
is the (h) sound, this means that p(h)
and p are different phonemes in Thai
It also means that in English p(h) and p
are not different phonemes
It also means that in English p(h) and p
are not different phonemes
How about dim and tim in English?
It also means that in English p(h) and p
are not different phonemes
How about dim and tim in English?
It also means that in English p(h) and p
are not different phonemes
How about dim and tim in English?
Are they different words?
It also means that in English p(h) and p
are not different phonemes
How about dim and tim in English?
Are they different words? Yes!
It also means that in English p(h) and p
are not different phonemes
How about dim and tim in English?
Are they different words? Yes!
What does this mean?
It also means that in English p(h) and p
are not different phonemes
How about dim and tim in English?
Are they different words? Yes!
What does this mean?
Simply that d and t are different
phonemes in English- they are
meaningful to us
Know any Hawaiian Language?
Know any Hawaiian Language?
What does lnai mean?
Know any Hawaiian Language?
What does lnai mean? It is the
island of Lanai
Know any Hawaiian Language?
What does lnai mean? It is the
island of Lanai
What does lnai mean?
Know any Hawaiian Language?
What does lnai mean? It is the
island of Lanai
What does lnai mean? It is a
veranda or a porch- a lanai
Know any Hawaiian Language?
What does lnai mean? It is the
island of Lanai
What does lnai mean? It is a
veranda or a porch- a lanai
These words are different in just
one respect- the (okina)
What does that mean?
What does that mean? It means that the
(okina) is a phoneme in Hawaiian- it is
meaningful in the language
What does that mean? It means that the
(okina) is a phoneme in Hawaiian- it is
meaningful in the language
So, do you get the idea of a phoneme?
What does that mean? It means that the
(okina) is a phoneme in Hawaiian- it is
meaningful in the language
So, do you get the idea of a phoneme?
One more fun point about phonemes
What does that mean? It means that the
(okina) is a phoneme in Hawaiian- it is
meaningful in the language
So, do you get the idea of a phoneme?
One more fun point about phonemes
It is sometimes difficult for us to learn
languages that dont have the same
phonemes
Example
Grass
Glass
Example
Grass
Glass
Different words?
Example
Grass
Glass
Different words? Why?
Example
Grass
Glass
Different words? Why?
This is a piece of cake for us native
English speakers, but how about
speakers whose first language is
Japanese?
Why is that the case?
Why that is the case? It all goes back to
phonemes- Japanese does not have
separate /l/ and /r/ phonemes- thus, it is
difficult for them to make this distinction
It works both ways!
It works both ways! How does an
American pronounce this word- ramen?
It works both ways! How does an
American pronounce this word- ramen?
Probably with a strong r sound, but that
is not how it is done in Japanese
It works both ways! How does an
American pronounce this word- ramen?
Probably with a strong r sound, but that
is not how it is done in Japanese- this is
because the Japanese phoneme is
between an /l/ and /r/, which we dont
have in English- so it is difficult for
English speakers
So, arent phonemes just the coolest
things ever?
So, arent phonemes just the coolest
things ever?
Well, I am going to make you memorize
some English phonemes for this class
Before we get there, we have to learn
that to do phonology, we cannot just
rely on regular letters
Before we get there, we have to learn
that to do phonology, we cannot just
rely on regular letters
Why?
Before we get there, we have to learn
that to do phonology, we cannot just
rely on regular letters
Why?
Because they cannot be trustedespecially English spelling will screw us
up
Take, for example, pea and key.
Take, for example, pea and key.
They are spelled differently, but isnt the
vowel sound the same- something that
sounds like a long i sound-
Take, for example, pea and key.
They are spelled differently, but isnt the
vowel sound the same- something that
sounds like a long i soundIn fact, we want to write sounds and
words more accurately and so we use
the phonemic alphabet and write it
phonemically as /pi/
How about the words kick and cork?
How about the words kick and cork?
Arent the k and c sounds at the
beginnings of these words the same
sounds, even though different letters
are used
How about the words kick and cork?
Arent the k and c sounds at the
beginnings of these words the same
sounds, even though different letters
are used
Arent they both just /k/?
Consonants in English are not as bad
as vowels- most of the consonants are
just represented by the letter-
Consonants in English are not as bad
as vowels- most of the consonants are
just represented by the letterSo p would just be /p/ and k would just
be /k/
Consonants in English are not as bad
as vowels- most of the consonants are
just represented by the letterSo p would just be /p/ and k would just
be /k/
But there are some unusual ones that
you need to know
th as in thin, ether, breath
th as in thin, ether, breath
th as in then, either, breathe
th as in thin, ether, breath
th as in then, either, breathe
sh as in shoe, thresher, rush
th
th
sh
zh
as in thin, ether, breath
as in then, either, breathe
as in shoe, thresher, rush
as in -----, treasure, rouge
th
th
sh
zh
ch
as in thin, ether, breath
as in then, either, breathe
as in shoe, thresher, rush
as in -----, treasure, rouge
as in chain, sketchy, beseech
th
th
sh
zh
ch
J(wedge)j
as in thin, ether, breath
as in then, either, breathe
as in shoe, thresher, rush
as in -----, treasure, rouge
as in chain, sketchy, beseech
as in Jane, edgy, besiege
th
th
sh
zh
ch
J(wedge)j
ng
as in thin, ether, breath
as in then, either, breathe
as in shoe, thresher, rush
as in -----, treasure, rouge
as in chain, sketchy, beseech
as in Jane, edgy, besiege
as in -----, singer, sing
Once we get those symbols down, we
are ready to begin describing the
distinctive features of the English
consonants.
Once we get those symbols down, we
are ready to begin describing the
distinctive features of the English
consonants.
