NAME : FARMAN ULLAH

ID : 0000146876
CODE : 9056
LEVEL : BS : ENGLISH
Phonetic and phonology

Assignment : 1

Q.1 Write down the distinctive features of the final consonantal sound in each of the
following words:
(1)Life (2) Dogs (3) Rain (4) That (5) Witch

ANSWER
(1) Life: The final consonantal sound in “Life” is an /f/ sound. It is a voiceless labiodental
fricative. The airflow is constricted between the lower lip and the upper teeth, creating a
frictional sound.

(2) Dogs: The final consonantal sound in “Dogs” is a /z/ sound. It is a voiced alveolar fricative.
The tongue approaches the alveolar ridge, causing a partial blockage of airflow and creating
a buzzing or hissing sound.

(3) Rain: The final consonantal sound in “Rain” is an /n/ sound. It is a voiced alveolar nasal
sound. The tongue touches the alveolar ridge, blocking the oral cavity while allowing air to
pass through the nasal cavity, producing a nasal sound.

(4) That: The final consonantal sound in “That” is a /t/ sound. It is a voiceless alveolar plosive.
The airflow is completely blocked by the tongue touching the alveolar ridge, and it is
released with an abrupt burst of sound when the tongue moves away.

(5) Witch: The final consonantal sound in “Witch” is a /ʧ/ sound. It is a voiceless alveopalatal
affricate. The tongue touches the area between the alveolar ridge and the hard palate,
creating a partial blockage of airflow. It is then released with a burst of sound similar to a
combination of /t/ and /ʃ/.

Q.2 Transcribe and write down the number of phonemes in each of the following
words:
(1) Juge (2)Stage (3)Psychology (4) (5)Ear (6)Oli

ANSWER
Here’s the transcription and number of phonemes for each word you provided:
(1) Juge: /dʒuːʒ/ - 3 phonemes
The word “Juge” consists of three phonemes: /dʒ/ (voiced postalveolar affricate), /uː/ (long u
vowel sound), and /ʒ/ (voiced postalveolar fricative).

(2) Stage: /steɪdʒ/ - 4 phonemes

The word “Stage” consists of four phonemes: /s/ (voiceless alveolar fricative), /t/ (voiceless
alveolar stop), /eɪ/ (diphthong consisting of the long a sound followed by the long I sound),
and /dʒ/ (voiced postalveolar affricate).

(3) Psychology: /saɪˈkɑlədʒi/ - 9 phonemes

The word “Psychology” consists of nine phonemes: /s/ (voiceless alveolar fricative), /aɪ/
(diphthong consisting of the long I sound followed by the long a sound), /k/ (voiceless velar
stop), /ɑ/ (open back unrounded vowel), /l/ (voiced alveolar lateral approximant), /ə/ (schwa
sound), /dʒ/ (voiced postalveolar affricate), and /i/ (short I sound).

(4) [No word provided]

Without a word to transcribe, it’s not possible to determine the number of phonemes.

(5) Ear: /ɪr/ - 2 phonemes

The word “Ear” consists of two phonemes: /ɪ/ (short I sound) and /r/ (voiced alveolar liquid).

(6) Oli: /oʊli/ - 3 phonemes

The word “Oli” consists of three phonemes: /oʊ/ (long o sound), /l/ (voiced alveolar lateral
approximant), and /i/ (short I sound).

Please note that the transcription provided is in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) and
may vary slightly depending on dialect and accent.

Q.3 Transcribe and write down the CV templates for the following words showing their
syllabic boundaries:
(1) Faithfulness (2) Wanton (3) Hopeful (4)Successful (5) Valley

ANSWER

Here are the transcriptions of the given words with their syllabic boundaries:

1. Faithfulness:
/ˈfeɪθ.fʊl.nəs/
Syllables: 2 (faith + ful + ness)
Syllabic breakdown: fayth-ful-ness

2. Wanton:
/ˈwɒn.tən/
Syllables: 2 (wan + ton)
Syllabic breakdown: wan-ton

3. Hopeful:
/ˈhoʊpfəl/
Syllables: 2 (hope + ful)
Syllabic breakdown: hope-ful

4. Successful:
/səkˈsɛs.fəl/
Syllables: 3 (suc + cess + ful)
Syllabic breakdown: suc-cess-ful

5. Valley:
/ˈvæl.i/
Syllables: 2 (val + ley)
Syllabic breakdown: val-ley

Note: It is important to mention that syllabic boundaries may vary depending on dialect and
pronunciation. The transcriptions provided here are based on a general standard pronunciation.

Q.4: Describe English consonants with relevant examples.

