Teacher: Ms.

Oulmane Leila
Teachers Training School Bouzareah
“ENSB” Dapartment of English

Module: Phonetics
"Lesson 01: Introduction to Phonetics (Phonetics vs. Phonology, Speech Mechanism, and
Articulatory Phonetics)"

Linguistics:
Linguistics is the scientific study of language, encompassing its structure, meaning, and
usage. Linguists investigate language from various perspectives, (phonetics and phonology),
(syntax), (semantics), (morphology),(pragmatics).

Phonetics and Phonology:

● Phonetics deals with the physical production and acoustic properties of speech
sounds.
● Phonology examines the abstract, mental representations and patterns of
sounds in a particular language.

Syntax:

● Syntax studies the structure of sentences and phrases, investigating how words
combine to form grammatical and meaningful constructions.

Semantics:

● Semantics explores the meaning of words, phrases, and sentences, as well as

the relationships between linguistic expressions and the world.

Morphology:
 ● Morphology analyzes the structure and formation of words, including the
study of prefixes, suffixes, and root words.

Pragmatics:

● Pragmatics focuses on how context influences the interpretation of language

and how speakers use language in real-world situations.

1.Relationship Between Phonetics and Linguistics:

Phonetics is a subfield of linguistics that specifically deals with the physical properties
and production of speech sounds. It plays a crucial role within linguistics by providing insight
into the articulation, acoustic qualities, and classification of sounds, contributing to a
comprehensive understanding of language. In essence, phonetics is a branch of linguistics
that focuses on the study of speech sounds in their physical manifestations.

2.The importance of Phonetics and Phonology

Phonetics: Understanding the Physical Properties of Sound

A. Articulatory Phonetics (Sound Production):

● Phonetics provides insight into how speech sounds are produced by the movement of
the tongue, lips, vocal cords, and other speech organs.
● This is essential for understanding language acquisition, speech therapy, and
second-language learning, as it helps learners master correct pronunciation.

B. Acoustic Phonetics (Sound Transmission):

● Focuses on the physical properties of sound waves such as frequency, amplitude, and
duration.
● Helps improve technologies like speech recognition, hearing aids, and voice synthesis
systems by enabling a better understanding of sound patterns.
C. Auditory Phonetics (Sound Perception):

● Investigates how sounds are perceived by the ear and processed by the brain.
● Crucial for understanding language processing and aiding in speech-related disorders,
such as auditory processing issues.

Phonology: Understanding Sound Patterns in Language

A. Language Structure:

● Phonology examines how sounds are organized in the brain and how they function in
particular languages. It helps explain sound patterns and the rules governing how
sounds combine (e.g., phonotactic rules).
● Phonological analysis is crucial in understanding language evolution and historical
changes.

B. Phonemic Contrast:

● Phonology is key to understanding phonemic distinctions—the differences between

sounds that carry meaning in a language (e.g., the difference between /p/ and /b/ in
English).
● It is essential for language learners to grasp these distinctions to ensure accurate
pronunciation and comprehension.

C. Syllable Structure and Stress Patterns:

● Phonology helps explain how syllables and stress patterns contribute to the rhythm
and melody of language. This understanding is key for speech clarity and fluency,
especially in second-language acquisition.

3.The production of speech sounds:

Most of the speech sounds are the result of movements of the tongue and the lips.
Producing any sound requires energy and the basic source of this energy is the respiratory
system pushing air out of the lungs. The air stream goes from the lungs up to the windpipe
(trachea) and into the larynx, at this point the air passes through two small muscular folds
known as the vocal folds. The larynx, together with the vocal folds, constitutes the phonatory
system.
After passing through the larynx, the air goes through the vocal tract also known as the
articulatory system, which ends at the mouth and nostrils and the air escapes into the
atmosphere. The parts of the vocal tract that can be used to form sounds, such as the tongue
and the lips are called articulators.
A. The Phonatory System:
The main function of the larynx, along with the vocal folds, is to provide voice out of the air
released from the lungs. The air passes from the bronchial tubes into the trachea, which
consists of rings of cartilages, to reach the larynx which is a box-like organ that is also made
of cartilages (See Figure fig. 1.1)

(Fig 1.1 Phonatory system)

 (Fig 1.2 Voice Box)

When the vocal folds are open:

● Position: Fully apart, creating an open glottis.

● Function: Allows air to flow freely, used for breathing and the production of
voiceless sounds (like /s/, /f/, or /h/).
● Vibration: None, as there is no obstruction to airflow.

When the vocal folds are closed:

● Position: Fully closed, blocking the glottis.

● Function: Prevents airflow, used in activities like swallowing or producing the
glottal stop [ʔ], where airflow is momentarily stopped.
● Vibration: None, as the folds are tightly shut.

When the vocal folds are close but not fully closed:

● Position: Brought together with a small gap for airflow.

