Type of obstruction and the manner of the production of noise

There are two types of articulatory obstruction: completeand incomplete. When the obstruction is complete the organs of speech are in contact and the air stream meets a closure in the mouth or nasal cavities as in the production of the English [p, b, t, d, k, g, t∫, ʤ, m, n, ŋ]. In other words, the complete obstruction is formed when two organs of speech come in contact with each other and the air passage is blocked.

In case of incomplete obstruction the active organ of speech moves towards the point of articulation and the air stream goes through the narrowing between them as in the production of the English [f, v, s, z, θ, ð, ∫, ʒ, h, w, l, r, j]. In other words, the incomplete obstruction is formed when the articulating organ is held so close to the point of articulation as to narrow or constrict the air passage without blocking it.

According to the manner of noise production and the type of obstruction the consonants are divided into occlusive and constrictive.

Occlusive consonants are sounds in the production of which the air stream meets a complete obstruction in the mouth. According to the principle of voice or noise prevalence, they are subdivided into noise consonants and sonorants. Noise consonants are divided into plosive consonants and affricates.

In the production of plosive consonants the breath is completely stopped at some point of articulation and then it is released with a slight explosion [p, b, t, d, k, g]. They are also called stops.

In the production of affricates the speech organs form a complete obstruction which is released so slowly that considerable friction occurs at the point of articulation [t∫, ʤ].

Occlusive sonorants are also made with a complete obstruction but the soft palate is lowered and the air stream escapes through the nose, so they are nasal.

Constrictive consonants are produced with an incomplete obstruction, so the air passage is constricted. They are divided into noise consonants or fricatives and sonorants.

In the production of fricatives the speech organs form an incomplete obstruction, so the air escapes through the narrowing with friction [f, v, θ, ð, s, z, ∫, ʒ, h].

Constrictive sonorantsare also made with an incomplete obstruction but with a rather wide air passage; so tone prevails over noise [w, r, l, j]. They are all oral, because in their production the soft palate is raised.

The consonants of this group are divided into medial and laterial. Medial sonorants are produced when the air escapes without audible friction over the central part of the tongue. The sides of the tongue are raised [w, r, j].

In the production of laterial consonants the tongue is pressed against the alveolar ridge and the sides of the tongue are lowed [l].

Sound [p]

Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled pepper

A peck of pickled pepper Peter Piper picked.

If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled pepper

Where's the peck of pickled pepper that

Peter Piper picked.

Sound [b]

Betty Botta bought some butter,

But, she said, “This butter's bitter.

If I put it in my batter

It will make my batter bitter.

But a bit of better butter

Will make my batter better.”

So she bought a bit of butter

Better than the bitter butter

And she put it in her batter

And it made her batter better

So it was better Betty Botta bought a bit of better butter.

Unit 13

Consonants

The classification of English consonant phonemes

The place of articulation. The work of the vocal cords. The position of the soft palate

Main Theoretical Concepts:

The place of articulation

The place of articulation is determined by the active organ of speech against the point of articulation. According to the position of the active organ of speech against the point of articulation (the place of articulation) consonants are classified into: (1) labial, (2) lingual, (3) glottal.

Labial consonants are subdivided into: a) bilabial and b) labiodental. Bilabial consonants are produced with both lips. They are the English [p, b, m, w]. Labiodental consonants are articulated with the lower lip against the edge of the upper teeth. They are the English [f, v].

Lingual consonants are subdivided into: a) forelingual, b) mediolingual and c) backlingual. Forelingual consonants are articulated with the tip or the blade of the tongue. According to the position of the tip of the tongue they may be: a) apical and b) cacuminal. According to the place of obstruction forelingual consonants may be: dental, alveolar, palato-alveolar, post-alveolar. Dental consonants are articulated with the tip of the tongue projected between the teeth [θ, ð]. Alveolar consonants are articulated with the tip of the tongue on the alveolar ridge [t, d, s, z, n, 1]. Palato-alveolar consonants are articulated with the tip or the blade of the tongue against the teeth ridge, the front part of the tongue raised towards the hard palate—two places of articulation [t∫, ʤ, ∫, ʒ ]. Post-alveolar consonants are articulated with the tip or the blade of the tongue against the back part of the teeth ridge [r].

Mediolingual consonants are produced with the front part of the tongue. They are always palatal. Palatal consonants are articulated with the front part of the tongue raised high to the hard palate [j].

Backlingual consonants are also called velar, they are produced with the back part of the tongue raised towards the soft palate "velum" [k, g, ŋ].

The glottal consonant [h] is articulated in the glottis.

The work of the vocal cords

According to the work of the vocal cords and the force of exhalation consonants are subdivided into voiced and voiceless. The force of exhalation and the degree of muscular tension are greater in the production of voiceless consonants therefore they are called by the Latin word “fortis”, which means “strong, energetic”. Voiced consonants are called “lenis”, “soft, weak”, because the force of exhalation and the degree of muscular tension in their articulation are weaker. Sonorant sounds do not enter “fortis” – “lenis” opposition.

Voiced consonants are: [b, d, g, z, v, ð, ʒ, m, n, ŋ, 1, r, j, w, ʤ].

Voiceless consonants are: [p, t, k, s, f, θ, h, ∫, t∫].