LING1000 Introduction to Language

Assignment #1

Part A

1. a. Some people think that phonetics is very interesting.

b. You know well that I can't do that.

2. a. i. [ɛ] is a vowel with the mid-height and front tongue position. For example, the

nuclei of 'mess' and 'beg.'

ii. [ɪ] is a vowel with the high-height and front tongue position. For example, the

nuclei of 'middle' and 'disk.'

iii. [eɪ] is a diphthong that consists of two parts of articulation while considered as one

sound. The diphthong begins with [e], and the tongue moves quickly to the position of

[ɪ]. For example, the onset of 'aim' and the nucleus of 'day,' respectively.

b. The statement means that each of the three sounds in (2a) is meaning-

distinguishing sound. Phonemes refer to the smallest unit that distinguishes one word

from another in a language. For example, as long as replace the nucleus of [dʒem]

(gem) with [ɪ], a new word [dʒɪm] (gym) with a completely different meaning is

formed. Phonemes are abstract units in mind. Thus, we use a single written symbol to

represent a single stable sound type.

Moreover, [e] and [ɪ] form a minimal pair. For instance, 'better' and 'bitter' are

described as a minimal pair that are identical in form except for a contrast in one

phoneme, occurring in the same position.

Part B

Rather than making noises with our mouths unintentionally, we invent perfect new

meaningful combinations of syllables to illustrate ideas rising in our minds (Pinker,

2003). Consonants are a significant component of phonemes that enable language

lovers to discover the beauty of linguistic. This essay makes an in-depth exploration

of the foundational distinction of consonants illustrating how they are produced and

depicted. It begins by the definition of consonants, then moves to how to articulate a

consonant by classifying them into different categories. Finally, it concludes with the

three-part description of a consonant.

Paired with mutual exclusive vowels, consonants are applied to produce syllables.

They refer to speech sounds produced with some restriction of the airflow in the vocal

tract. There are 21 consonant letters and 24 consonant sounds in English. It is the

cooperation of multiple articulators that produces a consonant. Following the path of

the airflow, we may investigate the process in three steps.

Pushed out from the lung, the airflow first passes the vocal folds where two voicing

situations take place. When they remain open, leaving the glottis for the airstream to

go through smoothly, the muscles do not vibrate. Linguists named this pronunciation
"voiceless." On the contrary, "voiced" refers to the condition when the vocal folds are

closed, and the airstream has no alternatives but to be compelled through the vocal

folds creating a vibration effect. It is uncomplicated to tell the difference as long as

you touch your Adam's apple to feel whether the vibration occurs. For instance, [tʃ]

and [dʒ] can be an excellent pair to compare.

After going through the deep larynx, the airflow enters either the nasal cavity or the

oral cavity, where diversified restrictions are generated. There are roughly seven

kinds of place of articulation.

Firstly, bilabials are sounds formed by bringing two lips together. The initial sounds

of 'bright' and 'mouth' are both bilabials. Secondly, labiodentals refer to a bunch of

sounds formed by bringing the lower lip against the upper teeth. For example, [f] and

[v]. Thirdly, when the tongue tip touches the back of the upper front teeth, the sound

is called dental such as the initial pronunciation of 'thesis.' Fourthly, sounds like [t],

[d], [s] are described as alveolars since the tongue tip is placed near the upper alveolar

ridge. Similarly, sounds produced by bringing the body of the tongue near the palate

are named as palatals. For instance, the onset and the coda of 'church' are the same

palatals, [tʃ]. Sixthly, consonants formed by placing the body of the tongue further

back near the velum are called velars. Typical velars are [k] from cold, [g] from

grocery. Last but not least, glottals depict consonants that produced by compressing

the airstream using the glottis at the larynx. For instance, the onset of 'huge', [h].
While the place of articulation is discussed, we still find the category scale can be

more detailed and accurate. Thus the manner of articulation is introduced to illustrate

how the airstream is restricted in the vocal tract. Considering the degree of

obstruction, we divide consonants into stops, fricatives, affricates, nasals, liquids, and

glides.

Stops or plosives describe the situation when speech organs completely stop the

airflow. For example, you can tell a sudden pause when pronouncing the initial sound

of 'book.' When the obstruction is less, this sort of consonants is called fricatives. For

instance, the airstream of [f] is pushed through the narrow opening between the upper

teeth and the lower lip. However, some airstreams are completely blocked temporarily

like plosives and then released through a narrow opening like fricatives. This kind of

sound is named affricate. Both of [tʃ] and [dʒ] are classic affricatives. While a

majority of consonants are generated in the oral cavity with the velum raised, nasals

refer to a group of consonants taking place in the nasal cavity. With the velum

lowered against the back of the tongue, air flows go through the nasal cavity, like [m],

[n], [ŋ]. Liquids refer to the sounds which are formed by raising and curling tongue

tip to the alveolar ridge or the hard palate, leaving the airstream flowing out via both

sides of the tongue. For example, [l] and [r]. Glides are the sounds [w] and [j].

Uniquely, glides are also called 'semi-vowels' since they are produced with the tongue

glides from or to the position of a vowel.

Hence, we may apply a three-part description of consonants to conclude the

discussion above. It is simple to describe the characteristic of a consonant following

the order of voicing-place-manner. For example, [k] and [l], the onset of

communication and linguistic, may be described as voiceless-velar-stop and voiced-

alveolar-liquid, respectively.

Spread all over worldwide languages, the significance of consonants to phenetics can

never be denied. With the three labels of phonetics- voicing, place, and manner,

human beings are capable of producing independent, recognizable syllables that

convey vivid and fickle ideas. [word count: 796]

References:

Crystal, D. (1997). The Cambridge encyclopedia of language. United Kingdom:

Cambridge University Press.

Hornsby, D. (2014). Linguistics: A Complete Introduction: Teach Yourself.

Paris: Hachette UK.

Pinker, S. (2003). The Language instinct: The New Science of Language and
Mind. United Kingdom: Penguin.