TRANSCRIPTION-GUIDE.

pdf

monesctor

Variaciones Fonético-Fonológicas de la Lengua Inglesa

3º Grado en Estudios Ingleses: Lengua, Literatura y Cultura

Facultad de Filología
Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia

Reservados todos los derechos.

No se permite la explotación económica ni la transformación de esta obra. Queda permitida la impresión en su totalidad.
 TRANSCRIPTION GUIDE (RP and in general), STEP BY STEP:

1. Transcribe the words as if they were in isolation and mark the stress 1 in lexical words
(NOUNS, ADJECTIVES, MOST VERBS AND ADVERBS). Do NOT stress content words 2
(Determiners, prepositions, pronouns, conjunctions and AFFIRMATIVE MODAL VERBS).

2. WEAK FORMS

It is crucial to transcribe monosyllabic function words in their weak form. (For the use of /h/ in
the pronouns, and of /d/ in and, see point 4, Elision, Other special cases.)

(vowels)

1
Only primary stress is marked.
2
When function words have more than one syllable, stress tend to be marked.

a64b0469ff35958ef4ab887a898bd50bdfbbe91a-4524748

Reservados todos los derechos. No se permite la explotación económica ni la transformación de esta obra. Queda permitida la impresión en su totalidad.
 • Strong forms → words in isolation or emphasized.
• Weak form → in connected speech. Produced with weak vowels: [ə] (tends to preced
words beginning with a consonant) [i] and [u] (precedes a word that begins with a
vowel). When the weak forms ends with a consonant, [ɪ] is used instead of [i].

Reservados todos los derechos. No se permite la explotación económica ni la transformación de esta obra. Queda permitida la impresión en su totalidad.
Not all monosyllabic function words have a weak form:

of [ɒf] on [ɒn] or [ɔː] my [maɪ] out [aʊt] those [ðəʊz]

Contexts in which function words tend not to appear in its weak form.

1. Auxiliary and modal verbs at the end of the sentence.

2. Modal verbs at the beginning of a sentence, auxiliary and modal verbs in contracted
negative form.

3. Prepositions located at the end of the sentence.

4. Grammatical category or the meaning of the word:

Word Strong Weak

have (has, main verb auxiliary verb

had)

there adverb existential form

that Demonstrative / adjective relative pronoun /

/pronoun conjunction

some Pronoun / adjective (meaning Adjective (meaning: unos)

algunos)

3. Mind the morphemes!

-s -ed

• Plural • Simple past

• Third person singular present • Past participle
• Possessive

If the word ends with If the word ends with

→ A voiceless consonant (p, t, k, f, θ, → A voiceless consonant > /t/

h, tʃ) > /s/ → A voiced consonant or a vowel >
→ A voiced consonant (b, d, g, v, ð, m, /d/
n, ŋ, r, j, w, l) or a vowel > /z/ → /t, d/ > /ɪd/
→ /s, z, ʃ, ʒ , dʃ, dʒ/ > / ɪz/

a64b0469ff35958ef4ab887a898bd50bdfbbe91a-4524748

si lees esto me debes un besito

Variaciones Fonético-Fonológ...
Banco de apuntes de la
 4. CONNECTED SPEECH PROCESSES (Check the words endings and with which sound the next
word starts and transcribe the connected speech process if applicable)

Reservados todos los derechos. No se permite la explotación económica ni la transformación de esta obra. Queda permitida la impresión en su totalidad.
•Check whether any of the words ends with /t d n/ or /s z/
→ Assimilation
o REGRESSIVE OR ANTICIPATORY
/t d n/ → /p b m/ + bilabial C
Differences in manner of articulation:
→ /k g ŋ/ + velar C
1. [t] → [p] when followed by [p] [b] [m]
/s z/ → /ʃ ʒ/ + /ʃ ʒ j/
[t] → [k] when followed by [k] [g]
2. [d] → [b] when followed by [p] [b] [m]
[d] → [g] when followed by [k] [g]
3. [n] → [m] when followed by [p] [b] [m]
[n] → [ŋ] when followed by [k] [g]
4. [s] → [ʃ] when followed by [ʃ] [ʒ] [j]
5. [z] → [ʒ] when followed by [ʃ] [ʒ] [j]

