Basic Phonetics II Consonant Sounds

Summary

This lecture focuses on the 24 consonant sounds in British Received Pronunciation (RP). It explores the classification of these sounds based on three key aspects: place of articulation, manner of articulation, and whether the sound is voiced or voiceless. The lecture covers different types of consonants, including plosives, affricates, fricatives, nasals, laterals, and semi-vowels, providing examples for each category. The discussion aims to help students understand the correct articulation of consonant sounds, enhancing their knowledge of English phonetics.

Takeaways

• 📚 The lecture focuses on the 24 consonant sounds in British Received Pronunciation (RP).
• 🏛️ There are three key aspects to consider for consonant sounds: place of articulation, manner of articulation, and whether the sound is voiced or voiceless.
• 👄 Place of articulation refers to where the narrowing or closure occurs in the oral cavity during sound production, involving organs like the lips, teeth, and tongue.
• 🎤 Manner of articulation describes how the airflow is constricted, including categories like plosives, fricatives, nasals, laterals, and semi-vowels.
• 🔊 Voiced sounds cause the vocal cords to vibrate, while voiceless sounds do not, exemplified by comparing the 'p' (voiceless) and 'b' (voiced) sounds.
• 👅 Consonant sounds are classified into various types based on the place of articulation: bilabial, labio-dental, dental, alveolar, post-alveolar, palatal, velar, and glottal.
• 💥 Plosive sounds occur when two organs of articulation come into complete contact, build up air pressure, and then release with an explosion (e.g., 'p', 'b', 't', 'd', 'k', 'g').
• 💨 Fricative sounds are produced when two organs come close together, creating friction as air passes through, like 'f', 'v', 's', 'z', and 'h'.
• 👃 Nasal sounds are produced when the soft palate is lowered, allowing air to pass through the nasal cavity, including 'm', 'n', and 'ŋ'.
• 🔀 Semi-vowels like 'w', 'r', and 'j' have characteristics of both vowels and consonants, with minimal obstruction during articulation.

Q & A

What are the three important aspects to consider when classifying the 24 consonant sounds in British Received Pronunciation?

The three important aspects are: (1) the place of articulation, (2) the manner of articulation, and (3) whether the sound is voiced or voiceless.

What is meant by the 'place of articulation' in consonant sounds?

The 'place of articulation' refers to the location in the oral cavity where the narrowing or closure occurs during the articulation of a consonant sound.

How can you differentiate between a voiced and a voiceless sound?

A voiced sound occurs when the vocal cords vibrate during articulation, while a voiceless sound occurs when the vocal cords do not vibrate.

Can you give examples of bilabial consonant sounds?

Bilabial consonant sounds involve both lips during articulation. Examples include the sounds /p/ as in 'pin' and /b/ as in 'bat.'

What are fricative consonant sounds, and how are they produced?

Fricative consonant sounds are produced when two organs of articulation come very close to each other, creating friction as air passes between them. Examples include /f/ as in 'fan' and /v/ as in 'van.'

What distinguishes a plosive sound from an affricate sound?

A plosive sound is produced when two organs of articulation are in complete contact, and air pressure builds up before being released with an explosion. An affricate sound also involves complete contact, but the release of the organs is slower, creating a combination of a plosive and fricative sound. Examples of plosives include /p/ and /t/, while affricates include /ʧ/ as in 'church' and /ʤ/ as in 'judge.'

How are nasal sounds produced, and what are the examples of nasal consonant sounds?

Nasal sounds are produced when the soft palate is lowered, allowing air to pass through the nasal cavity. Examples include /m/ as in 'man,' /n/ as in 'no,' and /ŋ/ as in 'song.'

What is a lateral consonant sound, and which sound is categorized as lateral?

A lateral consonant sound is produced when there is a contact in the middle of the oral cavity, and air passes through the sides. The /l/ sound, as in 'life,' is categorized as a lateral sound.

Why are some consonant sounds referred to as semi-vowels?

Some consonant sounds are referred to as semi-vowels because they share characteristics with vowel sounds, being articulated without much obstruction. Examples include /w/ as in 'wall,' /r/ as in 'rat,' and /j/ as in 'yes.'

How many consonant sounds are there in British Received Pronunciation, and can you list them?

There are 24 consonant sounds in British Received Pronunciation. They are: /p/, /b/, /t/, /d/, /k/, /g/, /ʧ/, /ʤ/, /f/, /v/, /θ/, /ð/, /s/, /z/, /ʃ/, /ʒ/, /m/, /n/, /ŋ/, /l/, /r/, /w/, /j/, and /h/.