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(G-3012N) – English Linguistics and Phonetics

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(G-3012N) – English Linguistics and Phonetics Presentation by: Dr Bulbul Gupta Department of English M.A. Semester III Paper IX (G-3012N) – English Linguistics and Phonetics A consonant is a sound that is produced with an obstruction or narrowing of the passage of air extending from the larynx to the lips. According to RP, there are 24 consonants in English language - /p/, /b/, /t/, /d/, /k/, /g/, /tʃ/, /dʒ/, /f/, /v/, /ө/, /ð/, /s/, /z/, /ʃ/, /ʒ/, /h/, /m/, /n/, /ŋ/, /l/, /r/, /j/, /w/ Plosives – /p/, /b/, /t/, /d/, /k/, /g/ Affricates – /tʃ/, /dʒ/ Fricatives – /f/, /v/, /ө/, /ð/, /s/, /z/, /ʃ/, /ʒ/, /h/ Nasals – /m/, /n/, /ŋ/ Lateral – /l/ Frictionless Continuant – /r/ Semi-vowel – /j/, /w/ A Plosive consonant is produced in the following three stages: Complete closure of both the oral and nasal passages, holding of the closure and compression of air coming from the lungs, sudden release of air with an explosive sound There are three pairs of Plosives: /p/, /b/ – Bilabial Plosives (/p/ is voiceless, /b/ is voiced) /t/, /d/ – Alveolar Plosives (/t/ is voiceless, /d/ is voiced) /k/, /g/ – Velar Plosives (/k/ is voiceless, /g/ is voiced) ❑ ARTICULATION: The articulators involved in the production of /p/ and /b/ are the two lips, and the articulation takes place in three stages: The two lips come in close contact with each other thereby shutting off the oral passage of air. This is the first stage of articulation. In the second stage of articulation, the air is compressed behind the two lips that remain in the state of complete closure. In the third stage of articulation, the two lips part suddenly thus causing the compressed air behind them to release with an explosive sound. The soft palate remains in raised position so that the air does not pass through the nasal cavity. ❖ The articulation of both /p/ and /b/ is the same except that vocal cords do not vibrate in the articulation of /p/ thus making /p/ a VOICELESS, BILABIAL PLOSIVE while in case of /b/, vocal cords vibrate thus making /b/ a VOICED, BILABIAL PLOSIVE. DISTRIBUTION: /p/ and /b/ can occur in all the three positions namely, word-initial, word-medial, and word-final. Word-initial position – /p/ – post, pickle /b/ – bat, bright Word-medial position – /p/ – grapevine, flapping /b/ – tablet, goblet Word-final position – /p/ – cup, tap /b/ – grab, tab ➢ ARTICULATION: The place of articulation of /t/ and /d/ is alveolar. Thus, the articulators involved here are the tip and blade of tongue and the alveolar ridge. Complete closure of oral passage of air occurs when the tip and blade of tongue make a firm contact with the alveolar ridge. This is the first stage of articulation of /t/ and /d/. In the second stage of articulation, the air is compressed behind the point of contact between the tip and blade of tongue and the alveolar ridge. In the third stage of articulation, the tip and blade of tongue separates suddenly from its point of contact with the alveolar ridge causing an explosive sound. ➢ The articulation of both /t/ and /d/ is the same except that vocal cords do not vibrate in the articulation of /t/ thus making /t/ a VOICELESS, BILABIAL PLOSIVE while in case of /d/, vocal cords vibrate thus making /d/ a VOICED, BILABIAL PLOSIVE. DISTRIBUTION: [t] and [d] can occur in all the three positions namely, word-initial, word-medial, and word-final. Word-initial position – /t/ – tram, tip /d/ – dream, disc Word-medial position – /t/ – battling, cotton /d/ – madness, badly Word-final position – /t/ – bat, fast /d/ – mud, fad ▪ ARTICULATION: In the articulation of /k/ and /g/, the back part of the tongue makes contact with the soft palate (velum). This is called velar closure. The soft palate is raised that shuts the passage of air in the nasal cavity. This is called the velic closure. Due to velar and velic closure, the air gets blocked behind the back part of the tongue. The air pressure builds up and when the back part of tongue removes from its contact with the soft palate, the air moves out of the oral cavity with an explosive sound. ▪ The articulation of both /k/ and /g/ is the same except that vocal cords do not vibrate in the articulation of /k/ thus making /k/ a VOICELESS, VELAR PLOSIVE while in case of /g/, vocal cords vibrate thus making /g/ a VOICED, VELAR PLOSIVE. Distribution: /k/ and /g/ can occur in all the three positions namely, word-initial, word-medial, and word-final. Word-initial position – /k/ – kite, cream /g/ – grapes, gusty Word-medial position – /k/ – lacking, brakes /g/ – singing, baggage Word-final position – /k/ – buck, duck /g/ – tag, fog ➢ A consonant is a sound that is produced with an obstruction or narrowing of the passage of air extending from the larynx to the lips. ➢ According to RP, there are 24 consonants in English language - /p/, /b/, /t/, /d/, /k/, /g/, /tʃ/, /dʒ/, /f/, /v/, /ө/, /ð/, /s/, /z/, /ʃ/, /ʒ/, /h/, /m/, /n/, /ŋ/, /l/, /r/, /j/, /w/ ➢ Consonants can be classified as Plosives, Affricates, Fricatives, Nasals, Laterals, Frictionless Continuant, Semi-Vowel ➢ A Plosive consonant is produced in the following three stages: Complete closure of both the oral and nasal passages, holding of the closure and compression of air coming from the lungs, sudden release of air with an explosive sound ➢ There are three pairs of Plosives: /p/, /b/ – Bilabial Plosives (/p/ is voiceless, /b/ is voiced) /t/, /d/ – Alveolar Plosives (/t/ is voiceless, /d/ is voiced) /k/, /g/ – Velar Plosives (/k/ is voiceless, /g/ is voiced) ➢ The articulators involved in the production of /p/ and /b/ are the two lips, and the articulation takes place in three stages. ➢ The place of articulation of /t/ and /d/ is alveolar. Thus, the articulators involved here are the tip and blade of tongue and the alveolar ridge. ➢ In the articulation of /k/ and /g/, the back part of the tongue makes contact with the soft palate (velum). This is called velar closure. The soft palate is raised that shuts the passage of air in the nasal cavity. This is called the velic closure. …………………………………………………………………………........................................... References: Ladefoged, Peter, and Keith Johnson. A Course in Phonetics. United Kingdom: Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2011 Roach, Peter. English Phonetics and Phonology: A Practical Course. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2009 Sethi, J., and P.V. Dhamija. A Course in Phonetics and Spoken English. New Delhi: Prentice Hall of India Private Limited, 2006 Study material. PGDTE. English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad, Tarnaka.
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