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Phonetics Module 1

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14 views

Phonetics Module 1

Uploaded by

muhammedruhaiskt
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Phonetics module 1

Organs of Speech
*Respiratory System - Nasal Cavity
- Trachea / Wind Pipe
- Lungs
*Phonatory System - Larynx
- Glottis
*Articulatory System - Pharynx
- Alveolar Ridge
- Hard Palate
- Soft Palate
- Uvula
- Tongue

Introduction to speech mechanism


Speech is the vocal aspect of
communication made by human beings.
Phonetics is the study of speech sounds.
For producing speech sounds, we use speech mechanism which comprises of
certain organs of our body such as the
muscles of the chest, the tongue, the lips and so on. The movement of these organs causes
some disturbance which travels
to the ear of the listener, in the form of sound waves. The listener then interprets them as
sounds. The organs of speech
perform different functions of speech. The air that we breathe is modified in different ways
to result in various combination of
consonants and vowels.

Respiratory System
The organs of speech in respiratory
system include lungs, chest, muscles and trachea (windpipe .) They provide the air stream
which is the basis for the
production of speech sounds. The air stream acts as a source of energy and
is modified by the speech organs as it passess in and out of the lungs during the normal
course of breathing.

Phonatory System
The Phonatory system is comprised of Larynx in the throat. It is situated in the
upper part of Trachea, and is commonly known as 'Adam's Apple'.
It is small prominent in men than in women. Larynx contains a pair of muscular bands called
the ' Vocal Codes'. These are placed
horizontally from front to back, joined at the front but seperated at the back. The space
between the vocal codes is called the 'Glottis'. Vocal codes can assume a variety of positions
while producing different sounds. When they are field wide apart with a wide opening
between then the air can pass freely through their
opening (Glottis ) without causing any vibration - the sounds produce in this position are
called voiceless sounds.
When the vocal codes are held loosely together, the pressure of air from the lungs make
them vibrate - The sounds produced in this position are called voiced sounds.
Al English Vowels are voiced, some English consonants are voiced &some
voiceless. When we eat or drink, the vocal codes wil be held tightly together, so that the
Glottis is closed in order to prevent food or drink from entering Trachea.

If we draw the vocal codes apart suddenly, we produce an explosive sound called the 'Glottal
Stop'. It happens before the forceful articulation of words beginning with the 'vowels'. Eg:-
Apple, End, Up

Articulatory System
After passing through the Larynx, the air is further modified by the various shapes that the
organs in articulatory System assume, before it meets the outside air. The articulatory
System comprises of the following organs.
*Pharynx - It exlinds from the top of the Larynx. It is the root of the tongue. Its position can
affect quality of the sounds we produce.

Lips -The lips which are placed in the front - most position of the oral tract have an important
part to play in the production of speech sounds. The consonant sounds / p/ &/b/ are
produced by closing the lips tightly &then releasing the closure abruptly. The consonant
sound /m/ is produced by bringing the two lips together and allowing the air to escape
through the nose. The quality of the vowels also depend upon the shape assumed by the lips
during their production. The vowels / i:/ is produced with the lips spread /u:/ is produced with
lips rounded &protuded .

Teeth - Some Consonants are produced with the help of Teeth. Some sounds are
produced by placing the tip of the tongue between upper teeth and lower teeth.

Tooth Ridge / Alveolar Ridge - It is the convex part of the roof of the mouth lying just behind
the upperteeth. Making consonant sounds are produced at the Tooth Ridge. Eg:- /t/ & /d/ are
pronounced by making a firm contact at the Tooth Ridge with the tip of the tongue and
releasing the closure suddenly.

Hard Palate - Beyond Tooth Ridge is a hard bony structure which is used to produce the
sounds such as /j/.

Soft Palate (velum ) - It is the soft portion of the roof of the mouth behind the hard
palate. When velum is raised, the nasal passage is closed, so that no air can escape through
it. The sounds produced in this position are called Oral Sounds. Eg:- /
f/, /b/,/s/
When velum is lower, the air escapes through the nose either fully or partially.
The sounds produced in this position are called Nasal Sounds. Eg:- /m/,/n/..

Uvula - It is a small tongue - like - structure hanging at the end of the Soft Palate.

Tongue - It is the most flexible organ of


speech. The part of the tongue that lies behind the lower teeth is the tip of the
tongue. The part that lies opposite the Tooth Ridge is the blade of the tongue. The front of
the tongue lies opposite to
the hard palate. The part that lies opposite
the soft palate is called the back of the tongue. The two sides of the tongue are called it's
'rins'. Any part of the tongue can be raised to any height or make contact with any part of the
roof of the mouth to produce a wide variety of sounds.

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