Differences in voice: (A word-final voiced fricative when followed

by a voiceless consonant in the following word.)
1. [ð] → [θ] (when followed by [θ])
2. [z] → [s] (when followed by [s])
3. [v] → [f] (when followed by [k])

o PROGRESSIVE
[n] preceded by a bilabial (p, b, m) or a velar consonant (k, g, ŋ).
1. loss of the schwa in [ən] → syllabic [n] 3
2. assimilation of the place of articulation of the syllabic [n] to the
place of articulation (bilabial or velar) of the preceding consonant.

o COALESCENCE
[t] + [j] → [ʧ]
[d] + [j] → [ʤ]
[s] + [j] → [ʃ]
[z] + [j] → [ʒ]

• SPECIAL CASES
 Two connected speech processes: elision + assimilation
send me /ˈsend mi/ > /ˈsen_ mi/ > /ˈsem mi/
 Two consecutive alveolar sounds ( t, d, s, z, n, l) > both
undergo assimilation
sent me /ˈsent mi/ > /ˈsemp mi/
→ Elision
Elision of [t] and [d].

3
For more information on syllabic consonants, see point 5.

a64b0469ff35958ef4ab887a898bd50bdfbbe91a-4524748

si lees esto me debes un besito

 1) [t] [d] in final position and preceded by a consonant of the same voicing.
2) the following word must start with any consonant, except for [h].

SPECIAL CASES:

o GLOTTAL STOP (ONLY /t/)

The replacement of [t] by a glottal stop is only produced when the
[t] appears at the end of a syllable (and is usually preceded by a
vowel, [n] or [m]) and when the following syllable starts with a
consonant (other than [h]).
(In Silvia Barreiro’s notes, nasals and approximants are also
mentioned.)
In RP some speakers use the glottal stop to reinforce the
consonants /p, t, k, ʧ/ occur at the end of accented syllables where
they are preceded by a vowel, lateral, or nasal and where a pause
or a consonant follows (and, for /ʧ/, where a vowel follows as well).
The glottal stop precedes the consonant, as in help /helʔp/, atlas
/'æʔtləs/, bank /bæŋʔk/, reach it /ri:ʔʧ ɪt/. This process is referred
to as glottal reinforcement or glottalization.

o ELISION OF /t/ IN NEGATIVE FORMS:

The final /t/ of the auxiliary-negative contractions ending with /-
nt/ (aren’t, shan’t, shouldn’t, needn’t, isn’t, etc.) is often elided
before any following consonant or vowel, even if it is preceded by
another consonant with a different voicing. No elision occurs when
the negative contraction is followed by a pause.
can’t swim /ˈkɑːnt swɪm/ > /ˈkɑːn_ swɪm/

o OTHER SPECIAL CASES:

1. /h/ is elided in unaccented non initial pronouns, as in call him'
/kɔːl ɪm/.
2. Final /v/ in the word of is lost before consonants, as in a cup of
tea /ə kʌp ə tiː/ in a close-knit group. It is not always acceptable.
Remember that a ‘close-knit group’ means that the word following
the preposition of must be part of the same syntactic constituent.
They can't belong to different intonation units either.
3. Final /d/ in and can be elided before vowels or consonants, as in
bacon and eggs /beɪkən ən egz/. The pronunciation with /d/ is
considered formal.
4. For elisions within a word, see point 5 on syllabic consonants.

