University of St.

La Salle
Graduate School
MEL 201: Study of Language
Ms. Lelanie G. Reforma
GRAMMATICAL ASPECTS OF LANGUAGE: PHONETICS
By: Jeffran Jake Aragon and Gerin Eli Planas
To know a language, one must know the
sounds of the language. The study of phonetics
concerns itself with the physical properties and
sounds of speech. Mainly, it discusses how sounds
are made and how these sounds are formed to
create a coherent thought or message in a chosen
language, which then will be passed onto listeners
through the process of oral communication. Before
one may speak in a language, he must know how
words are said and which words to combine to
make these words.
Phones are unit of sounds which are then
combined to form syllables. These syllables are
then combined to make words. However, each
syllable or phone, especially when combined, has a
unique sound attached to them. This is where
consonants and vowels enter the picture. They
are then used to translate these syllables and
phones into something a hearer may understand.
Phonetics is a branch of linguistics that

phonemes, abstract cognitive units of speech and

signs of language.
3.

Phonetics, on the other hand, concerns itself

with speech sounds, phones, syllables, consonants

and vowels. It also places utmost importance in the
movement of the vocal tract as speech sounds are
produced.
4.

Manner of Articulation:
Stops are made when there is a complete
closure or blockage of the airstream. These
can be made from the glottis to the lips.
When stops are made, the air is closed or
restricted in the oral cavity for a few
seconds before it is released to make a
vowel sound.
Nasals are phones which lower the velum

aims to study and describe the sounds and forms of

in order to permit the air to pass through the

both spoken and sign language respectively.

nose. The flow of air is stopped at the oral

cavity but it may pass freely through the

1.

They could also be referred to as sound

nasal cavity.

differences. From this information, it could be

surmised that phonetics is mainly concerned with

Fricatives are impartial blockages of places

the production, description and differentiation of

of articulation. Since the flow of air is

speech sounds

constricted, there is friction which can either

be voiced or voiceless.

2.

To the beginner, phonetics and phonology

might be confused to be the same discipline or

Affricates are a combination of stops and

study. However, upon closer study, it should be

fricatives. There is a restriction of air which

noted

that

phonology

concerns

itself

with

is immediately followed by a gradual release

of the closure, which causes friction.
Laterals are when both sides of the tongue
are lowered to allow air to pass through
them. The air proceeds through the sides of
the tongue but is blocked by the tongue
from going through the middle of the mouth.
Liquids are present in the /l/ and /r/ sounds.
A restriction of air occurs, but not enough to
cause

friction.

Acoustically,

they

have

common elements. This is the reason why

foreign

speakers

may

sometimes

interchange them or confuse them with one

another.
Glides are also known as semi-vowels for
they are consonants that resemble vowels.
They

are

known

to

have

the

least

constriction at the point of articulation. The

articulators move but they do not meet each

1. How do speech sound travel?

a. From the brain, the message is sent to
the vocal apparatus, which can also be
associated with the organs that
compose the vocal tract. The muscles
and organs involved will then begin to
position themselves in order to produce
the appropriate speech sounds.
b. The speech sounds travel through air
until they reach the ears of the hearer.
c. After hearing the speech sounds,the
brain of the hearer starts to decode
them until they arrive at a thought which
would prompt their own response.
2. What are the three branches of Phonetics?
*Articulatory Phonetics pertains to the
production of speech sounds. It studies how
the vocal tract reacts and begins the
procedure of generating the sounds of a
language.
*Auditory
linguistics
pertains
to
interpretation of speech sounds within
context.
*Acoustic Phonetics concerned with the
physical properties of sounds (how the word
is pronounced through the speech sounds
made)

other. After articulating the consonant, the

Conclusion

tongue glides in place to ready itself for the

There are various sounds present in the

English language. Speech sounds are often taken
for granted, as many people do not seem to realize
how important they are in terms of learning or
acquiring a language. Oral communication plays a
major role in phonetics. This can only suggest that
the elements of spoken language such as phones,
syllables, consonants, syllables and other phonetic
properties are also vital principles of language that
should not be overlooked. Therefore, the study of
phonetics should always be considered in
comprehending the concept of language.

following vowel sound.

Approximants are similar to liquids in a
way that articulators are close enough to
each other but no actual friction occurs.
Trills are produced by rapid vibrations of an
articulator. The vibrating sound is made
when the tip of the tongue is against the
alveolar ridge. Meanwhile, a flap is made by
a flick of the tongue against the alveolar
ridge. These two are also referred to as
Rhotics.

References:
McGregor, W. B (2009) Linguistics: An Introduction. New York,
Continuum International Group.
Fromkin, V. , Rodman, R. &Hyams, N. (2010) Introduction to
Linguistics. Singapore, Cengage Learning Asia
Phonetics (n.d.) Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phonetics
Consonants (n.d.) Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vowel
Diphthongs (n.d.) Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dipthong