Modification of Vowels in Connected Speech
Мета: to find out about the modification of vowels in connected speech.
Короткі теоретичні відомості
The modifications of vowels in a speech chain are traced in the following directions: they are either quantitative or qualitative or both. These changes of vowels in a speech continuum are determined by a number of factors such as the position of the vowel in the word, accentual structure, tempo of speech, rhythm, etc.
The decrease of the vowel quantity or in other words the shortening of the vowel length is known as a quantitative modification of vowels, which may be illustrated as follows:
1. The shortening of the vowel length occurs in unstressed positions, e.g. blackboard [Ɔ:], sorrow [зu] (reduction). In these cases reduction affects both the length of theunstressed vowels and their quality.
Form words often demonstrate quantitative reduction in unstressed positions, e.g.
Is →he or ̖she to blame? – [hi:]
But: At →last he has ̖come. – [hi]
2. The length of a vowel depends on its position in a word. It varies in different phonetic environments. English vowels are said to have positional length, e.g. knee – need – neat (accommodation). The vowel [i:] is the longest in the final position, it is obviously shorter before the lenis voiced consonant [d], and it is the shortest before the fortis voiceless consonant [t].
Qualitative modification of most vowels occurs in unstressed positions. Unstressed vowels lose their 'colour', their quality, which is illustrated by the examples below:
1. In unstressed syllables vowels of full value are usually subjected to qualitative changes, e.g. man [mæn] – sportsman ['spɔ:tsmən], conduct ['kɒndəkt] – conduct [kən'd٨kt]. In such cases the quality of the vowel is reduced to the neutral sound [ə].
These examples illustrate the neutralized (reduced) allophones of the same phonemes as the same morphemes are opposed.
Nearly one sound in five is either [ə] or the unstressed [i]. This high frequency of [ə] is the result of the rhythmic pattern: if unstressed syllables are given only a short duration, the vowel in them which might be otherwise full is reduced.
It is common knowledge that English rhythm prefers a pattern in which stressed syllables alternate with unstressed ones. The effect of this can be seen even in single words, where a shift of stress is often accompanied by a change of vowel quality; a full vowel becomes [ə], and [ə] becomes a full vowel. Compare: analyse ['ænəlaiz] – analysis [ə'nælisis].
2. Slight degree of nasalization marks vowels preceded or followed by the nasal consonants [n], [m], e.g. never, no, then, men (accommodation)
Завдання до теми
Read the tongue-twisters:
1. Gail’s maid mailed jade.
2. Gale’s great glass globe glows green.
3. Gertie’s great-grandma grew aghast at Gertie’s grammar.
4. Gig whip, gig whip, gig whip, …
5. Girl gargoyle, guy gargoyle.
6. Give me the gift of a griptop sock: a drip-drape, ship-shape, tip-top sock.
7. Give Mr. Snipe’s wife’s knife a swipe.
8. Give papa a cup of proper coffee in a copper coffee cup.
9. Gobbling gorgoyles gobbled gobbling goblins.
10. Good blood, bad blood, good blood, bad blood, good blood, bad blood.
11. Great glass globes gleam green.
Контрольні питання
1. According to what can English consonants be modified?
2. What is connected speech and what is its significance?
3. What does the ability to produce English with an English-like pattern of stress and rhythm involve?
4. What are coarticulatory / adjustment phenomena? Give examples.
5. What syllables are typically articulated precisely and what are weakened, shortened, or dropped in connected speech?
6. Speak on the typology of sound adjustments in connected speech.
7. What are the directions of modifications of vowels?
Література: [4, c. 122 – 125; 6, c. 66-68].
Практичне заняття № 19
Тема. Редукція
Reduction
Мета:to study the phenomenon of reduction
Короткі теоретичні відомості
In English as well as in Russian vowels in unstressed syllables are usually reduced. The laws of reduction, in these languages are not the same, however.
Reduction is a historical process of weakening, shortening or disappearance of vowel sounds in unstressed positions. This phonetic phenomenon, as well as assimilation, is closely connected with the general development of the language system. Reduction reflects the process of lexical and grammatical changes.