● Function: Creates vibrations that produce voiced sounds (like /b/, /z/, or vowels).
● Vibration: Occurs as air pushes through, causing the folds to oscillate.
 B. The Articulatory System ( Vocal Tract):

The lips and the teeth are familiar-enough structures. Just behind the upper teeth is a small
bumpy surface which is called the alveolar ridge which is followed by a larger bony structure
which is the hard palate. At the back of the mouth with the fingertip or the tongue curled up,
you can feel the soft palate or velum which is a muscular flap that opens and closes the
passage that links the pharynx to the nasal cavity. At the lower end of the soft palate is a
small organ hanging down that is known as the uvula. The part of the vocal tract between the
uvula and the larynx is the pharynx. In the lower part of the vocal rect lies the tongue which
is divided into the tip, the blade, the front, the center then the back and finally the root.

(Fig 1.4 Vocal Tract)

4.Place of Articulation:
A. Place of articulation bilabial labio-dental dental/interdental

Bilabial Sounds

● Articulators:
○ Active: The lower lip.
○ Passive: The upper lip.
○ While the lower lip is the primary active articulator, the upper lip may also
move slightly during articulation.
 ● Examples in English:
/p/, /b/, /m/.

Labio-Dental Sounds

● Articulators:
○ Active: The lower lip.
○ Passive: The upper teeth.
● Examples in English:
/f/ (as in fan), /v/ (as in van).

Dental and Interdental Sounds

● Articulators:
○ Passive: The upper teeth.
○ Active: Typically the tongue tip, though the tongue blade can also be used.
● Notes:
○ If it matters whether the tongue tip or blade is involved, diacritic symbols can
be added in phonetic transcription.
○ Interdental refers to sounds where the tongue is placed between the upper and
lower teeth. This can occur in extreme lamino-dental (tongue blade)
articulations.
● Examples in English:
/θ/ (as in thin), /ð/ (as in this).

B.Place of articulation alveolar retroflex Palatal

Alveolar Sounds

● Articulators:
○ Passive: The alveolar ridge, located just behind the upper front teeth.
○ Active: Usually the tongue tip, but sometimes the tongue blade (the flat
surface just behind the tip).
○ When it matters whether the tongue tip or blade is used, diacritic symbols can
be applied in phonetic transcription.
 ● Examples in English:
/t/, /d/, /n/, /s/, /z/, /l

Retroflex Sounds

● Articulators:
○ Passive: Typically the alveolar ridge or the hard palate.
○ Active: The tongue tip, which is curled backward toward the roof of the
mouth.
● Characteristics:
○ Retroflex sounds are not common in English but are prominent in languages
like Hindi, Tamil, and Mandarin (e.g., in some Mandarin "r" sounds).
● Examples in English:
English does not have clear retroflex phonemes, but certain pronunciations of /r/ in
accents like American English can have retroflex qualities.

Palatal Sounds

● Articulators:
○ Passive: The hard palate, the area just behind the alveolar ridge.
○ Active: Typically the tongue blade, though the tongue tip may also be
involved.
● Examples in English:
/ʃ/ (as in shy), /ʒ/ (as in measure), /tʃ/ (as in chop), /dʒ/ (as in judge), /r/ (in some
accents), and /j/ (as in yes).

C.Place of articulation velar glottal:

Velar Sounds

● Articulators:
○ Active: The tongue body (back part of the tongue).
○ Passive: The soft palate (also called the velum).
 ● Examples in English:
/k/ (as in cat), /g/ (as in go), and /ŋ/ (as in sing).

Glottal Sounds

● Articulators:
○ Glottal sounds are articulated in the larynx, specifically at the level of the
vocal cords.
○ Unlike other places of articulation, there is no contact between oral structures
like the tongue or lips.
● Examples in English:
○ Glottal Stop [ʔ]:
■ Occurs when the vocal cords close momentarily, cutting off airflow
entirely.
■ Found in the interjection uh-uh (meaning "no") and in some accents of
English (e.g., Cockney or Estuary English), where it may replace /t/ (as
in butter pronounced as [ˈbʌʔə]).
○ /h/:
■ Produced when the vocal cords are open but close enough to create a
turbulent airflow, resulting in friction noise.
■ Found in words like hat.

To summarise:
The consonants produced by different articulators are labeled according to the organ which
moved to produce them. The consonants produced with the lips' movements are called
bilabials, and those produced with the tongue coming against the teeth, the alveolar ridge, the
hard palate and the soft palate the consonants are called dental, alveolar, palatal and velar
sounds respectively. The sound produced by keeping the vocal folds spread somewhat or
pressing the folds together is called the glottal.
References:
Djebari, Z. (2018). The blue book of English phonetics and phonology: A course book for
EFL students. L'Arbre à Livres Édition.