INTRODUCTION
The dual function of language makes it possible for one to study human language at any linguistic level. In the language hierarchy, ‘Phonetics’ comes first and it is followed by ‘Phonology’. Phonetics constitutes the study of the smallest unit of speech and it provides the raw materials for phonology to build on. As such, without phonetics there would be no phonology. The aim of this unit is to help you understand the basics of linguistic study, especially as it relates to phonetic/phonological study.
3.1 Defining Phonetics and Phonology
3.1.1 Phonetics
Phonetics is concerned with the study of the sounds of natural languages…languages into which human beings are born. You are able to recognise the difference and distinguish between sounds of the English language. The approach to phonetics is scientific in the sense that its analysis of the subject matter is accurate and verifiable. You will also be able to identify the restrictions in the occurrence of English consonants and vowels. For example, the string of consonants *zbf is not permitted in English, but [str-] is, as in [streit].
Phonetics is the study of production of sounds as produced by the organs of speech. It deals with the analysis of the sounds of languages in terms of articulation, transmission and perception. Phonetics seeks to identify sounds that constitute speech units which are distinct from all other possible human sounds.
There are three major branches in the study of phonetics, namely acoustic Phonetics, articulatory Phonetics, and auditory Phonetics.
Acoustic Phonetics.
This deals with the transmission of speech sounds through the air (sound waves). Different instruments are used to measure the characteristics of these sound waves.
Articulatory Phonetics.
Articulatory phonetics is the study of how speech sounds are produced. Sounds are classified according to the place of articulation in terms of the organs of speech used in their production (bilabial, alveolar, palatal), and according to manner of articulation in terms of how airflow from the lungs is obstructed in their production e.g. stops, fricatives, affricates, etc.
Auditory Phonetics.
Hearing, or audition, is one of the traditional five senses, and refers to the ability to detect sounds. In human beings hearing is performed traditionally by the ears which also perform a function of maintaining balance. A common rule of thumb used to describe human hearing is that human hearing is sensitive in the range of sound wave or frequency of 20 decibel or Hertz to 20 kHz. Auditory phonetics studies how the human hearing organ perceives sound.
The above statement implies that phonetics is approached by first determining the basic sounds (vowels and consonants) of natural languages. In a phonetic study, square brackets [ ] are used to enclose phonetic symbols. For instance to indicate the consonant sounds of the following English words: boy, saw, too, square brackets are used by convention:
[b] as in boy: [bɔɪ]
[s] as in saw: [sɔ:]
[t] as in too: [tu:]
Phonemes, which are the distinguished sounds in human languages, constitute the basic unit of study in Phonetics.
3.2 3.1.2??Phonology
Phonology, on the other hand deals with the organisation, grouping, patterning and distribution of the basic sounds of natural languages (vowels and consonants). It studies the restrictions and regular patterns of sound combinations. The syllable is the basic unit of study. Symbols which are used to indicate the pronunciation of sounds, syllables or words are written within slanting lines / /, sometimes called slashes or oblique slashes, following phonological convention.
When the differences in sound combinations are as a result of non-segmental phenomena like tone, intonation, rhythm and accentuation, it is referred to as suprasegmental or prosodic phonology. For example, when the first syllable in the word import is stressed, it constitutes a difference in meaning in that it functions as a noun, but as a verb if the stress is on the second syllable.
In phonology, distinctive features of speech sounds (otherwise called phonemes) are determined and used to describe, compare and contrast phonemes. The distinctive features of a speech sound refer to the group or bundle of features which differentiate a sound from other sounds. The features are derived from the parameters for classification of sounds. Consonants are classified according to the parameters of place and manner of articulation, and voicing. Vowels are classified according to the parameters of tongue height, rounding of the lips, and length of production, among others. Note pls: Generative phonology recognizes speech sounds, NOT phonemes.
Below is the distinctive feature chart for consonants and vowels in English:
For example, /iɔ/? and /uɔ/? are distinctive in English because of the bundle of features that mark each sound out as shown below:
/i /
+ High
- Low
- Back
- Round
/u /
+ High
- Low
+ Back + Round
Phonological studies or analysis is also concerned with how sound patterns are
conditioned in the context of other sounds. For example, plural formation occurs in English by adding a suffix ‘-s’ to a noun root morpheme. The suffix, ‘- s’ has three variants known as allomorphs /-s/, /-z/ and /ɪz/ and their occurrence is conditioned by a phonological rule.
3.3 3.2??Phonetics and Phonology
The relationship between phonetics and phonology is such that human speech is the subject matter. However, Phonetics is the starting point while phonology takes off from where phonetics ends. The example of aspiration in English will illustrate this relationship. Through phonetic analysis, the consonant /p/ is a distinct speech sound in English in terms of the parameters of classification, place and manner of articulation. Through phonological analysis, /p/ is a distinct phoneme because it constitutes a difference in meaning when in combination with other sounds in a syllable. Also, /p/ is produced with a puff of air when it occurs in word initial position and before a vowel as in people [pi:pl]. This production of /p/ is a variant called an allophone. It is aspirated and represented as [ph]. The second /p/ in people does not meet the conditions of occurrence and so is not aspirated. Note however, that the aspirated [ph] is not a distinct sound nor is it a distinct phoneme of English. In other words, its occurrence in words in contrast to unaspirated [p] does not constitute a difference in meaning.
4.0 CONCLUSION
Phonetics is the starting point in any language as it deals with how sounds are produced (articulated), sent across (transmitted) and perceived (reception). In other words, phonetics accounts for how human beings generate speech sounds, the physical properties of the sounds and how they are received by the hearers, while Phonology focuses on speech sounds as well, but in a different way. It deals with how the sounds of a language are identified, classified and organised to function in that language.
5.0 SUMMARY
In this unit we have discussed the concepts phonetics and phonology. The study of
human speech begins with phonetic analysis and is followed by phonological analysis. Phonetics has to do with the physical realisation of sounds as produced by the organs of speech. Phonological studies/analysis takes off where Phonetic studies/analysis ends.
6.0 TUTOR MARKED ASSIGNMENT
1. Define Phonetics and discuss its various components.
2. What is Phonology?
3. Explain the relationship between phonetics and phonology.
7.0 REFERENCES
Adetugbo, A. (1993). English Phonetics: A Course Text. Lagos: University of Lagos Press
Richard, J.C, John, P & Heidi, W. (1985). Longman Dictionary of Applied Linguistics. Great Britain: Longman Group Ltd.
Yule, George (2002): The Study of Language. United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press.
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