Distinctive features are those smaller
units that make up each phoneme.
Distinctive features usually consist of
three parts
Distinctive features usually consist of
three parts
Place of articulation
Distinctive features usually consist of
three parts
Place of articulation: the place where
the vocal tract is constricted in making
the sound
Distinctive features usually consist of
three parts
Place of articulation: the place where
the vocal tract is constricted in making
the sound
Manner of articulation: how the vocal
tract is constricted in making the sound
Distinctive features usually consist of
three parts
Place of articulation: the place where
the vocal tract is constricted in making
the sound
Manner of articulation: how the vocal
tract is constricted in making the sound
One more that we will see later
The best way to do this is to look at the
chart on page 107 as we go through
this
The best way to do this is to look at the
chart on page 107 as we go through
this
First, place of articulation
The best way to do this is to look at the
chart on page 107 as we go through
this
First, place of articulation
Bilabial: Air is constricted by both lips
The best way to do this is to look at the
chart on page 107 as we go through
this
First, place of articulation
Bilabial: Air is constricted by both lips
/p/ /b/ /m/ /w/
Labiodental:
Labiodental: Air is constricted by the
lower lip and teeth
Labiodental: Air is constricted by the
lower lip and teeth: /f/ /v/
Labiodental: Air is constricted by the
lower lip and teeth: /f/ /v/
Interdental:
Labiodental: Air is constricted by the
lower lip and teeth: /f/ /v/
Interdental: the tongue comes between
the teeth
Labiodental: Air is constricted by the
lower lip and teeth: /f/ /v/
Interdental: the tongue comes between
the teeth: // (theta) // (eth)
Alveolar:
Labiodental: Air is constricted by the
lower lip and teeth: /f/ /v/
Interdental: the tongue comes between
the teeth:// (theta) // (eth)
Alveolar: the tongue and the alveolar
ridge:
Labiodental: Air is constricted by the
lower lip and teeth: /f/ /v/
Interdental: the tongue comes between
the teeth: // (theta) // (eth)
Alveolar: the tongue and the alveolar
ridge: /t/ /d/ /s/ /z/ /n/ /l/
Palatal-
Palatal- constriction between the
tongue and the palate
Palatal- constriction between the
tongue and the palate: // // // /j/
(with little wedge on top) /r/ /y/
Palatal- constriction between the
tongue and the palate: // // // /j/
(with little wedge on top) /r/ /y/
Velar-
Palatal- constriction between the
tongue and the palate: // // // /j/
(with little wedge on top) /r/ /y/
Velar- constriction between tongue and
velum:
Palatal- constriction between the
tongue and the palate: // // // /j/
(with little wedge on top) /r/ /y/
Velar- constriction between tongue and
velum: /k/ /g/ //
Palatal- constriction between the
tongue and the palate: // // // /j/
(with little wedge on top) /r/ /y/
Velar- constriction between tongue and
velum: /k/ /g/ //
Glottal-
Palatal- constriction between the
tongue and the palate: // // // /j/
(with little wedge on top) /r/ /y/
Velar- constriction between tongue and
velum: /k/ /g/ //
Glottal- primary constriction is epiglottis
Palatal- constriction between the
tongue and the palate: // // // /j/
(with little wedge on top) /r/ /y/
Velar- constriction between tongue and
velum: /k/ /g/ //
Glottal- primary constriction is epiglottis
/h/
Next, Manner of Articulation
Stops: when air is completely blocked
for a split second:
Stops: when air is completely blocked for
a split second: /p/ /b/ /t/ /d/ /k/ /g/
Stops: when air is completely blocked
for a split second: /p/ /b/ /t/ /d/ /k/ /g/
Fricatives: when air is impeded but not
completely blocked:
Stops: when air is completely blocked
for a split second: /p/ /b/ /t/ /d/ /k/ /g/
Fricatives: when air is impeded but not
completely blocked: /f/ /v/ // // /s/ /z/
// // /h/
Affricates- similar to fricatives but begin
like stops but doesnt actually stop:
Affricates- similar to fricatives but begin
like stops but doesnt actually stop:
// /j/ (with little wedge on top)
Affricates- similar to fricatives but begin
like stops but doesnt actually stop:
// /j/ (with little wedge on top)
Nasals- the flow of air is through the
nose not the mouth
Affricates- similar to fricatives but begin
like stops but doesnt actually stop:
// /j/ (with little wedge on top)
Nasals- the flow of air is through the
nose not the mouth: /m/ /n/ //
Affricates- similar to fricatives but begin like
stops but doesnt actually stop:
// /j/ (with little wedge on top)
Nasals- the flow of air is through the nose not
the mouth: /m/ /n/ //
Liquids- not a true consonant- a cover term
for r and l sounds
Affricates- similar to fricatives but begin like
stops but doesnt actually stop:
// /j/ (with little wedge on top)
Nasals- the flow of air is through the nose not
the mouth: /m/ /n/ //
Liquids- not very consonant-like - a cover
term for r and l sounds: /l/ /r/
Affricates- similar to fricatives but begin like
stops but doesnt actually stop:
// /j/ (with little wedge on top)
Nasals- the flow of air is through the nose
not the mouth: /m/ /n/ //
Liquids- not very consonant-like - a cover
term for r and l sounds: /l/ /r/
Glides- also not very consonant-like - vocal
tract is constricted but air is not really
impeded
Affricates- similar to fricatives but begin like
stops but doesnt actually stop:
// /j/ (with little wedge on top)
Nasals- the flow of air is through the nose
not the mouth: /m/ /n/ //
Liquids- not a true consonant- a cover term
for r and l sounds: /l/ /r/
Glides- not very consonant-like - vocal tract
is constricted but air is not really impeded
/w/ /y/