DiVstoN ofOrgausofSpevhs»

Organs of Speech

Air Stream Mechanism:

All sounds in English language are produced with umonic Egressive + Air

Stream Mechanism'. The ^{tem means}

that

^when

the

^air comes out of the

lungs

^the

various

organs in the human

body

^convert

it into speech sounds

These organs ^are called

Organs of Speech'.

DiVstoN ofOrgausofSpevhs»

The lungs, the vocal cords, the tongue,

the teeth and the

lips

^{are some}

of the

organs

of speech. They

^can be divided

into the following

^groups:

The

Respiratory system: This comprises of the lungs. he

^muscles

of the

^chest

and the wind pipe

ii.

The Phonatory system: This compri ses of the larynx.

i11.

The Articulatory system: This comprises of the nose, the teeth, the tongue, the

roof of the mouth and the lips.

The Respiratory System:

The respiratory system consists of tte iungs, the museles of the chesiand ihe

wind pipe. The lungs are spongy bodies. There are many sacs in the lungs called the 'al ycoli. Oxygen comes to the lungs through two large tubes called 'bronchi'. The bronchi join'the trachea or the wind pipe.

The Phonatory system:

The Larynx:

The larynx, commonly called The Adam's Apple situated at the top cf the wind pipe. The iarynx consists of a pair of lip like structures called the vocal cords. The vocal cords are attached in the front and can be separated at the back. The opening berween the

vocal cords is the 'glottis'.

During the production of some speech sounds the vocal cords are wide apart and

the glottis is open. Sounds produced with a wide open glottis are called voiceless sounds.

Eg. pin, ten, keen, chin, fine, thin, etc. During the production ol certain other sounds the

OCatoYds vibrate

^{due to}

the

^pressure

of air.

^Sounds

produced

when the vocal ^cords

Vbrale

^e called 'voiced sounds'.

Eg. bin, den, girl, judge, vine, then,

^{zoo etc.}

The Articulatory system:

This

comprises

^{of the nose, the}

teeth,

the roof of the

mouth,

the tongue and ^the

lip. Of

these the roof of the mouth and the

tongue

^{are to} be studied in ^detail.

The Roof of the Mouth:

The roofiof the mouth ha_

^{a convex}

bony part lying immediately

behind the upper

frond tecth cálled

the teeth

ridge

^or the alveolar

ridge

^or alveolum. Then the

roof

of the

mouth becomes concave,

^{hard and}

bony.

^This

part is

called the hard

palate. Beyond

^the

hard

palate,

the roof of the mouth becomes soft and

fleshy

and this is called the

soft

palate

^{or the}

velum.

^The

fleshy

^structure

hanging

loose at the end of the roof of the mouth is called the 'uvula'.

The soft

palate

^or the velum ^acts like ^a valve in

opening

^and

closing

the nasal passage of air. Sounds

during

^the

production

of which the soft

palate

^{raises to close the}

nasal

passage

^thus

making

the air escape

only thrOugh

^{the mouth are} calied 'orai sounds', The closure of the nasal passage is called velic closure.

Eg: peel, bag, date

^etc.

When the soft

palate

is lowered

the

nasal passage is

opened.

^Sounds

during

^the

production

^of

which

the air escapes

only through

^{the n o s e are}

called nasal

^sounds.

Eg:

sum,

^sun,

`ung

^etc.

There ^are certain sounds

during

^the

production

of which the air escapes both

through

^{the nose} and the mouth. Such sounds ^are called ^nasalized sounds.

The Tonue:

The tongue is divided into the

following parts.

^{The extreme}

edge

of the tongue is called the

tip.

After the

tip

is the blade.

Beyond

the blade is

the front

^of

the

tongue.

Beyond

^{the front}

is

the back and

beyond the

^back

lies

^{the root.}

Nasal avity

hard Palate

Teeth ridge SoitPaia!e

Mouh

Uvula

Front

Lips Teeth Blade Back

Phatynx

TONGUE .Root

Epigiottis

Food pipel Larynx

Wind pipe

Vocal Cords

Consonants a r e described

using

the three ^term label. The tl1ree t e r m s refer ^to

(a)

the ^state of the

glottis (b)

^the

place of

articulation and

(c)

^the m a n n e r of articulation. It

is

done in the

following

m a n n e r .

Plosives:

p/: During

^the articulation

of /p/ the soft palate

is raised ^to shut off the nasal passage of air. The ^two

lips

^{c o m e into contact} with each other

effecting

^{the oral}

closure. The vocal cords ^{a r e} wide

apart.

