Theoretical phonetics

Knowledge of the structure of sound system and its articulatory and acoustic
characteristics is very important in teaching and learning foreign languages. The
teacher has to know the starting point from which to begin teaching; he must be
able to point out the differences between the pupil’s mother tongue and the
language to be learnt. He should be able to choose adequate training exercises.
That’s why it is vital to know, at least, the basic principles of this science.
It follows from this that phonetics is a basic branch - many would say the
most fundamental branch of linguistics, because it gives a language a definite
form. The vocabulary and grammar of a language can function only when the
language has a phonetic form. So grammar and vocabulary depend on phonetics,
they cannot exist outside of phonetics, because all lexical and grammar phenomena
are expressed phonetically. Neither linguistic theory nor linguistic description can
do without phonetics and is complete without it.
Phonetics is concerned with the human noises by which the thought is
actualized or given audible shape: the nature of these noises, their combinations,
and their functions in relation to the meaning. Phonetics is subdivided into
practical and theoretical. Practical or normative phonetics studies the substance,
the material form of phonetic phenomena in relation to meaning. Theoretical
phonetics is mainly concerned with the functioning of phonetic units in the
language. Theoretical phonetics regards phonetic phenomena synchronically
without any special attention paid to the historical development of English.
Theoretical Phonetics has the following branches: articulatory, acoustic,
auditory, functional /phonological. Each branch of Theoretical Phonetics
investigates the appropriate aspect of speech sounds.
Articulatory Phonetics investigates the functioning of one’s speech
apparatus and mechanism. It is based on profound knowledge of physiology and
the structure of one’s speech apparatus. While investigating the articulatory aspect
of speech sounds both subjective and objective methods are employed: the method
of direct observation (concerning the lips & the tongue movements) – subjective
method and X-ray photography and X-ray cinematography (objective methods).
Acoustic Phonetics studies the acoustic properties of sounds (quantity,
timber/voice quality, intensity, the pitch of the voice and temporal factor) in terms
of the frequency of vibration and the amplitude of vibration in relation to time. The
analysis begins with a microphone, which converts the air movement into
corresponding electrical activity. While investigating the acoustic aspect of speech
sounds special laboratory equipment is employed: spectrograph, intonograph,
sound analyzing & sound synthesizing machines.
Auditory Phonetics is aimed at investigating the hearing process which is
the brain activity.
Functional Phonetics presupposes investigating the discriminatory
(distinctive) function of speech sounds.