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Hân 123

The document outlines various aspects of phonetics, including the functions of stress in speech, the use of strong and weak forms of words, and definitions of minimal pairs and syllables. It also discusses the classification of vowels and consonants, assimilation processes, linking in connected speech, and the differences between voiced and voiceless sounds. Additionally, it explains the characteristics of pure vowels and diphthongs, along with principles for their classification.

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3 views4 pages

Hân 123

The document outlines various aspects of phonetics, including the functions of stress in speech, the use of strong and weak forms of words, and definitions of minimal pairs and syllables. It also discusses the classification of vowels and consonants, assimilation processes, linking in connected speech, and the differences between voiced and voiceless sounds. Additionally, it explains the characteristics of pure vowels and diphthongs, along with principles for their classification.

Uploaded by

hannhat0212
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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1.What are the functions of stress?

The functions of stress include:


 Distinguishing between words: Stress can differentiate between words
that are spelled the same but have different meanings or grammatical
functions (e.g., 'present' (noun) vs. 'present' (verb)).
 Marking new information: Stressed words often carry new or important
information in a sentence.
 Indicating emphasis: Speakers can use stress to emphasize a particular
word or idea.
 Rhythmic function: Stress contributes to the rhythm of spoken English
2. For what parts of speech are there weak forms?
According to the text, "Almost all the words which have both a strong and a
weak form belong to the category of function words - words that do not
have a lexical meaning."
- Articles - Auxiliary
- Conjunctions - Prepositions
- Pronouns
3. Under what cases is the strong form used?
we can say that the strong form is used in the following cases:

i) For many weak-form words, when they occur at the end of a


sentence. * Example: "I'm fond of chips. am /'fond əv tʃɪps/." (Note: The
stressed word here is 'am' at the end of the sentence).

ii) When a weak-form word is being contrasted with another word. *


Example: "The letter's from him, not to him. /ðə 'lɛtəz 'frɒm ɪm nɒt 'tuː ɪm/."
(Here, 'from' and 'to' are stressed to show contrast).

iii) When a weak-form word is given stress for the purpose of emphasis.
* Eg. You must give me money. /ju 'mʌst 'gɪv mi 'mʌni/

iv) When a weak-form word is being "cited" or "quoted". * Eg. You


shouldn't put "and" at the end of a sentence. /ju 'ʃʊdnt pʊt 'ænd ət ði 'ɛnd əv
ə 'sɛntəns/

Another point to remember is that when weak-form words whose spelling


begins with 'h' (eg. 'her', 'have') occur at the beginning of a sentence, the
pronunciation is with initial /h/, even though this is usually omitted in other
contexts.

4. What is a minimal pair? Give your own examples. Explain why they
are minimal pairs.
Definition: A minimal pair consists of two words that differ by only one
phoneme (sound segment) in the same position, and this single sound
difference causes a difference in meaning.

Examples: "Bat" /bæt/ vs. "Pat" /pæt/: These are minimal pairs because
they differ only in the initial sound (/b/ vs. /p/), and this difference changes the
meaning of the word. Both /b/ and /p/ are plosive consonants, but /b/ is voiced
while /p/ is voiceless.

"Sit" /sɪt/ vs. "Set" /sɛt/: These are minimal pairs because they differ only in
the vowel sound (/ɪ/ vs. /ɛ/), which leads to different meanings.

5. What is a syllable? Present the nature of the syllable.

Definition: A syllable is a unit of pronunciation consisting of a vowel sound (or


syllabic consonant) as its nucleus, often with surrounding consonants.

 Nature: Every syllable must have a nucleus, which is typically a vowel. It


can optionally have an onset (consonants before the nucleus) and a coda
(consonants after the nucleus).