^{When the}

lips

^{a r e}

separated suddenly,

the air escapes with ^an

explosive

^sound.

/p/ is

^{thus a voiceless}

bilabial plosive.

Eg: pin, appoint, cup.

/b/: /b/ is articulated

exactly like /p/, except that during

^the articulation

of /b/,

^the

vocal cords vibrate

producing

voice. /b/ is thus ^{a voiced} bilabial

plosive. Eg: bin, submit, rob.

/t/:

During

^the auticulation

of /t/

^{the soft}

palate

^{is raised to shut off}

the nasal

passage of ^{air. The}

tip

^{o r} the blade of the tongue ^{makes a} firm ^contact with the alveolar

ridge effecting

^{the oral closure.} The vocal cords ^are wide

apart.

^When the

tip

^{o r blade}

of

^the

tongue is removed suddenly

from the teeth

ridge,

^{the air}

escapes with ^{a n}

explosive

sound. /t/ is thus ^{a voiceless}

alveolar plosive. Eg: tin,

contain, mat.

/d/: /d/ is articulated

exactly

^like

lt, except

^that

during the articulation of ld, the

vocal cords vibrate

producing

^voice.

i s

^{thus a} voiced alveolar

plosive. Eg:

dog, ending, bad.

/ :

During

the articulation

of /k/

^{the soft}

palate

is raised ^to shut

off the nasal

passage of air. The back of the

tongue

^{makes a firm contact with the soft}

palate

effecting

^{the oral closure.} The vocal cords ^{a r e} wide

apart.

When the back of the

tongue

^is

removed suddenly from the soft palate, the air escapes with

^an

explosive sound. k/ is thus

^a

voiceless velar plosive. Eg: cap, particle, back

g:g/ is articulated exactly like /k/, except that during the articulation of g, the

vocal cords vibrate producing voice. /g/ is thus

^a

voiced velar plosive. Eg: gun,

ugby, bag.

Affricates:

/t: During the articulation of /t/ the soft palate is raised

to

shut off the nasal passage of air. The tip

^or

the blade of the tongue makes

^a

fim

contact

with the alveolar ridge. At the

^same

time, the front of the tongue is raised in the direction of the hard palate. The vocal cords

^are

wide apart. When the tip and blade of the

tongue is removed slowly from the teeth ridge, the air escapes with friction between the tip and blade of the tongue and the teeth ridge and also between the front of the tongue and the hard palate. /tJ/ is thus

^a

voiceless palato-alveolar

affricate. Eg: cheap, butcher, catch.

dz/: làz/ is articulated exactly like /ty, except that during the articulation of /dz', the vocal cords vibrate producing voice. /dz/.is thus

^a

voiced palato- alveolar

affricate. Eg: jam, ledger, edge

Nasals:

m/Dutring the articulation of /m/ the two lips makes a firm contact with each other, thereby shutting off the oral passage of air. The vocal cords vibrate

producing voice. The soft d f s palate is lowered

^so

that the air escapes freely through

the

nose.

/m/ is thus

^a

voice&bilabial nasal. Eg: man, lemon, came.

/n/: During the articulation of /n/ the tip of the tongue makes

^a

fim

contact

with

alveolar ridge, thereby shutting off the oral pa_sage of air. The vocal corda

vibrate producing voice. The soft palate is lowered so that the air escapes freely through the nose. /n/ is thus a voiced alveolar nasal. Eg: name, manner, can.

/n/: During the articulation of // the back of the tongue makes a firm contact with soft palate, thereby shutting off the oral passage of ait. The vocal cords vibrate producing voice. The sot palate is lowered so that the air escapes freely through the nose. y is thus a voiced velar nasal. Eg: finger, sing.

Fricatives

It: During the articulation of /f/ the soft palate is raised to shut off the nasal

passage of air. The lower lip is brought very near the upper front teeth in such a

way that there is a very narrow gap between them. The lung air escapes through

this narrow gap with friction. The vocal cords are wide apart. i s thus a

voiceless labio-dental fricative. Eg: feel, suffer, leat

: / v is articulated exactly like /f/, except that during the articulation of /v /, the vocal cords vibrate producing voice. /v / is thus a voiced labio-dental fricative.

Eg: vine, ever, love.

/0/: During the articulation of /9/ the soft palate is raised to shut off the nasal passage of air. The tip of the tongue makes a light contact with the upper front teeth. The lung air escapes through this narrow gap with friction. The vocal cords are wide apart. 6 is thus a voiceless dental frieative. Eg: thin, ether, path.