ANSWER
English consonants are speech sounds produced by obstructing or restricting the airflow in some
way, creating a constriction or closure in the vocal tract. They play a crucial role in the formation
of words and contribute to the overall intelligibility and clarity of spoken English. Let’s explore
the various types of English consonants with relevant examples.

1. Stops (Plosives):
Stops are consonant sounds where the airflow is completely blocked and then released. There
are six stops in English:

- /p/ as in “pat”
- /b/ as in “bat”
- /t/ as in “top”
- /d/ as in “dog”
- /k/ as in “cat”
- /g/ as in “go”

2. Fricatives:
Fricatives are consonant sounds where the airflow is partially obstructed, resulting in a turbulent
noise. English has nine fricatives:
- /f/ as in “fish”
- /v/ as in “van”
- /θ/ as in “thin”
- /ð/ as in “that”
- /s/ as in “sit”
- /z/ as in “zip”
- /ʃ/ as in “ship”
- /ʒ/ as in “treasure”
- /h/ as in “hat”

3. Affricates:
Affricates are consonant sounds that begin as stops and release as fricatives. There are two
affricates in English:

- /tʃ/ as in “church”
- /dʒ/ as in “judge”

4. Nasals:
Nasals are consonant sounds produced with the velum lowered, allowing air to flow through the
nose. English has three nasal sounds:

- /m/ as in “mat”
- /n/ as in “not”
- /ŋ/ as in “sing”

5. Liquids:
Liquids are consonant sounds produced with a partial closure or constriction in the vocal tract.
English has two liquids:

- /l/ as in “lot”
- /r/ as in “run”

6. Glides (Semi-vowels):
Glides are consonant sounds that function as transitional sounds between vowels. English has
two glides:

- /j/ as in “yes”
- /w/ as in “we”

7. Approximants:
Approximants are consonant sounds produced with a narrow constriction but with less
obstruction than fricatives. English has one approximant:

- /ɹ/ as in “red”
It’s important to note that the English language has various allophones, which are different
pronunciations of the same phoneme based on their position in a word or the sounds
surrounding them. For example, the /t/ sound in “top” may be aspirated [tʰ], while the /t/ sound
in “stop” may be unaspirated [t]. Similarly, the /l/ sound in “leaf” may be a clear [l], while in
“milk,” it may be a dark [ɫ].

Overall, understanding the different English consonant sounds and their variations is crucial for
accurate pronunciation and communication in the English language.

Q.5: Describe ‘intonation’ and explain the possible functions of intonation in speech.

ANSWER
Intonation refers to the variation in pitch, stress, and melody patterns in spoken language. It
involves the rise and fall of the voice during speech, the emphasis placed on certain words or
phrases, and the overall melodic contour of a sentence or utterance. Intonation is an important
aspect of spoken communication as it conveys meaning, emotions, attitudes, and pragmatic
information beyond the words themselves. It adds richness and nuance to speech, helping to
convey the intended message more effectively.

The functions of intonation in speech are numerous and can vary across languages and cultures.
Here are some of the key functions:

1. **Conveying Meaning**: Intonation can change the meaning of a sentence or utterance.

For example, a rising intonation at the end of a statement can turn it into a question, while a
falling intonation can indicate a statement or a command. Intonation can also indicate
emphasis or contrast within a sentence, helping to highlight important information.

2. **Expressing Emotions**: Intonation plays a vital role in expressing emotions and attitudes.
By modulating pitch, volume, and rhythm, intonation helps convey emotions such as
happiness, sadness, surprise, anger, or sarcasm. For instance, a high and rising pitch may
express excitement, while a low and falling pitch may convey sadness or disappointment.

3. **Showing Pragmatic Information**: Intonation provides pragmatic cues that help listeners
interpret the speaker’s intentions and attitudes. It can indicate politeness, sarcasm, irony,
doubt, certainty, or enthusiasm. For example, a rising intonation with a slight questioning
tone may convey politeness when making a request, while a falling intonation with a steeper
pitch drop may convey certainty or conviction.

4. **Distinguishing Information Structure**: Intonation helps mark the information structure

of a sentence, including focus and prominence. By using pitch and stress patterns, speakers
can highlight new information or contrastive elements in a sentence. This aids in listener
comprehension and understanding of the speaker’s intended message.
5. **Signaling Turn-Taking**: Intonation patterns, such as rising or falling pitch at the end of
an utterance, help regulate turn-taking in conversational exchanges. Listeners can often
predict when a speaker has finished speaking based on the intonation patterns, allowing for
smooth and efficient communication.

6. **Conveying Cultural and Regional Nuances**: Intonation patterns can vary across
languages, dialects, and cultures. Certain intonation patterns may be associated with
specific cultural or regional identities, conveying information about the speaker’s
background or social group. This can help establish rapport and connection between
speakers and enhance communication in multicultural or multilingual contexts.

