ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY

[GE05-ELP]

TOPIC 3

International Phonetic
Alphabet (IPA)
 Functions of the
5 International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)

The IPA is used in Languages with no IPA is used in some foreign

dictionaries (mostly the written script have often language textbooks to
English ones) to indicate been written using the transcribe the sounds of
how words should be IPA. languages not written in
pronounced. Latin. In order to learn
English, non-native speakers
also use it.
 Why do we use
3 IPA?
Guarantees Correct Pronunciation
IPA helps us to know the exact
pronunciation of new words. So using
IPA guarantees correct pronunciation
while speaking.

Better Vision of Phonetics

In addition, IPA gives us a better
vision of phonetics, especially how
types of sound work and speech
organs function to articulate each
soun
While the IPA contains
107 different vowels and
consonants, no language
uses all of them.
 IPA Chart Structure

Vowels Consonants
are described in terms of front/back are described in terms of their place(s)
tongue position, jaw height, and lip of articulation, “manner”, and voicing or
roundedness. other special features (glottal states).
IPA Chart

Interactive Phonemic
Chart
https://www.englishclu
b.com/pronunciation/
phonemic-chart-
ia.php
 Vowels

one vowel sound in a syllable

Monophthongs are transcribed with the

International Phonetic Alphabet, with just
one symbol, for example [ʊ].
 Vowels

one vowel sound in a syllable the combination of two vowel sounds

Monophthongs are transcribed with the Diphthongs are transcribed with two
International Phonetic Alphabet, with just symbols, for example [aʊ].
one symbol, for example [ʊ].
 IPA Chart of Vowels

Front Central Back

Close
The chart reflects the
positions of vowels in a
Close-mid
left-facing mouth

Open-mid

Open
Consonants Chart
 Dimensions
of Consonant Phonemes

Voicing Place of Articulation Manner of Articulation

refers to where the refers to how the

Voiced sound is made in the sound is made.
mouth.
Voiceless
 Dimensions
of Consonant Phonemes

VOICED (+)
mean the vocal chords are vibrating

Voicing VOICELESS (-)

Voiced mean the vocal chords are NOT vibrating
Voiceless
 Articulation

Articulation is the process of moving the tongue, jaws, lips

and other organs of speech (articulators) to form speech
units.
 Articulation

Place of Articulation Manner of Articulation

refers to where the refers to how the

sound is made in the sound is made.
mouth.
Place of Articulation

Place of Articulation

refers to where the

sound is made in the
mouth.
Place of Articulation

BILABIAL
uses both lips
• /p/ (voiceless)
• /b/ (voiced)
• /m/ (voiced)
• /w/ (voiced)
Place of Articulation

LABIODENTAL
placing upper teeth on
top of the lower lip
• /f/ (voiceless)
• /v/ (voiced)
Place of Articulation

DENTAL
placing the tongue
between both the upper
and lower teeth
• /θ/ (voiceless)
• /ð/ (voice)
Place of Articulation

ALVEOLAR
tip of the tongue touches or
is just below the alveolar
ridge. The alveolar ridge is
the bumpy part of the roof
of the mouth that is just
behind the top teeth.
• /t/, /d/, /s/, /z/, /n/, /l/
 Place of Articulation

POST ALVEOLAR
the middle part of the
tongue is touching or
just behind the alveolar
ridge.
• /ʃ/ (voiceless)
• /ʒ/ (voiced)
• /tʃ/ (voiceless)
• /dʒ/ (voiced)
• /ɹ/ (voiced)
Place of Articulation

PALATAL
when the tongue is close to
or touching the middle part
of the roof of the mouth
(hard palate)
• /j/ (voiced)
Place of Articulation

VELAR
when you raise the tongue
to the soft palate (the roof
of the mouth just behind the
hard palate).
• /k/ (voiceless)
• /g/ (voiced)
• /ŋ/ (voiced)
• /w/ (voiced)
Place of Articulation

GLOTTAL
Glottal sounds are made in
the vocal folds in your
throat (AKA the glottis).
Unlike all other sounds, the
tongue does not help make
this sound.
• /h/ (voiceless)
Manner of Articulation

Manner of Articulation

refers to how the

sound is made.
 Manner of Articulation

STOP (PLOSIVE)
Stops are made by stopping the airflow
and then releasing it with a burst.
 Manner of Articulation

FRICATIVE
A fricative is produced by creating a narrow passageway for air to
escape the mouth. The air creates a noisy sound as it blows through the
mouth. An example of this is when you produce F /f/ and V /v/ by forcing
air through the narrow space between the top teeth and bottom lip.
 Manner of Articulation

AFFRICATE
An affricate is a combination of a stop and a fricative. We produce
these sounds by narrowing the passage in the mouth for air to
escape (like a stop) and then releasing it gradually through that
narrowed passageway (like a fricative).
 Manner of Articulation

NASAL
Nasals are made when the mouth is blocked off, and the
sound escapes through the nasal cavity (nose)
 Manner of Articulation

LIQUID
Liquid consonants are complex sounds that include both
lateral and rhotic sounds. The tongue and palate create a
partial restriction of the airflow out the mouth.
 Manner of Articulation

GLIDE
A glide (AKA a semivowel or semiconsonant) is a consonant
that has a vowel-like quality. The tongue restricts airflow
through the mouth creating a space over the tongue for the
air to flow before releasing out the mouth. You make the
sound by “gliding” the lips or tongue from one shape into a
vowel.
Thank you!