Introduction to Phonetics &

Phonology
Dr S.J. Hannahs
Lecture 1 -- SEL1006/SEL8117
Semester 1, 2009-10
Newcastle University

Structure of the module

One hour lecture per week
One hour seminar per week (compulsory)
End-of-semester two-hour exam in January

What is phonetics?

What is phonetics?

Phonetics is the study of speech sounds.

What is phonetics?

Phonetics is the study of speech sounds.

a) how theyre produced (articulatory

phonetics)

What is phonetics?

Phonetics is the study of speech sounds.

a) how theyre produced (articulatory

phonetics)
b) their physical characteristics (acoustic
phonetics)

What is phonetics?

Phonetics is the study of speech sounds.

a) how theyre produced (articulatory

phonetics)
b) their physical characteristics (acoustic
phonetics) and
c) how theyre perceived (auditory phonetics).

What is phonetics?

In this module well concentrate on:

a) how theyre produced (articulatory phonetics)

Sound/symbol correspondence

Sound/symbol correspondence
The need for a transcription system

Sound/symbol correspondence
The need for a transcription system
Consider written English

Sound/symbol correspondence
The need for a transcription system
Consider written English
enough

Sound/symbol correspondence
The need for a transcription system
Consider written English
enough through

Sound/symbol correspondence
The need for a transcription system
Consider written English
enough through thorough

Sound/symbol correspondence
The need for a transcription system
Consider written English
enough through thorough thought

Sound/symbol correspondence
The need for a transcription system
Consider written English
enough through thorough thought bough

Sound/symbol correspondence
The need for a transcription system
Consider written English
enough through thorough thought bough
think

Sound/symbol correspondence
The need for a transcription system
Consider written English
enough through thorough thought bough
think

those

Sound/symbol correspondence
The need for a transcription system
Consider written English
enough through thorough thought bough
think

those

thistle

Sound/symbol correspondence
The need for a transcription system
Consider written English
enough through thorough thought bough
think

those

thistle

thong

Sound/symbol correspondence
The need for a transcription system
Consider written English
enough through thorough thought bough
think
church

those

thistle

thong

Sound/symbol correspondence
The need for a transcription system
Consider written English
enough through thorough thought bough
think
church

those
chemistry

thistle

thong

Sound/symbol correspondence
The need for a transcription system
Consider written English
enough through thorough thought bough
think
church

those
chemistry

thistle
loch

thong

Sound/symbol correspondence
The need for a transcription system
Consider written English
enough through thorough thought bough
think
church

those
chemistry

thistle
loch

thong
Cheryl

International Phonetic Alphabet

IPA

Devised in the 19th Century to help describe

the sounds of languages independently of a

languages orthography (= writing system).
Under continuous revision.
Last major revision was in 1993.

Sound/symbol correspondence
enough through thorough thought bough
[f]
[u:]
[]
[:]
[a ]
think
[]
church
[t]

those
[]
chemistry
[k]

thistle
[]
loch
[x]

thong
[]

Cheryl
[ ]

Transcription the art of reducing

speech to writing
Dont be influenced by English spelling!!
Transcribe what is, not what ought to be
For instance, speech sounds can influence

neighbouring sounds:
i[n] Newcastle
i[m] Bolton
i[] Carlisle

Trust your ears, not your years of education!!

Transcription the art of reducing

speech to writing
Remember: a word in isolation may be

spoken differently to a word in connected

speech
to = [tu:]
give it to him = [gv t t m]

Transcription the art of reducing

speech to writing
Remember: a word in isolation may be

spoken differently to a word in connected

speech
compare
to = [tu:]
give it to him = [gv t t m]

International Phonetic Alphabet

IPA
Nota bene! The current IPA chart appears in
Davenport & Hannahs (2005:xvi)

Seminars

Will begin next week, not this week

Next weeks seminar exercises will be: Exx 1-

5, in Davenport & Hannahs, Ch. 2, p.17

In the meantime, read Chapters 1 & 2 of

Davenport & Hannahs