6. On what criteria are pure vowels classified?

Pure vowels (monophthongs) are classified based on:

 Tongue Position (Height): High, Mid, Low (e.g., /iː/ high, /e/ mid, /æ/
low)
 Tongue Position (Frontness/Backness): Front, Central, Back (e.g., /iː/
front, /ɜː/ central, /uː/ back)
 Lip Rounding: Rounded or Unrounded (e.g., /uː/ rounded, /iː/ unrounded)
 Tenseness/Length: Tense/Long or Lax/Short (e.g., /iː/ tense/long, /ɪ/
lax/short)

6. What is regressive assimilation? Give two examples to illustrate. (1 point)

Regressive assimilation is when a sound changes to become more like a


following sound.

Examples:

"Handbag" /hændbæɡ/ → /ˈhæmbæɡ/ (the /n/ becomes /m/ because of the


following /b/)

"That man" /ðæt mæn/ → /ðæp mæn/ (the /t/ becomes /p/ because of the
following /m/)

7. What is assimilation of place? Give two examples to illustrate. (1 point)


Assimilation of Place: A sound's place of articulation changes to match that of a
neighboring sound, typically the next one.

Examples:

"Ten boys" /tɛn bɔɪz/ often becomes /tɛm bɔɪz/ (alveolar /n/ becomes bilabial /m/
before bilabial /b/).

"In case" /ɪn keɪs/ often becomes /ɪŋ keɪs/ (alveolar /n/ becomes velar /ŋ/ before
velar /k/).

8. What is linking? State the basic rules for linking. Give examples to
illustrate.

Linking: How sounds are smoothly joined between words in connected speech.

 Basic Rules:

-Consonant-Vowel Linking: A word-final consonant links to the initial vowel


of the next word.

Example: "An apple" /æn ˈæpəl/ becomes /əˈnæpəl/.

-Linking /r/: In non-rhotic accents, a written 'r' at the end of a word is


pronounced only if the next word begins with a vowel.

Example: "Far away" /fɑːr əˈweɪ/ (the /r/ is pronounced).

-Intrusive /r/: In some non-rhotic accents, an /r/ is inserted between two vowel
sounds, even if not written.

Example: "Idea is" /aɪˈdɪə r ɪz/.

9. What is the vocal tract? The vocal tract is the air passage from the larynx to
the lips/nostrils where speech sounds are produced.

10. How are voiced sounds different from voiceless sounds? Name the
voiced sounds and the voiceless sounds in English.

 Voiced sounds involve vocal cord vibration; voiceless sounds do not.


 Voiced English Consonants: /b, d, g, v, ð, z, ʒ, dʒ, m, n, ŋ, l, r, w, j/ (all
vowels are voiced).
 Voiceless English Consonants: /p, t, k, f, θ, s, ʃ, tʃ, h/

11. How are pure vowels different from diphthongs? Pure vowels have a
single, fixed tongue position, while diphthongs involve the tongue moving from
one vowel position to another within the same syllable.
12. On what criteria are consonants classified? Consonants are classified by:

 Place of articulation: Where in the vocal tract the obstruction occurs


(e.g., bilabial, alveolar).
 Manner of articulation: How the airflow is obstructed (e.g., stop,
fricative).
 Voicing: Whether the vocal cords vibrate (voiced) or not (voiceless).

13. Major differences between English vowels and consonants (articulation


& distribution):

 Vowels: Open vocal tract, central/peak of syllable, generally voiced.


 Consonants: Obstructed vocal tract, at edges of syllable, can be voiced or
voiceless.

14. Principles for classifying English diphthongs & examples: Diphthongs


are classified by their starting and ending positions, and the direction of
glide.

 Centring: Glide towards schwa /ə/ (e.g., /ɪə/ as in "hear", /eə/ as in


"hair", /ʊə/ as in "tour").
 Closing:
o Ending in /ɪ/ (e.g., /eɪ/ as in "say", /aɪ/ as in "my", /ɔɪ/ as in "boy").
o Ending in /ʊ/ (e.g., /əʊ/ as in "go", /aʊ/ as in "now").

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