English Phonetics and Phonology
Phonetics
Phonetics is the branch of linguistics that studies the sounds of humans, it involves analyzing how speech sounds are produced (articulatory phonetics), transmitted (acoustic phonetics), and perceived (auditory phonetics) .
Phonology
Phonology studies the cognitive aspects of sounds in language, it focuses on how sounds function and pattern within a particular language, including the rules that govern sound combinations, the organization of sounds into systems, and how these sounds convey meaning
Places of articulation
Bilabial:
These are produced by bringing your lips together.
Examples: /p/ (as in "pat") and /b/ (as in "bat").
Labiodental:
These are produced by placing your lower lip against your upper teeth.
Examples: /f/ (as in "fat") and /v/ (as in "vat")
Dental:
These are produced by placing your tongue against your upper teeth.
Examples: /θ/ (as in "think") and /ð/ (as in "this").
Alveolars:
These are produced by placing your tongue against the alveoli (the part behind your upper teeth).
Examples: /t/ (as in "tap"), /d/ (as in "dap"), /s/ (as in "sip"), and /z/ (as in "zip").
Velar:
These are produced by raising the back of the
tongue toward the soft palate.
Examples:
/k/ (as in "cat") and /g/ (as in "go").
Glottal:
These are produced by constriction of the vocal cords.
Example: /h/ (as in "hat") and the glottal stop sound in some variants of English.
Articulators involved in sound production
Lips
They can come together (bilabial sounds) or create a narrow opening (labiodental sounds) to produce various phonemes.
Teeth
When interacting with the tongue, the upper teeth help produce dental sounds
Example., /θ/ in "think".
Hard Palate
The hard part of the roof of the mouth is involved in producing palatal sounds
Example., /ʃ/ in "shoe".
Tongue
The most versatile articulator can change shape and position to produce a wide range of sounds.
Glottis
The space between the vocal cords can also produce sounds
Example, the glottal stop /ʔ/.