Reduce – to make smaller or less. For example, to reduce the intensity of a sound, to reduce the quantity of a sound. Reduced form – a word, which sounds weaker in the process of speech. Thus the verb to do can be reduced and pronounced as \du, dә\ or even \d\. The same can be said about the verb to have \hәv, әv \. Articles, conjunctions, prepositions and pronouns are mostly affected by reduction.
The neutral sound represents the reduced form of almost any vowel or diphthong in the unstressed position, eg:
combine ['kPmbain] - combine [kәm'bain]
The vowel sounds of the two related words are in contrast because of different stress positions.
Non-reduced unstressed sounds are often retained in:
(a) compound words, eg blackboard, oilfield,
(b) borrowings from the French and other languages, eg bourgeoisie, kolkhoz.
Reduction is realized:
(a) in unstressed syllables within words, eg demonstrative [di'mPnstrativ];
(b) in unstressed form-words, auxiliary and modal verbs, personal and possessive pronouns within intonation groups and phrases, eg What do you think you can do?
Three different types of reduction are noticed in English.
1. Quantitative reduction, i.e. shortening of a vowel sound in the unstressed position, affects mainly long vowels, eg he [hi: — hi— hi]
2. Qualitative reduction, i.e. obscuration of vowels towards [a, i, u], affects both long and short vowels, eg can [kæn - kæn].
3. The third type is the elision of vowels in the unstressed position. Elision is dropping off of a vowel in initial or terminal position. For example: ‘tis instead of it is.
The reduction of some consonants was established long ago:
1. the initial [w, k, g ] may be dropped e.g. write, know, gnot
2. the medial [t] or [d] are dropped in clusters of three consonants: e.g. listen, soften, Wednesday.
3. the final [b] is dropped in the cluster [mb]: lamb [læm], dumb[dΛm]
In the others cases of recent formation the elided forms are typical only for rapid colloquial speech.
- [h] may be dropped in the following monosyllables when non-initial and unstressed have, has, had; he, him, his, her, who tell him he is wanted.
Завдання до теми
Read the tongue-twisters:
1. False Frank fled Flo Friday.
2. Federal Express is now called FedEx. When I retire I’ll be a FedEx ex. But if I’m an officer when I retire, I’ll be an ex Fedex Exec. Then after a divorce, my ex-wife will be an ex FedEx exec’s ex. If I rejoin FedEx in time, I’d be an ex ex FedEx exec. When we remarry, my wife will be an ex ex FedEx exec’s ex.
3. Few free fruit flies fly from flames.
4. Five frantic frogs fled from fifty fierce fishes.
5. Five fuzzy French frogs Frolicked through the fields in France.
6. Flee from fog to fight flu fast!
7. Flies fly but a fly flies.
8. Four free-flow pipes flow freely.
9. Four furious friends fought for the phone.
10. Fran feeds fish fresh fish food.
Контрольні питання
1. What phenomenon is called ‘reduction’?
2. Name the sounds which are commonly found in the unstressed syllables.
3. In what kind of words do non-reduced vowels occur in unstressed syllables? Give examples.
4. What degrees of reduction do you know?
5. Read the following sentence: «I can read it alone». What type of reduction is observed in the word can?
6. Transcribe and read the sentence: «He is right». What type of reduction is found in the word he?
7. Give examples to illustrate the verb to do in the reduced and non-reduced forms.
8. Within what segments of speech is the reduction realized?
9. Suppose your fellow-student says: «Com'bine is a noun». What is his mistake? What will you tell him to do to correct the mistake? What kind of mistake is it, phonetic or phonological?
10. Your fellow-student may probably say satisfaction as [satis'faekfn], Is his mistake phonetic or phonological? What will you advise him to do to correct his mistake?
Література [6, c. 74-75; 122-123].
Практичне заняття № 20
Тема. Типи редукції
Types of reduction
Мета:to find out about vowel and consonant reduction.
Короткі теоретичні відомості
Vowel reduction
The realization of reduction as well as assimilation and accommodation is connected with the style of speech. In rapid colloquial speech reduction may result in vowel elision, the complete omission of the unstressed vowel, which is also known as zero reduction.
