Питання для підсумкового контролю з курсу «Теоретична фонетика

англійської мови»

1. Definition of phonetics. The phonic structure of language, its components and

subsystems.
Phonetics as a branch of linguistics studies speech sounds (phonemes), word
stress and intonation. Phonetics studies how speech sounds are made,
transmitted and received.

The phonetic system of a language represents the way people use

sounds in their speech. A language's phonology classifies these sounds
into vowels and consonants, long and short sounds,

Components of the phonic structure include:

Articulatory(атікюлетрі) phonetics: focuses on how the vocal tract produces
the sounds of language
Acoustic(екустік) phonetics: focuses on the physical properties of the sounds
of language
Auditory phonetics: focuses on how listeners perceive the sounds of language

2. Aspects of speech sounds (Articulatory, acoustic, auditory/sound

perception, functional; most common notions and terms).
1. The articulatory aspect focuses on the production of speech sounds
and the movements of the articulatory organs involved. It involves the
study of how different speech sounds are physically produced by the
movements and positions of the vocal tract, including the lips,
tongue, teeth, jaw, and vocal cords
2. The acoustic aspect of speech sounds focuses on the physical
properties of sound waves produced during speech. It involves the
study of sound transmission, properties, and measurements.
Examples: human voices, wind, door slamming
Frequency refers to the rate of vibration of a sound wave and is perceived
as pitch.
Amplitude relates to the magnitude or intensity of a sound wave and is
perceived as loudness.
3. Auditory aspect of speech is the branch of phonetics concerned with
the hearing of speech sounds and with speech perception.
Examples: communication between humans, listening based test
 4.The functional aspect of speech involves the study of how speech
sounds are used to convey meaning, express emotions, and facilitate
communication.
Prosody: The rhythm, stress, intonation, and melody of speech that
conveys meaning beyond individual words.
3.*
3. Phoneme as the smallest discrete phonological unit, its aspects and functions.
A phoneme is the smallest unit of sound in a word that makes a difference in its
pronunciation, as well as its meaning, from another word.
They provide insights into how sounds are organized and used in languages
worldwide.
Aspects of Phonemes:
Distinctive features: can include voicing, place of articulation, manner of
articulation.
Allophones – are the realization of one and the same phoneme in definite positions
in words. One of the ways in which a particular phoneme can be pronounced.
Minimal pairs - Minimal pairs are two words (a pair) that are identical in all
sounds but one.

Functions – Phonemes help us to differentiate between words that have

different meanings. Bat – pat. Help us understand the intended message
conveyed through speech. Also help to analyze and understand the structure
and patterns of human speech

4. Intonation and prosody. Prosodic subsystems, their acoustic and

perceptual properties. Functions of intonation/prosody.
Intonation is a complex unity of speech melody, sentence stress, rhythm, tempo, pausation,
loudness and voice timbre(тембр), which enables the speaker to express his thoughts,
emotions and attitudes towards the content of the utterance and the hearer(хірер).

Intonation may be defined as a complex unity of prosodic features: 1) speech melody or

pitch of the voice, 2) sentence stress, 3) temporal characteristics (duration, pausation, tempo
and rhythm) and 4) timbre.

Intonation style can be defined as a system of interrelated intonation means which is used in
a certain social sphere and serves a definite purpose in communication.
Висхідна інтонація вживається у кінці речення, яке виражає прохання. Take a ) seat,
please
У загальних питаннях, тобто питаннях на які можна дати ствердну або заперечну
відповідь
 Перший наголошений склад ми вимовляємо на найвищій ноті свого голосу, кожен
наступний — поступово знижуючи інтонацію голосу.

Усі початкові ненаголошені склади вимовляються рівним і зазвичай низьким голосом.

Prosody or prosodic features refer to variations in pitch, loudness, tempo and rhythm.

Prosody also plays a role in regulating conversations. Changes in

pitch, rhythm, and timing allow speakers to take turns smoothly,
indicate pauses, or signal interruptions.
5. The notion of literary pronunciation/standard of pronunciation. National
pronunciation standards of English in the English-speaking countries.
Received pronunciation (RP), refers to a prestige or educated variety of pronunciation
within a language. It is typically associated with a particular region or social group
and is considered to be the "correct" or "ideal" way of pronouncing words.

In United Kindom RP is often considered the standard pronunciation . RP is

associated with educated speakers, with British upper class.
In United States there is no single national standard, but there are some features that
are generally associated with a more “standard” or “neutral’ American English
pronunciation. This includes the General American accent, which is commonly heard
in broadcasting and is considered closer to a Midwestern accent.
Canada is similar to the United States, Canada has significant regional variation in
pronunciation. Canadian English generally follows a more conservative British
pattern, with influences from Scottish and Irish accents.
Australia: In Australia there is also regional variation in pronunciation. The most
widely recognized standard is known as General Australian, or Standard Australian
English.
New Zealand: there is a generally accepted standard known as New Zeeland English.

6. Pronunciation norm and its codification. The notion of an accent. Major

literary/cultivated accents on the British Isles (Southern English or RP,
Northern English, Scottish English, Welsh English; Northern Ireland English),
their main distinctive features.
Pronunciation norms and their codification refer to the standard or accepted ways of
pronouncing words in a particular language or dialect. Codification is the fixing
(reflection) of actual pronunciation forms in pronunciation dictionaries and other
references
The notion of an accent relates to variations in pronunciation, intonation, and speech
patterns that are characteristic of a particular group of speakers within a language.
 Accents can develop due to geographical, social, or historical factors and can vary at
different levels, such as regional accents, social accents, or ethnic accents.

On the British Isles, several major literary or cultivated accents can be identified,
each with its distinctive features:

Southern English or RP (Received Pronunciation): RP is traditionally associated

with the upper class and is considered the standard accent of England. It is
commonly associated with London and the southeast of England. RP speakers tend
to pronounce the "r" sound only when it occurs before a vowel, use a clear
distinction between vowel sounds, and exhibit a tendency towards non-rhoticity
(omitting the "r" sound at the end of syllables).

Northern English: This accent encompasses a broad range of dialects spoken in the
northern regions of England, such as Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Newcastle.
Northern English accents often feature a stronger pronunciation of the "r" sound,
known as rhoticity, and certain vowel shifts compared to RP. For example, the
vowel sound in words like "bath" and "dance" may be pronounced differently.

Scottish English: Scottish English refers to the varieties of English spoken in

Scotland. There are different regional accents within Scottish English, such as the
Edinburgh accent or the Glaswegian accent. Scottish English may exhibit distinct
vowel sounds, such as the pronunciation of the "o" sound in "boat" as a diphthong
[oʊ]. Some Scottish accents also feature the trilled "r" sound.

Welsh English: Welsh English is spoken in Wales, and it shows influences from the
Welsh language. Welsh English may exhibit certain phonetic features, such as the
pronunciation of the "a" sound in "cat" as [æ] instead of [a:]. There may also be
influences from Welsh intonation patterns and speech rhythm.

Northern Ireland English: In Northern Ireland, English is spoken with its own
distinctive features. The accent in this region can vary, but some common features
include rhoticity, particularly in rural areas, and vowel sounds that differ from RP,
such as the pronunciation of the "o" sound in "goat."

It's important to note that these descriptions are generalizations, and there can be
significant variation within each accent. Additionally, accents are dynamic and can
change over time due to various linguistic and social factors.
7. RP/BBC English as the British national standard of pronunciation.
Phonological and phonetic dimensions of it. Estuary English
8. Social accents in contemporary RP.