/0/: /0/ is articulated exactly like /0/, except that during the articulation of /8/, the

vocal cords vibrate producing voiçe. /8/ is thus a voiced dental fricative. Eg:

they, wheher, writhe.

/s/: During the articulation of /s / the soft palate is raised to shut off the nasal

passage of air. The tip and blade of the tongue are brought very near the teeth

ridge in such a way that the gap between them is very narrow. The lung air

9

escapes through this narrow gap with friction. The vocal cords are wide apart. /s/

is thus

^a

voiceless alveolar fricative. Eg: sin, lesser, hiss

z : /z/ is articulated exactly like /s /, except that during the articulation of /z /, the vocal

cords vibrate producing voice. / z/ is thus

^a

voiced alveolar fricative. Eg

Z0o, easy, rose

/: During the articulation of // the soft palate is raised to shut off the nasal

passage of air. The tip and blade of the tongue are brought very near the teeth

ridge. At the same time, the front of the tongue is raised in the direction of the hard palate. The lung air escapes through this narrow gap between the tip and blade of the tongue and the teeth ridge and between the front of the tongue and the hard palate with friction. The vocal cords are wide apart. / is thus a voiceless

palato-alveolar fricative. Eg: she, bishop, cash.

3/3 is articulated exactly like //, except that during the aticulation of (3, the vocal cords vibrate producing voice. y is thus a voiced palato-alveolar fricative.

Eg: plea_ure

/h/: During the articulation of /h/ the air from the lungs escapes through the

narrow glottis with audible friction. h/ is thus a voiceless glottal fricative. Eg:

hat, behind.

Approximants:

/ i During the articulation of j / the soft palate is raised to shut off the nasal

passage of air. The front of the tongue and the hard palate are near each other but

the gap between them is wide. The air escapes without any friction. The vocal

cords vibrate producing voice. f/ is thus a voiced palatal approximant. Eg: yard,

pure

10

/wl:

During

the articulation

of

^{/w /}

the

^soft

palate

is raised ^to shut off the nasal passage of air. The

tongue

assumes a

position required

^{for the} articulation of ^a vowel. The

lips

^are rounded. The vocal cords vibrate

producing

voice. w/

is

thus ^a voiced labio-velar

approximant. Eg:

^{wet, sweet}

/r:

During

the articulation

of /r

/ the soft

palate

^is r a i s e d to shut off the ^nasal passage of air. The

tip

^{of the}

tongue

^is

brought

^{n e a r the r e a r}

part

of the teeth

ridge

^{in such a} way that there

is

sufficient gap between ^{the two} and

the

air escapes

freely

without any friction. The vocal cords vibrate

producing voice. /rl is thus a

voiced post-alveolar approximant. Eg: run, dry.

^It

is

^to be noted that /r/ has several

allophones. [r]

^{in red}

is

^a voiced alveolar trill ^and

[7]

in very is ^a voiced alveolar tap

Linking

'r: In R.P the

letter 'rin

^the

were final positio

^{is not}

pronounced. Eg:

butter /b

/,

father /fa:

/.

But when ^a word ends with the letter ' r

and the

^next

word begins with a vowel and if there is no pause between the two words in|

connected

speech,

the final letter r' of the first word is

pronounced. This

^is

S

called

linking

^'r'.

Bg:

butter and

janm /bakar andsénfather

^and

moer faBar

^{a .}

Intrusive 'r':

If

^one word ends in ^a vowel and the ^next word

begins

^{with a}

vowel,

a /r/ is introduced between the ^two words ^even vhen there is ^no ' r in the

spelling.

This use of /r/ is called intrusive /tl. law and order/ 1b:T 3n 2:da /, the idea of it

6i aidiar Nit

Laterals:

/V:

During

the articulation

of /1/

^{the soft}

palate

is raised ^to shut off the nasal passage of air. The

tip

^or blade of the

tongue

^{makes a firm contact with the} alveolar

ridge thereby blockins,the oral

passage of air in the ^centre

of

the vocal tract. The sides

of

^the

tongue

^are lowerèd and the air escapes

along

the sides of the tongue

without

any friction.

The

vocal cords vibrate

producing

^{voice. / is}

thus a voiced alveolar lateral. Eg: love, slow, tell.

CHAPTER 11

The Consonants of English

h e r e

are

twenty-four distinctive

consonants

in English (RF,.

These are tabulated below:

Place- Bila- Labio- |

Manner bia denta!

