NGỮ ÂM – ÂM VỊ HỌC

COURSE OUTLINE

I. PHONETICS
1. Articulation
2. Vowels
a. Simple vowels
b. Diphthongs
c. Characteristics
3. Consonants
a. Plosives
b. Fricatives
c. Affricates
d. Nasals
e. Lateral
f. Approximants
g. Semi-vowels/consonants

II. PHONOLOGY
1. Phoneme
2. Syllable
3. Weak forms
4. Stress
5. Connected speech
6. Intonation

REFERENCES
Fromkin, V. 1990. An Introduction to Language. Australia: Helt, Rinehart and Winston.

Gussenhoven C., & Jacogs, 1998. Understanding Phonology. London: JW Arrowsmith Ltd, Bristol.

Hudson, G. 2000. Essential Introductory Linguistics. Blackwell Publishers Ltd.

Lyons, J. 1971. Introduction to Theoretical Linguistics. Cambridge University Press

Norman C. Stageberg, 1983. An Introductory English Grammar. Japan: Hold-Saunders.

O’Connor, J.D. (?) Sounds English. Longman.

O’Grady, W. 1993. Contemporary Linguistics. New York: St. Martin Press.

Roach, Peter. 2000. English Phonetics and Phonology. Cambridge University Press.

Underhill, Adrian, 1994. Sound Foundations. Oxford: Heinemann.

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UNIT 1 ARTICULATION
Unit outline
1. Three main factors
2. Organs of articulation
3. Vocal bands and their positions

I. THREE MAIN FACTORS IN THE PRODUCTION OF SPEECH SOUNDS

The production of speech sounds depends upon three factors:
a. A source of energy to cause vibration: outgoing air stream.
b. Vibrating bodies: vocal bands.
c. Resonators or resonance chambers to modify the produced speech sounds: the pharynx, the
oral and nasal cavities. (Buchanan, 1961: 22)
The process of producing speech sounds: the air stream going out from the lungs through the windpipe
(trachea) will go past the larynx (voice box / Adam’s apple) in which are located two vocal bands. If the
vocal bands are stretched (under tension) and partially open, the air will make them vibrate. The
vibrations at some frequency will produce speech sounds which will be resonated or amplified and
modified in the resonance chambers (pharynx, nasal & oral cavities) before going out and reaching our
ears.
The facial diagram

Hard palate
velum
alveolar ridge
pharynx
lips tongue
teeth larynx

II. THE ORGANS OF ARTICULATION

The vocal tract is the breathing passage through which the air travels. The vocal tract begins with the
lungs, which furnish the source of energy for the vocal sound, and then continues with the windpipe or
trachea. At the top of the windpipe is the larynx, a box-shaped structure composed of cartilage. Passing
through the larynx, the air goes into the pharynx, or upper throat, and escapes outside through the
mouth or the nose.
The organs of the vocal tract are located in the head, throat, and chest. They are involved in the process
of producing or modifying the speech sounds, including articulators and points of articulation.
(Buchanan, 1961: 23-24)
Articulation is the formation of speech sounds.
Articulators are the movable organs of the vocal tract which are involved in articulation, including the
tongue, the most movable articulator, and the lower lip.

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Points of articulation are the parts of the vocal tract which cannot move or just move a little, but which
are involved in articulation. The upper lip, the teeth, the alveolar ridge, the hard palate, the soft palate
or velum, the pharynx, and the larynx are points of articulation. (Buchanan, 1961: 37-38)
Place of articulation: The point of contact between an articulator and a point of articulation
Ex: / p / lower lip (articulator)
+ => bilabial (place of articulation)
upper lip (point of articulation)
The sounds produced are named after the organs involved (in the form of adjective)
Pharynx => Pharyngeal Soft Palate (Velum) => Velar
Hard Palate => Palatal Alveolar ridge => Alveolar
Teeth => Dental Lips => Labial
Larynx => Laryngeal Glottis => Glottal
Tongue => Lingual
The tongue consists of different parts: Tip; Front; Center; Back; Root

LARYNX, VOCAL BANDS AND THEIR POSITIONS

The larynx is in the neck. It is made of cartilage, attached to the top of the trachea or wind pipe. The
front of the larynx comes to a point usually called the Adam’s apple. The larynx is also called the voice
box.
Inside the larynx, there are two vocal bands / folds / cords which are two bands of elastic tissue attached
to the side walls of the larynx and can move. The opening between the vocal bands is called the glottis.
(Roach, 1989: 26-27)
front

thyroid cartilages
vocal folds / bands
glottis

arytenoid cartilages

The inside of the larynx seen from above

b. Different positions of the glottis.

Since the vocal bands can move, the glottis (the opening between the vocal bands) can be at
different positions and, thus, different sounds are produced.
1. Wide apart: During normal breathing, the glottis is open as far as possible: the vocal bands are not
under tension, but relax. This is also the position for voiceless sounds (sounds produced while the vocal
bands are not vibrating) (Fig. 1)
2. Narrow glottis: The opening is very narrow. When the air goes through it, a sound like a whispered
vowel is produced: the / h / sound, called a voiceless glottal fricative. (Fig. 2)
3. Partially open / closed: The edges of the vocal bands are touching each other, or nearly touching, air
passing through the glottis will usually cause vibration. This is the position for vocal band vibration and
thus, voiced sounds. (Fig. 3)
4. Tightly closed: The vocal bands are firmly pressed together so that air cannot pass between them.
This is the position for a glottal stop or plosive. (Fig. 4)

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 1. Wide apart 2. Narrow glottis
Position for normal breathing Position for /h/ sound
and voiceless consonants

3. Partially open 4. Tightly closed

Position for vocal band vibrations & The air cannot pass
Voiced sounds Position for glottal plosive / stop