Answer these questions

1. What is Phonetics?

Phonetics is the study of speech sounds and their physiological production and acoustic
qualities. It deals with the configurations of the vocal tract used to produce speech sounds
(articulatory phonetics), the acoustic properties of speech sounds (acoustic phonetics), and the
manner of combining sounds so as to make syllables, words, and sentences (linguistic
phonetics).

2. What's the difference between an oral and a nasal sound?

The difference depends on the position of the soft palate. The soft palate is the active part of
the palate which can be moved up or down. When it is raised the air goes out through the
mouth i.e. it passes through the oral cavity. When this happens, the sound produced is oral.
But, when the soft palate is lowered, the air escapes through the nose i.e. it passes through
the nasal cavity. When this happens, the sound produced is nasal

3. What do the terms voiced and voiceless refers to?

The term voiced refers to the sound produced with vibration of the vocal cords. They vibrate
because the glottis, the space between the vocal cords is not totally open i.e. the vocal folds
are brought together in a way that the air forces them in order to pass. When this happens
there is vibration and the sound is called voiced

But, when the vocal cords are kept apart i.e. the glottis is open, the air passes without any
effort. When this happens there is no vibration and the sound produced is called voiceless.

4. What is a vowel?

° A vowel is defined as a voiced sound in forming which the air issues in a continuous stream
through the pharynx and mouth, there being no obstruction and no narrowing such as would
cause audible friction.

°a vowel is a voiced speech sound in the production of which the air always passes thought the
oral cavity without any restriction or obstruction in the passage of the air.

5. What aspects do we consider in order to describe a vowel?

We consider

A- THE HEIGHT OF THE TONGUE i.e. how high we raise our tongue to produce a vowel

B- THE PART OF THE TONGUE WE USE (front, central o back)

C- THE POSITION OF THE LIPS (spread, neutral or rounded)

D- LENGTH i.e. if the sound is long or short. Long vowels are identified because of a length
mark /:/
6. What's articulatory Phonetics?

Articulatory phonetics is the traditional method of describing speech sounds is in terms of

movements of the vocal organs that produce them. The main structures that are important in
the production of speech are the lungs and the respiratory system, together with the vocal
organs.

7. Identify the organs of speech in a drawing. Choose one to explain its function in the
production of sounds

NOW LET'S WORK WITH THE VOWEL DIAGRAM

1. Draw the vowel diagram and explain it.

The horizontal lines represent the limits of how high we have

to raise our tongue to articulate a vowel.

The vertical ones show us which part of the tonge is used to

produce the vowel

2. Place the 12 English Vowels in the Diagram

3. Taking into account the diagram and the theory describe the twelve English vowels

Example:

Close vowel

/i:/ It is a long vowel sound articulated between the close and half close positions using the
front part of the tongue. When the sound is produced the lips are close spread.

/I/ it is a short vowel sound articulated just above half close position using the front part of
the tongue, near the center. when the sound is produce the lips are neutral.

/U/is a short sound articulated just above the close and half close position using the back
part of the tongue near the center, when the sound is produce the lips are rounded.

/u:/ is a long sound, articulated just below the half close position using the back part of the
tongue. When the sound is produce the lips are rounded.

Mid vowels

/e/ it is a short vowel sound articulated just below the half close and half open position
using the very front part of the tongue. When the sound is produce lips are spread

/schwa/ it is a short vowel articulated just below the half close and half open position
using the very central of the tongue. When the sound is produce the lips are neutral.
/3:/ it is a long vowel sound articulated tongue just below the half close and half open
position using the central part of the tongue. when the sound is produce the lips are
neutral not relax

/:c/ it is a long vowel sound articulated just below the half close and half open position
using the back part of the tongue, when the sound is produce the lips are rounded.

Open vowels

/ae/it is a short vowel sound articulated just below the half open and open position using
the very front part of the tongue when the sound is produce the lips are spread

//\/ it is a short vowel sound articulated just above the half open position using the front
and central part of the tongue when the sound is produce the lips are neutral

/a:/it is a long vowel sound articulated just above the open positions using the central and
the back part of the tongue when the sound is produce the lips are neutral.

/D/ it is a short vowel sound articulated ust below the half open and open position using
the back part of the tongue, when the sound is produce the lips are rounded.

4. Now write in column 5 English words for each vowel where you think the sound is used.

Example

/ i: /

Free

People

Peter

Tree

Tea

5. Finally, look these words up in a dictionary and check if you are right o not to transcribe
the pronunciation next to the words.

Example:

--------- ---‐---------

/ i: / / i: /

--------- ---------

Free /fri:/

People /pi:pl/

Peter etc
Tree

Tea