What are Phonetics and Phonology?

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WHAT ARE PHONETICS AND PHONOLOGY?

Phonetics is the branch of linguistics that deals with the production of speech by humans and. Phonetics looks at the physical manifestation of language in sound waves: how thers sounds are articulated and perceived. It is the science of speech sounds and the symbols by thich they are shown in writing and printing. This science is based on a study of all the parts of the body concerned in making speech. It includes the positions of the parts of the body necessary for producing spoken workds, and the effect of air from the lungs as it passes through the larynx, pharynx, vocal cords, nasal passages and mouth.

Phonetics sounds (phones) are actual speech sounds classified by the manner and place of articulation (that is by the way in which air is forced through the mouth and shaped by the tongue, teeth, palate, lips and in some languages by the uvula. The [r] of run and far are phonetically different because they are articulated differently. A phonetic system must indicate whether a vowel sound is long or short, runded, diphthongal (that is consiss of two sounds) or retroflex (made with the tip of the tongue curled up toward the palate). In addition the movement from one position to another, or glides, must be represented must be reprensented, stress pattern and pauses must e more exactly indicated, and pitch or intonation may also be noted.

Phonology on the other hand is central representation of sounds as part of a symbolic cognitive system; how abstract sound categories are manipulated in the processing of language. Therefore one can rightly say that phonetics is part of phonology because the former is intricately linked to the latter which is wider and broader in scope. phonology studies the patterns of sounds and their different positions in words

Phonetics and phonology are concerned with the forms of speech sounds. Sound can differentiate the meanings of the words. Phonetics studies actual sound by analyzing and modeling the speech signal. For example, the air pressure wave form can be recorded into a computer so that it can be visualized and analyzed in detail. Phonology deals with more abstract description of speech sound and tries to describe the regularities of sound patterns.

Phonetics and phonology have many possible applications both in theory and practice. Speech and speakers recognition and speakers synth...

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...se sounds were borrowed from the Bushmen and Hottentot peoples who originally lived throughout all southern Africa. Zulu and the other Bantu languages that use clicks spell them with the letters C, X, Q. An example is the name of the tribe Xhosa.

In order to complete the discussion on airstream mechanisms one should look at toher possible sources of air that can produce sound in human language. The BUCCAL AIRSTREAM MECHANISM is one that has been employed by and is unique to the Walt Disney cartoon character Donald Duck. A puff of air is trapped in either cheek, then relesed to be manipulated by the speech organs. However no language has been know to use the GASTRIC AIRSTREAM MECHANISM which would be modifying air burped up from the stomach.

REFERENCES

Compton’s Encyclopedia No. 19: 1981 by F.E Compton Company, Division of Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc

Encyclopedia Britannica Vol (IV) (1978)

http://pandora.cii..www.edu/vajola/ling201/test2materials/articulatoryphonetics.htm

http://www.phon.ox.ac.uk/~jcoleman/phonology1.htm

London S. Dictionaries – The Art and Craft of Lexicography (1996), Cambridge, Melbourne

World Book Encyclopedia, (1990) World Book Incorporation, Chicago

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