Veiar

Nasal

^m

Rlosive Pb d

d s

Africate

Fricative fv

^{S z}

3

Lateral

Approxi (w)

mants

11

Vowels

Vowels are articulated with ^a stricture

of open approximation.

^{This means}

that the ^active artieulator is raised

in

the direction ^{of t i e}

passive

articulator ⁱⁿ Such a way that there

is sufficient

gap between theni

to

^{allow the air to escape}

treely

^and

continuously

without any

friction.

a c b i r

The

articulator

during the

articulation

of

^{all vowels}

is

the front

of

^the

tongue ^or the

back

^{of the}

tongue

^{or a}

part of

the tongue that

is between th, front

and back

which

^can

be called the

^centre

of

^the

tongue.

The

passive

articulator

during the articulation

^{of all vowels} is either the

1 a r d palate, ^or the soft

palate

^{or that}

part

^{of the roof}

of

^the mouth between the

hard and soft palate.

Vowels ^are divided into three groups

depending

^{upon the}

part

^{of the}

tongue raised. Front ^{vowels are} those

during

^the articu!ation of which the front of the tungue is raised in the direction of the hard

palate. Eg: bee, bËd, bed,

^and

bad.

Back vowels ^are those

during the

articulation of which the back

of the

tongue is raised in the direction

of

the

soft palate. Eg: cart, cot, caught, push, pool

Central vowels ^are those

during

the articulation of

which

^{the centre}

of the

tongue is raised in the direction of that

part of

^{the roof}

of

the mouth where

the

hard and the soft palate meet. 3 £ s . bud, b s

Vowels ^are

further classified into four categories depending

^upon

the height

^{to which}

the tongue is raised during

articulation. Close vowels ^are

those during

the articulation

of

which the

tongue

is very close ^to the roof of the mouth.

Open vowels are those during the articulation of wiich the tongue is far away

12

from the roof of

the

mouth. Vowels

^can

also be half-close, when the tongue

is

between

the

close

and

open position, but closer

^to

close than

to

open, and half open,

when the

tongue

^is

between the close and open positions, but closer

to

open than to close.

Finally, vowels

^are

classified into

two

groups depending upon

^the

poSItIon

of the lips. Unrounded vowels

_are

those

during the articulation of which the lips

are spread or neutral. Eg: seat, sit, set and sat. Rounded vowels are those during

the articulation of which the lips are rounded. Eg: cot,

caught, put, fool.

Description of the Vowels of English

Front Vowels: There

are

four front vowels in English.

i:/: During the articulation of this vowel, the front of the tongue is raised

in

the direction of the hard palate

^{to a}

position almost

^near

close. The lips

^are

spread. itcan be

described

as a

front close unrounded vowel. Eg: eat, beat, bee.

i : During the articulatien of this vowel, the front of the tongue is raised in the direction of the hard palate just above the half-close position. The lips

are

spread. /

^can

be

described

^{as a}

front unrounded vowel just above half-close position. Bg: /t, bit, city.

el:

_can

of the hard be During the articulation described palate

^{to a}

height of this between vowel, half-close the front and of half-open. the tongue is The raised lips in the

^are

spread. direction /el

as a

front unrounded vowel between half-close and half-open. Eg: any,

bed.

8/:During the articulation of this vowel, the front of the tongue is raised in the direction of the hard palate just below the half-open position. The lips

are

spread. 2/can be

described

as a

front unrounded vowel just below the half-open position. Eg: axe, bat

13

Back Vowels:

There ^are five back vowels

in English.

/a:/

During

^the articulation of this

long vowel,

^a

part

^{of tongue that}

is between the ^cenure

and the back is in the

fully

^open

position.

^The

lips

^{a r e neutrally open. /a:/ is}

thus ^{a back}

open ^{unrounded vowel.}

Eg: art, part,

^car.

15/:

During

the artiçulation

of this vowel,

^{the back}

of

^{the tongue}

is

just

^{above the}

fully

open position. The

lips

^are

slightly

^rounded.

b/ is

^{thus a back}

rounded vowel

just

^above

the open

position. Eg:

^Ox,

box

D9:

During

^the articulation of this vowel, the back of thetongue is ^raised in

th9 direction 7 ,

of the soft

palate

^between the half-open and

half-close positions. ^The

lips

are/roundéd.

b

is ^{thus a} back rounded vowel ^between

half-open and half-close. Eg: ought,

bought, law

/u/:

During

^the articulation of this vowel, the ^back of ^{the tongue} is ^raised in the ^direction of the soft

palate

^{to a}

height

^above half-close. The

lips

^{a r e}

rounded.