• Check whether any of the words ends with “r” or “re” in the spelling.
→ Linking -r
Words ending with “r” or “re” in the spelling are pronounced with final [r] if
the next word begins with a vowel.
• Check whether any of the words ends with /ə ɔː ɑː/ or a centering diphthong.
→ Intrusive -r

a64b0469ff35958ef4ab887a898bd50bdfbbe91a-4524748

Reservados todos los derechos. No se permite la explotación económica ni la transformación de esta obra. Queda permitida la impresión en su totalidad.
 - Not possible after high vowels ([iː], [ɪ], [uː] or [ʊ]) or diphthongs ending
with a high vowel (closing diphthongs ending with [ɪ] or [ʊ]).
- Common after [ə], [ɔː] and [ɑː] and also after centring diphthongs (ending
with [ə])

5. SYLLABIC CONSONANTS

Reservados todos los derechos. No se permite la explotación económica ni la transformación de esta obra. Queda permitida la impresión en su totalidad.
A consonant is syllabic when it becomes the nucleus or peak of its syllable, after the elision of
the preceding vowel (usually a schwa). It is indicated by placing a small vertical mark underneath
the corresponding consonant.

• SYLLABIC n

Syllabic n may occur when the sequence involving the alveolar nasal is after obstruents (that is,
plosives, affricates or fricatives) in unstressed syllables, as in threaten /ˈθretn̩ /.

When the obstruent is alveolar syllabic n is more likely to occur. Otherwise, it is not so
widespread:

(i) After bilabials and velars (except those spelt ‘an or ‘on’), it is equally acceptable to pronounce
the word with or without syllabic n, as in happen (/ˈhæpən/ or /ˈhæpn̩ /), and as in waken
(/ˈweɪkən/ or /ˈweɪkn̩ /).

(ii) After labiodentals it is preferable the use of the syllabic n, as in often (/ˈɒfn̩ / better than
/ˈɒfən/) or heaven (/ˈhevn̩ / better than /ˈhevən/).

Syllabic n is unusual when the previous consonant is, in turn, preceded by another consonant,
as in Boston (/ˈbɒstən/ better than /ˈbɒstn̩ /) or Milton (/ˈmɪltən/ better than /ˈmɪltn̩ /).
Furthermore, it is even less likely to occur when one of the preceding consonants is a nasal, as
in London (only /ˈlʌndən/ not /ˈlʌndn̩ /) or Camden (only /ˈkæmdən/ not /ˈkæmdn̩ /).

Finally, it is also possible for a syllabic n to occur when the sequence is followed by a suffix
beginning with a vowel, as in reasonable /ˈriːzn̩ əbl ̩ /(coming from reason + able), although in
this case it may become non-syllabic, as explained below.

• SYLLABIC l

Syllabic l usually occurs when the sequence involving the alveolar lateral is preceded by at least
one consonant (other than /w, j, r/), as in couple /ˈkʌpl ̩/, panel /ˈpænl ̩/ or petal /ˈpetl ̩/ or pistol
/ˈpɪstl ̩/.

It even occurs after the attachement of a suffix beginning with a vowel, as in bottling /ˈbɒtl ̩ɪŋ/
(coming from bottle + ing), although in this case it may become non-syllabic, as explained below.

• SYLLABIC r

Syllabic r is very common in many rhotic accents (such as GA), whereas in RP, both
pronunciations (with and without the syllabic consonant) are perfectly acceptable, as in history
(/ˈhɪstr̩i/ or /ˈhɪstəri/) or flattery (/ˈflætr̩i/ or /ˈflætəri/). Be aware, however, that in the former
example the syllabic r is more common than in the latter: In history there is more than one
consonantal sound preceding the weak syllable ([st]) whereas in flattery, there is only one ([t]).

Notice that it is possible to find syllabic r when the sequence is followed by a suffix beginning
with a vowel, as in the previous example flattery (/ˈflætri/ coming from flatter + y), although in
this case it may become non-syllabic, as explained below.

a64b0469ff35958ef4ab887a898bd50bdfbbe91a-4524748

si lees esto me debes un besito

 • OTHER SYLLABIC CONSONANTS ŋ, m

The syllabic pronunciation of these two consonants mostly occurs after processes of elisions and
assimilations, as in happen (/ˈhæpən/ first becoming /ˈhæpn̩ / and then /ˈhæpm̩ /) or broken
(/ˈbrəʊkən/ first becoming /ˈbrəʊkn̩ / and then /ˈbrəʊkŋ̍ /).

