Articulatory features of speech sounds

Мета:to find out about major articulatory features of speech sounds.

Короткі теоретичні відомості

If speech sounds are studied from the point of view of their production by man's organs of speech, it is the differences and similarities of their articulation that are in the focus of attention. A speech sound is produced as a result of definite coordinated movements and positions of speech organs, so the articulation of a sound consists of a set of articulatory features.

Grouping speech sounds according to their major articulatory features is called an articulatory classification.

According to the specific character of the work of the speech organs, sounds in practically all the languages are subdivided into two major subtypes: vowels and consonants.

There are 1) articulatory, 2) acousticand 3) functionaldifferences between vowels and consonants.

1. The most substantial articulatorydifference between vowels and consonants is that in the articulation of vowels the air passes freely through the mouth cavity, while in making consonants an obstruction is formed in the mouth cavity and the airflow exhaled from the lungs meets a narrowing or a complete obstruction formed by the speech organs.

2. Consonants articulations are relatively easy to feel, and as a result are most conveniently described in terms of place and manner of articulation.

3. Vowels have no place of obstruction, the whole of speech apparatus takes place in their formation, while the articulation of consonants can be localized, an obstruction or narrowing for each consonant is made in a definite place of the speech apparatus.

4. The particular quality of vowelsdepends on the volume and shape of the mouth resonator, as well as on the shape and the size of the resonator opening. The mouth resonator is changed by the movements of the tongue and the lips.

5. The particular quality of consonantsdepends on the kind of noise that results when the tongue or the lips obstruct the air passage. The kind of noise produced depends in its turn on the type of obstruction, on the shape and the type of the narrowing. The vocal cords also determine the quality of consonants.

6. From the acousticpoint of view, vowels are called the sounds of voice, they have high acoustic energy, consonants are the sounds of noise which have low acoustic energy.

7. Functionaldifferences between vowels and consonants are defined by their role in syllable formation: vowels are syllable forming elements, consonants are units which function at the margins of syllables, either singly or in clusters.

These differences make it logical to consider each class of sounds independently.

Завдання до теми

Read the tongue-twisters:

1. Nat the bat swat at Matt the gnat.

2. National Sheepshire Sheep Association

3. Near an ear, a nearer ear, a nearly eerie ear.

4. Ned 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, then Shott was shot, not Nott. However, the shot Shott shot shot not Shott — but Nott.

5. Never trouble about trouble until trouble troubles you!

6. Nick knits Nixon’s knickers.

7. Nine nice night nurses nursing nicely.

8. Nine nimble noblemen nibbled nuts

9. No need to light a night light on a light night like tonight.

10. No nose knows like a gnome’s nose knows.

Контрольні питання

1. What is articulatory classification of speech sounds?

2. What two major subtypes are sounds subdivided into?

3. What is the most substantial articulatorydifference between vowels and consonants?

4. What are the acoustic differences between vowels and consonants?

5. What are the functional differences between vowels and consonants?