^{lu / is}

thus

^{a back}

rounded vowel

just

^above half-close.

Eg: put

/u:/:

During

^the articulation of this vowel, the back

of the

^{tongue is raised in the}

direction

of the soft

palate

^{to a}

height

^{very n e a r the close}

position.

^The

lips

^{a r e}

closely

^rounded.

/u:/ is thus ^a back close ^rounded vowel.

Eg:

^{ooze, boot, two}

Central Vowels:

There ^are three central vowels in

English

IA /:

During

^the articulation of this

vowel,

^{the centre} of the tongue

is

^raised

in

^the

direction of that part of the roof

of

^the

mouth

^that

is

^between the hard and the soft

palate

to ^a

height just

^{above the}

open position.

^The

lips

^{are neutrally open.}

A/is thus ^{a central}

vowel

just

^{above open.}

Eg:

^{up, cup}

/0:/:

During

^the articulation of this

vowel,

^{the céntre} of the tongue

is

^raised

in

^the

direction of that

part

of the roof of the mouth that is ^between the hard and the soft

palate

u

* * *

e a : a n d

non-finl?

final e

Tig. 53

c Pure OWels Oi RP

Diphthongs

Diphthongs

^{are sounds}

during the

articulation of which the

tongue

^{starts in the}

position required for

the articulation

of

^a

particular

vowel and ^moves

in the direction

^of

the

position required for the

articulation of ^a different ^vowel. The

starting point

^{is the}

first element and

the

^direction

in

^{which the}

glide is

made is the second ^element.

Diphthongs gliding towards /i

Three diphthongs in RP glide in the

^direction

of

^/i/

e

/ei/:

During

^the articulation of

this diphthong,

the front of the tongue ^starts from ^a

point

below the half-close

position

^and m o v e s

in the

^{direction oflil.}

/eil is thus described

^{a s a}

glide

^{from a front unrounded vowel}

just

^below half-close to ^a

centralized front

^unrounded

vowel

just

above haif ^close.

Eg: aim, pain, play

/ail:

During

^the articulation

of this diphthong,

^the

glide begins

^at the back open

position

and m o v e s in the direction

of/il.

^lail

is

^{thus described as a}

glide

^{from a} back open unrounded vowel ^{to a} centralized front unrounded vowel

just

above half close.

Eg: /ce, bite, buy.

i/: During

^the articulation of this

diphthong,

^the

glide begins

^{at a}

point just

above open

position

^and m o v e s in the ^direction of li. bil is thus ^{described as a}

glide

^{from a back}

rounded vowel

just

above the open

position

^{to a} centralized front ^unrounded vowel

just

above half close. Eg: oil, boil, boy

6

Diphthongs gliding tow ards /u/:

There

^{are two}

diphthongs in RP that glide in the direction of /u/

au

/au/: During the articulation o t this diphthong, the glide begins at a back open unrounded

position and moves in the direction of lu/. /au/ is thus a glide from back open unrounded vowel to a centralized back rounded vowel just above the half-close position. Eg: out,

bout, cow.

au/: During the articulation of this diphthong, the glide begins at a position between half close and half-open and moves in the direction of fu/. aul is thus a glide from a central unrounded vowel between half-close and half-open to a centralized back 1ounded vowel just above the half-close position. Eg: over, boat, go.

Diphthongs gliding towards /a/:

Three diphthongs

^{in RP}

glide

^{in the}

direction of /a/.

i3/:

During

^the articulation of this

diphthong

^the

glide begins

^{at a}

position above

^half-

c l o s e and m o v e s

in

^{the direction of RP}

/a/. li/

^{is thus a}

glide

^from

a centralized front

u n r o u n d e d vowel

just

^above half-close to ^a central ^unrounded vowel ^between

h a l f - c l o s e

and

half-open. Eg: ear-ring, fierce, fear

/ua/:

During

^the articulation of this diphthong the

glide

^{begins at a}

position

above half- close and m o v e s in the ^direction of RP /a. hua is thus ^a

glide

^{from a}

c e n t r a l i z e d back

r o u n d e d vowel

just

above half-close

to

^a

central

^unrounded

vowel

between

half-close

and half-open. Eg:

^{during, cure.}

lea/: I uring ^the a r t i c u l a t i o n of this diphthong the

glide begins

^{at a position}

between half-

close and half-open ^and m o v e s in the ^direction of RP a . /ea is ^{thus a}

glide

^{from a front} half-open ^{unrounded vowel to}

a central ^unrounded vowel ^between

half-close and half-

open.

Eg:

aeroplane,

careful,

^care