Zero reduction is likely to occur in a sequence of unstressed syllables, e.g. history, factory, literature, territory. It often occurs in initial unstressed syllables preceding thestressed one, e.g. correct, believe, suppose, perhaps.
The example below illustrates a stage-by-stage reduction (including zero reduction) of a phrase. Has he done it? [hæz hi· ,dΛn it] [həz hI ,dΛn it] [əz i ,dΛn it] [z i ,dΛn it].
Consonants reduction
The reduction of some consonants was established long ago:
1. the initial [w, k, g ] may be dropped e.g. write, know, gnat
2. the medial [t] or [d] are dropped in clusters of three consonants: e.g. listen, soften, Wednesday.
3. the final [b] is dropped in the cluster [mb]: lamb [læm], dumb[dΛm]
In the others cases of recent formation the elided forms are typical only for rapid colloquial speech.
- [h] may be dropped in the following monosyllables when non-initial and unstressed have, has, had; he, him, his, her, who tell him he is wanted.
Завдання до теми
Read the tongue-twisters:
1. Each Easter Eddie eats eighty Easter eggs.
2. East Fife Four, Forfar Five
3. Ed had edited it.
4. Ed Nott was shot and Sam Shott was not. So it is better to be Shott than Nott. Some say Nott was not shot. But Shott says he shot Nott. Either the shot Shott shot at Nott was not shot, or Nott was shot. If the shot Shott shot shot Nott, Nott was shot. But if the shot Shott shot shot Shott, the shot was Shott, not Nott. However, the shot Shott shot shot not Shott — but Nott. So, Ed Nott was shot and that’s hot! Is it not?
5. Eddie edited it.
6. Eleven benevolent elephants
7. Elizabeth has eleven elves in her elm tree.
8. Elizabeth’s birthday is on the third Thursday of this month.
9. Ere her ear hears her err, here ears err here.
10. Esau Wood sawed wood. All the wood Esau Wood saw, Esau Wood would saw. All the wood Wood saw, Esau sought to saw. One day Esau Wood’s wood-saw would saw no wood. So Esau Wood sought a new wood-saw. The new wood-saw would saw wood. Oh, the wood Esau Wood would saw. Esau sought a saw that would saw wood as no other wood-saw would saw. And Esau found a saw that would saw as no other wood-saw would saw. And Esau Wood sawed wood.
Контрольні питання
1. Mark sentence-stresses and underline all the content words in the sentence: «Isent them a photo of the children». What parts of speech are content words?
2. Mark sentence-stresses and underline all the form-words in the sentence: «They all went for a walk in the park». What parts of speech are form-words?
3. Are the personal and possessive pronouns generally stressed in connected speech?
4. Transcribe the following sentence, mark the stresses and tunes. Read it, make it sound rhythmically correct: «He told his son to wait for him».
5. Are the auxiliary and modal verbs generally stressed in connected speech?
6. Try to remember in what positions the auxiliary and modal verbs are generally stressed in a sentence.
7. Transcribe the following sentence, mark the stresses and tunes. Read it: ‘What do you generally do in the evening?’ Mind that the verb to do is used here first as an auxiliary, then as a content verb.
8. Pronounce the correct forms of the verb can in the phrase: «I can do it as well». And now in: «Can you write it yourself?» Give other examples where auxiliary and modal verbs have their strong forms.
9. In what positions are prepositions generally stressed in a sentence?
10. Transcribe, mark the stresses and tunes and read the sentence: «Who are you waiting for?» Which form of the preposition for have you used? Give other examples where prepositions have their strong forms.
11. Which form-words have no weak forms?
12. Give examples of the word that as a demonstrative pronoun and as a conjunction.
13. Transcribe, mark the stresses and tunes and read the sentence: «He isn't away, is he?» Give examples where link verbs have their strong forms.
14. Transcribe, mark the stresses and tunes and read the sentences: «We have an elder brother». «He has left for the Urals at present». How have you transcribed the verb have in the first sentence, and has in the second?
Література [6, c. 74-75; 122-123].
Практичне заняття № 21
Тема. Зміна приголосних звуків у процесі мовлення