The sounds classification.doc

Segmental phonology classifies sounds as: consonants (sounds produced with the significant occlusion in the articulation system) and vowels (sounds produced without any occlusion).

All consonants may be classified as either voiced or voiceless. In articulating a voiced consonant, the vocal cords are vibrating. (The vibration may easily be felt by gripping the larynx--the "Adam's apple"--between the fingers and the thumb while articulating the consonant.) In articulating an unvoiced consonant, the vocal cords are not vibrating.

When speaking about the strength – the amount of air we breathe out while articulating – there are fortis (strong) and lenis (weak) consonants. In English all the voiceless consonants are fortis and voiced are lenis. In Polish it’s the other way around.

There are two major things connected with sound’s production – first: where the sound is produced; second: how it is produced. This verifies two important factors: PLACE and MANNER.

TYPES OF SOUNDS DEPENDING ON THE PLACE OF ARTICULATION:

I – lips – p, b, m – bilabial

Bilabials are consonants for which the flow of air is stopped or restricted by the two lips. Here is a list of the bilabials in Present-Day English.

1. /p/ (the phoneme spelled p in pat): voiceless bilabial stop.
2. /b/ (the phoneme spelled b in bat): voiced bilabial stop.
3. /m/ (the phoneme spelled m in mail): (voiced) bilabial nasal.
4. /w/ (the phoneme spelled w in wet): (voiced) bilabial semivowel.

II. lower lip and upper teeth – f, v – labio-dental

Labiodentals are consonants for which the flow of air is restricted by the lips and teeth). There are two labiodentals in Present-Day English.

1. /f/ (the phoneme spelled f in fine): voiceless labiodental fricative.
2. /v/ (the phoneme spelled v in vine): voiced labiodental fricative.

III. Upper teeth and tip of the tongue – “th” [θ] [δ] – dental

Dentals (called also: Interdentals) are consonants for which the flow of air is restricted by catching the tongue between the teeth. There are two interdentals in Present-Day English.

1. /q/ (the phoneme spelled th in thistle): voiceless interdental fricative.
2. /ð/ (the phoneme spelled th in this): voiced interdental fricative.

IV. Tip of the tongue and alveolar ridge – t, d, n, s z, l - alveolar

Alveolars are consonants for which the flow of air is stopped or impeded by creating a block or a small aperture between the tongue and the alveolar ridge. Here is a list of the alveolars in Present-Day English.

1. /t/ (the phoneme spelled t in tot): voiceless alveolar stop.
2. /d/ (the phoneme spelled d in dot): voiced alveolar stop.
3. /s/ (the phoneme spelled s in sue): voiceless alveolar fricative.
4. /z/ (the phoneme spelled z in zoo): voiced alveolar fricative.
5. /n/ (the phoneme spelled n in nail): (voiced) alveolar nasal.
6. /l/ (the phoneme spelled l in let): (voiced) alveolar lateral.
7. /r/ (the phoneme spelled r in root): (voiced) alveolar retroflex.

V. The middle of the tongue gets close to the hard palate, right behind the alveolar ridge. - ʃ, ʤ, ʧ, ʒ - postalveolar

Postalveolar (Alveopalatals) are consonants for which the flow of air is stopped or impeded by creating a block or a small aperture between the tongue and the region of the hard palate just behind the alveolar ridge. Here is a list of the alveopalatals in Present-Day English.

1.                  /ʧ/ (the phoneme spelled ch in chip): voiceless alveopalatal affricate.
2. /ʤ/ (the phoneme spelled g in gyp): voiced alveopalatal affricate.
3. /ʃ/ (the phoneme spelled sh in shore): voiceless alveopalatal fricative.
4. /ʒ/ (the phoneme spelled z in azure): voiced alveopalatal fricative.
 

VI. The middle part of the tongue close to hard palate – j, h – palatal

VII. The back of the tongue touches soft palate – k, g, /η/ - velar

Velars are consonants for which the flow of air is stopped or impeded by creating a block or a small aperture between the tongue and the velum ("soft palate"). Here is a list of the velars in Present-Day English.

1. /k/ (the phoneme spelled c in cap): voiceless velar stop.
2. /g/ (the phoneme spelled g in gap): voiced velar stop.
3. /h/ (the phoneme spelled h in hot): voiceless velar fricative (in vicinity of back vowel).
4. /h/ (the phoneme spelled ng in sing): (voiced) velar nasal.
5. /w/ (the phoneme spelled w in wet): (voiced) velar (and bilabial) semivowel.

TYPES OF SOUNDS DEPENDING ON THE MANNER OF ARTICULATION:

 PRIMARY

I. Stop (plosive): p, b, t, d, k, g

Stops are consonants formed by completely stopping the flow of air somewhere in the vocal apparatus, and then releasing the air. Since the sudden release of the pent-up air creates a small explosive sound, stops are also called plosives.

II. Fricatives – a small passage for the air flow; when the air goes out it produces the hissing sound: s, z, ʃ, ʒ, f, v, q, ð

Fricatives are consonants that are formed by impeding the flow of air somewhere in the vocal apparatus so that a friction-sound is produced. Because of the way the flow of breath is heard in producing fricatives, fricatives are also called spirants. Here is a list of the fricatives in Present-Day English.

1. /f/ (the phoneme spelled f in fine): voiceless labiodental fricative.
2. /v/ (the phoneme spelled v in vine): voiced labiodental fricative.
3. /q/ (the phoneme spelled th in thistle): voiceless interdental fricative.
4. /ð/ (the phoneme spelled th in this): voiced interdental fricative.
5. /s/ (the phoneme spelled s in sue): voiceless alveolar fricative.
6. /z/ (the phoneme spelled z in zoo): voiced alveolar fricative.
7. /ʃ/ (the phoneme spelled sh in shore): voiceless alveopalatal fricative.
8. /ʒ/ (the phoneme spelled z in azure): voiced alveopalatal fricative.
9. /h/ (the phoneme spelled h in hot): voiceless fricative, produced at various points depending upon the vowels in the vicinity. For example, in hot, /h/ is velar, whereas in heat, /h/ is alveopalatal.

III. Affricates – complete closure and slow release of the air: /ʧ/, /ʤ/

Affricates are consonants that are formed by stopping the flow of air somewhere in the vocal apparatus, and then releasing the air relatively slowly so that a friction-sound is produced. Present-Day English has only two affricates:

1. /ʧ/ (the phoneme spelled ch in chip): voiceless alveopalatal affricate.
2. /ʤ/ (the phoneme spelled g in gyp): voiced alveopalatal affricate.

IV. Nasals – oral cavity closed, all the air goes through the nose: m, n, /h/

Nasals...