44166.

STRUCTURE OF ENGLISH II: THE WORD

Prof. Yehuda N. Falk

Phonetics Exercises, p. 1
PART 1: Review Exercises
1. Write down the phonetic symbols representing the following descriptions, and illustrate each of the sounds with two English words. a) b) c) d) e) f) g) A voiced labiodental fricative A voiceless alveolar fricative A voiced palato-alveolar affricate A voiceless glottal fricative A voiceless bilabial stop A voiceless dental fricative A voiced velar stop h) i) j) k) l) m) n) A high front tense unrounded vowel A low back lax unrounded vowel A mid front tense unrounded vowel A mid front lax unrounded vowel A high back lax rounded vowel A low back lax rounded vowel A high front tense rounded vowel

2.

Answer the following questions. a) b) c) d) e) f) What voiced consonant has the same place of articulation as [t] and the same manner of articulation as [f]? What voiceless consonant has the same active articulator as [b] and the same passive articulator as []? What voiced consonant has the same place of articulation as [m] and the same manner of articulation as [l]? What voiced consonant has the same active articulator as [n] and the same passive articulator as [f]? Which tense vowel has the same height as [w] and the same advancement as [a]? Which rounded vowel has the same height as [e]?

3.

Indicate whether the following statements are TRUE or FALSE. a. ____ The term labio-dental refers to an obstruction caused by movement of the lower lip towards the upper teeth. b. ____ [ow] is the vowel in the word show. c. ____ [z, , v] The production of these sounds involves a vibration of the vocal cords. d. ____ [w, k, l] The production of these sounds involves a movement of the body of the tongue in the direction of the velum. e. ____ [o, u, a] In the production of these sounds the lips are rounded. f. ____ A retroflex sound is produced when the body of the tongue moves up and back in the direction of the palato-alveolar region. g. ____ [e] is the vowel sound in the word money. h. ____ The term dental refers to an obstruction caused by movement of the lower lip towards the upper teeth. i. ____ Plosives are produced with complete closure in the vocal tract followed by a gradual release. j. ____ The term backness refers to the movement of the blade of the tongue.

44166. STRUCTURE OF ENGLISH II: THE WORD

Prof. Yehuda N. Falk

Phonetics Exercises, p. 2
k. l. m. n. o. ____ [, , ] The production of these sounds involves the movement of the tongue blade in the direction of the palato-alveolar region. ____ [uw] is the vowel sound in the word country. ____ Approximants are produced by two articulaors coming close together, but not close enough to cause friction. ____ [m, n, k] In the production of these sounds the velum is lowered. ____ The term tense refers to the level the tongue is raised from the bottom of the mouth

4.

Do the following pairs of consonants have the same or different place of articulation? [s] : [l] [k] : [] [p] : [l] [l] : [r] [m] : [n] [] : [] [f] : [h] [b] : [f] [] : [ ] [s] : [v] [] : [t] [s] : [] [k] : [l] [w] : [y] [l] : [t] [] : [v] [] : [s] [m] : [] [h] : [] [f] : [] [w] : [ ]

5.

Do the following pairs of vowels have the same or different quality of tenseness? a) b) c) d) e) f) g) back sat shop caught bid key luck flick fill feal food foot fell fail h) i) j) k) l) m) n) hide height least heed drug cook sink fit oak own sun bed got farm

6.

For each of the following, state whether it is a natural class in English. If it is, define it in terms of the minimal set of features needed to distinguish it from all other sets of phonemes. a. b. c. d. e. f. g. / m, n, , l, r, y, w / / p, k, t / / w, y, k, l, / / , ] / / t, d, , , s, z, , z / / f, , s, , h / / p, b, v, f, m, w / h. i. j. k l. m. / p, b, k, l, t, d / / w, e, / / m, n, / / s, z, , z , , /. / e, c, / / p, b /

44166. STRUCTURE OF ENGLISH II: THE WORD

Prof. Yehuda N. Falk

Phonetics Exercises, p. 3
Part 2: Additional Practice
1. Transcribe the following words. In each line, circle the word(s) that begin(s) with a consonant that meets the description on the left. Alveolar Velar Labiodental Bilabial Dental Palatoalveolar Affricate Lateral meat green cat brick pay sigh church boat pat tool this thick thank clay garage late sit case chat lick witch tie noon pray boat hot vat sick thought sure jury never rate knot fat pick tough judge touch love

2.

Indicate whether the following statements are TRUE or FALSE. a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. i. j. ____ Raising the velum enables the air to flow through the nasal tract. ____ In the articulation of voiced sounds, the vocal cords are brought close together. ____ Different sounds are created by changing the properties of the vocal tract. ____ The tip/blade of the tongue is one of the passive articulators. ____ The velum is one of the passive articulators. ____ During normal breathing, the vocal cords are close together and vibrate. ____ Most speech sounds are made by allowing air to flow through the nose. ____ Both passive and active articulators are involved in the production of speech sounds ____ The tip/blade of the tongue, the body of the tongue and the upper lip are the active articulators. ____ The glottis surrounds the vocal cords.

44166. STRUCTURE OF ENGLISH II: THE WORD

Prof. Yehuda N. Falk

Phonetics Exercises, p. 4
3. Transcribe the following words and circle the one(s) that contain(s) a vowel that fits the description on the left. Low Front Back High Rounded small river loud shore meet bat song so shop coarse great tell left bank such car trap mud fall group flea bright trip moose cry

4.

Indicate whether the following statements are TRUE or FALSE. a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. ____ Every vowel symbol represents one specific articulation. ____ A sound whose articulation involves movement from one vowel position to another is called a diphthong. ____ The terms high low and central refer to the distance between the jaws. ____ Tense vowels are usually long in all languages. ____ A monophthong is described along five dimensions. ____ The concept of vowel height is relative. ____ All diphthongs are long, tense and central. ____ The right side of the vowel quadrilateral represents the back of the oral cavity.

5.

Compare the sounds in the following groups. Describe in detail the movements of articulators common to the sounds in each group and define the differences between them (i.e. in terms of the relevant phonetic features). a. b. c. d. e. [ w, e, ] [ iy, , uw ] [ s, , f ] [ y, w, r ] [ t, d, n, z ]