The sounds of languageSounds of language, Edward Sapir (1939), Chapter Three

Powe point presented by Aseel kazum Mahmood

5th.nov.2013

The Sounds of Language

The two terms ‘language’ and ‘sound’ are so common in introductory textbooks about language and linguistics and wherever there is a need to talk about communication. Sounds are essential to speech. We use speech for communication and sounds of speech are the fundamental elements of such a communication system. We consider sounds to be the basic components of speech, The ability to produce sounds is not sufficient for communication.

The production of sound We can define the formulation of speech sound in

terms of three stages:

Accent and Sounds We can summarize all issues related by

answering the question below:

AccentRoch definition(2009).Sapir definition(1933).

Language can take various forms:

Accenthow this definition relates to language

and sound in far than the different pronunciation of the same language itself, more likely, of that of speakers of other languages?

What makes the speaker sense a mysterious accent in the way foreign speakers produce their native language?

Variability of speech The main goal of the phonological research

community is to understand the variation in the sound structure of language. A focus of this feature that sets it apart from other variation is the emphasis on understanding how knowledge of variation might be presented cognitively, a growing consensus among researchers is that at least some aspects of acoustic and articulatory variations are represented cognitively, rather than being derived by universal principles (munson2009).

Variability of speech

The possibilty of aquiring new sounds Of course the power to produce these inhibited adjustments is not entirely lost, but the extreme difficulty we experience in learning the new sounds of foreign languages is sufficient evidence of the strange rigidity that has set in for most people in the voluntary control of the speech organs.

Organs of speech

Organs of speech A detailed account of the organs mentioned

below:

Consonanta consonant is a speech sound that is

articulated with complete or partial closure of the vocal tract. Examples are [p], pronounced with the lips; [t], pronounced with the front of the tongue; [k], pronounced with the back of the tongue; [h], pronounced in the throat; [f] and [s], pronounced by forcing air through a narrow channel (fricatives); and [m] and [n], which have air flowing through the nose (nasals). Contrasting with consonants are vowels.’’

Vowels Vowel: Is a speech sound produced with the air

going out freely, without any obstruction in the vocal tract .There are three kinds of vowels.

Simple(pure) vowels. Diphthong Triphthong

Pure vowels are described according to four principles.

The height of the tongue in the month The part of the tongue which is raised to

pronounce the vowel. Lip rounding The length

Sound differences Speech sounds can differ from one

another in three ways:

Organic Classification of speech soundwe can put any sound into its proper place by the

appropriate answer to four main questions: What is the position of the glottal cords during

its articulation? Does the breath pass into the mouth alone or is

it also allowed to stream into the nose? Does the breath pass freely through the mouth

or is it impeded at some point and, if so, in what manner?

What are the precise points of articulation in the mouth?

Factors influencing sound understanding and recognitionunderstanding and recognizing the message

delivered by the sound or sound sequence is influenced by other factors

Thank you