• COMBINATIONS OF SYLLABIC CONSONANTS

Reservados todos los derechos. No se permite la explotación económica ni la transformación de esta obra. Queda permitida la impresión en su totalidad.
In theory, it is possible to find two syllabic consonants together, as in national /ˈnæʃn̩ l ̩/ or
visionary /ˈvɪʒn̩ r̩i/, although perceptually it is not easy to say if a speaker has pronounced a
combination of syllabic consonants or not.

• DE-SYLLABICITY

Compression can cause syllabic consonants may lose their syllabic quality (de-syllabicity), and
become plain non-syllabic consonants at the onset of the following syllable. This occurs when
they are followed by a morpheme starting with a weak vowel 4. Example, the disyllabic word
paddle /ˈpæd əl/ 5 is pronounced /ˈpæd l ̩/, whereas paddling /ˈpæd əl ɪŋ/ can also be pronounced
/ˈpæd l ̩ ɪŋ/ (with three syllables too), or even /ˈpæd lɪŋ/ (with two syllables). Other examples
would be the word listening (/ˈlɪs ən ɪŋ/ becoming /ˈlɪs n̩ ɪŋ/, or even /ˈlɪs nɪŋ/); or the word
history (/ˈhɪs tər i/ becoming /ˈhɪs tr̩ i/, or even /ˈhɪs tri/).

6. OTHER RELEVANT FEATURES

• Yod-dropping in RP can be heard in the environment of a preceding /l, s, z, θ/. Be aware

that Yod-dropping is not a contemporary tendency but the continuation of a historic
process that started in the seventeenth century when, in some sequences such as /Cju/
(C meaning consonant), the Yod began to be deleted. This Early Yod-Dropping in RP
occurred in the following environments: (i) after palatals (including /ʧ/ and /ʤ/), (ii) /r/,
and (iii) clusters with /l/, as in chute /ʧut/, grew /gru/ or glue /glu/.

• Yod-coalescence: It is common between words and possible within a word, a process

that continued apace during the twentieth century. First it started in unstressed
syllables perpetual, graduate. Then, in the late twentieth century, it also started to be
used in stressed syllables as in tuna or duke, although it is not fully accepted by all RP
speakers.

• SMOOTHING (ONLY WHEN STATED)

7. STRESS REORGANIZATIONS

• Elision of the middle stress in three consecutive stressed words (They must be
content words and be one or two syllables long).
• Stress shift: in English when the stresses of two consecutive words happen to be
very close, the primary stress of the first word is shifted towards the front of the
word and falls on the syllable with a pre-primary stress.
• A phrase has two stresses, a primary one on the last word and a pre-primary one on
the first word. A compound tends to receive only one stress on the first element.

4
The weak vowels are: /ə i u/, and, with frequent personal and linguistic fluctuation, we can also include
/ɪ/ and /ʊ/. These two belong to both strong and weak systems.
5
Syllable division has been made according to JC Wells’ syllabification system, and shown by spacing.

a64b0469ff35958ef4ab887a898bd50bdfbbe91a-4524748

si lees esto me debes un besito

 EXCEPTIONS: COMPOUNDS WITH DOUBLE STRESS
→ Names of people.
→ Names of places (except those ending in street).
→ Names of institutions (including hotels and restaurants).
→ Compounds in which the first element is an ingredient (except those ending
in juice and cake).
→ Compounds in which the first element indicates the time (except those
ending in time).
→ Compounds functioning as adverbs.

8. SYMBOLS

• ∣ is used to make a pause (, .)

• ∣ is used before “and” (not marked by a pause) in lists and when it joins two long
sentences.
• ∣ is not used before “and” (not marked by a pause) when it joins only two things or a
short sentence.

a64b0469ff35958ef4ab887a898bd50bdfbbe91a-4524748

Reservados todos los derechos. No se permite la explotación económica ni la transformación de esta obra. Queda permitida la impresión en su totalidad.