In summary, intonation plays a crucial role in speech by conveying meaning, expressing

emotions and attitudes, providing pragmatic information, marking information structure,
signaling turn-taking, and conveying cultural and regional nuances. Its varied functions help
ensure effective communication, enabling speakers to convey their intended messages
accurately while considering social and cultural contexts.

Q.6: Define ‘Auditory Phonetics’ and describe the processes involved in speech hearing.

ANSWER

Auditory Phonetics refers to the study of the perception and processing of speech sounds by the
human auditory system. It focuses on how the brain interprets and understands the sounds of
speech. The processes involved in speech hearing can be described as follows:

1. Sound Reception: The process begins with the reception of sound waves by the outer ear,
specifically the pinna. The pinna acts as a funnel, collecting sound waves and directing them
into the ear canal.

2. Sound Amplification: The sound waves travel through the ear canal and reach the middle
ear. Here, they encounter the eardrum, which vibrates in response to the incoming sound.
The vibrations are then transmitted through a chain of three small bones, called the ossicles
(malleus, incus, and stapes), which amplify the sound.

3. Cochlear Transduction: The amplified vibrations are transmitted to the inner ear, specifically
the cochlea. The cochlea is a fluid-filled, snail-shaped structure that contains sensory cells
called hair cells. The vibrations cause the fluid within the cochlea to move, which in turn
causes the hair cells to bend.
4. Neural Signaling: When the hair cells bend, they initiate a series of electrochemical signals.
These signals are then transmitted to the auditory nerve fibers, which carry them to the
brain for further processing. The auditory nerve fibers converge at the cochlear nucleus in
the brainstem before continuing to higher auditory centers in the brain.

5. Auditory Processing: In the brain, the auditory signals undergo complex processing to
extract meaningful information from the speech sounds. This includes analyzing the
frequency, duration, and intensity of the sound waves. Different regions of the brain are
involved in different aspects of auditory processing, such as the primary auditory cortex,
temporal lobes, and language centers.

6. Speech Perception: Once the auditory signals are processed, the brain interprets them as
speech sounds and assigns meaning to them. This involves recognizing individual phonemes
(distinct speech sounds) and combining them to form words and sentences. The brain also
integrates auditory information with other sensory cues, such as visual information from lip
movements, to enhance speech perception.

7. Language Comprehension: Beyond basic speech perception, the brain engages in higher-
level processes to understand the linguistic content of the speech. This includes parsing
sentences, extracting semantic meaning, and integrating the speech with prior knowledge
and context.

It Is important to note that the processes involved in speech hearing are highly complex and
interconnected. They involve the coordination of various structures in the ear and the brain to
enable the perception, analysis, and comprehension of speech sounds.

Q.7: Phonemically transcribe the following passage:

This is a unit used in the study of quantity and rhythm in speech. In this study it is traditional
to make use of the concept of the syllable. However, the syllable is made to play a lot of
different roles in language description: in phonology we often use the syllable as the basic
framework for describing how vowels and consonants can combine in a particular language,
and most of the time it does not seem to matter that we use the same unit to be the thing
that we count when we are looking for beats in verse or rhythmical speech. Traditionally, the
syllable has also been viewed as an articulatory unit consisting in its ideal form of a movement
from a relatively closed vocal tract to a relatively open vocal tract and back to a relatively
closed one. Mora is an important feature of generative phonology.

ANSWER
The passage explains the concept of the syllable in the study of quantity and rhythm in speech.
It mentions that the syllable is traditionally used as a unit of measurement in this field. The
syllable serves various roles in language description, particularly in phonology. In phonology, the
syllable is commonly used as a fundamental framework for describing how vowels and
consonants combine within a specific language. It is noteworthy that the same unit, the syllable,
is used to count beats in verse or rhythmical speech.

Additionally, the passage highlights that traditionally, the syllable is considered an articulatory
unit. In its ideal form, it involves a movement from a relatively closed vocal tract to a relatively
open vocal tract and back to a relatively closed one. This articulatory perspective emphasizes
the physical aspects of producing syllables.

Furthermore, the passage briefly mentions that “mora” is an important feature of generative
phonology. The term “mora” refers to a unit of time in linguistic rhythm, typically associated
with syllables. It plays a significant role in generative phonology, a linguistic framework that
focuses on the underlying rules and structures of language.

In summary, the passage provides an overview of the syllable as a unit used in the study of
quantity and rhythm in speech. It discusses its role in language description, phonology,
articulation, and its relationship to the concept of “mora” in generative phonology.