Module 1
▪ The International Phonetic Alphabet
(IPA)
▪ Parts and Functions of the Organs of
Speech
▪ Speech Production
Learning Objectives:
➢To explain what phonology is;
➢To tell what IPA is;
➢To identify the parts and functions of the organs
of speech; and
➢To tell the importance of learning the correct
English sound and pronunciation.
Introduction to English Phonology: Sounds and
Phonemes
Phonology is the study of the sounds used in a
language and how they function within that
language.
Distinct sound = phoneme
English phonology includes both vowel
and consonant sounds.
/i/, /e/, /a/, /o/, and /u/
/p/, /b/, /t/, /d/, /k/, /g/, /s/, /z/, /f/,
/v/, /θ/, /ð/, /ʃ/, /ʒ/, /h/, /m/, /n/, /ŋ/,
/l/, and /r/.
English has 20 vowel sounds.
Short vowels in the IPA are /ɪ/-pit, /e/-pet,
/æ/-pat, /ʌ/-cut, /ʊ/-put, /ɒ/-dog, /ə/-
about.
Long vowels in the IPA are /i:/-week, /ɑ:/-
hard,/ɔ:/-fork,/ɜ:/-heard, /u:/-boot.
Diphthong vowels in the IPA are /eɪ/-place,
/oʊ/-home, /aʊ/-mouse, /ɪə/-clear, /eə/-
care, /ɔɪ/-boy, /aɪ/-find, /ʊə/-tour.
Voiced Consonant Sounds: b, d, g, j, l,
m, n, ng, r, sz, (hard)th, v, w, y, z.
bed beds = z thing things = z
Voiceless Consonant Sounds: ch, h, f,
k, p, s, sh, t, (soft) th.
pet pets = s kick kicks
International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)
➢ an alphabet developed in the 19th century to accurately
represent the pronunciation of languages.
➢ its aim was to provide a unique symbol for each distinctive
sound in a language.
➢ was first broached by Otto Jespersen in a letter to Paul
Passy of the International Phonetic Association and was
developed by A.J. Ellis, Henry Sweet, Daniel Jones, and
Passy in the late 19th century.
International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)
➢ The intent was to standardize the representation
of spoken language.
➢ It also aims to supersede the existing multitude of
individual transcription systems.
➢ It was first published in 1888 and was revised several
times in the 20th and 21st centuries.
➢ It primarily uses Roman characters. Other letters are
borrowed from different scripts (e.g., Greek) and are
modified to conform to Roman style.
[Link]
Why is it crucial for native and
non-native speakers to understand
phonemes and their
characteristics?
Speech production
In humans, the natural phenomenon of speech
production takes place through vocal cords in the glottis.
The primary factor that produces speech is “vibration of
the vocal cords.” The major components in speech
production include lungs, windpipe or trachea, larynx,
pharyngeal cavity, oral cavity, and nasal cavity. The vocal
cords are contained within the larynx, which is also known
as the glottis.
The pharyngeal cavity comprises the throat, which
in combination with the oral cavity, containing the
mouth, forms the vocal tract. The nasal cavity is used
for the production of nasal sounds. The nasal cavity is
combined acoustically with the vocal tract when the
velum is lowered. The figure below depicts the
sagittal view of the human speech production
system.
The speech organs are used for the production of sound
through vocal cords; that is, they convert air into sound. The
organs like lips, tongue, jaw, and teeth are used to give shape to
the sound produced or the correct word or phoneme produced
by the human. These organs are called articulatory organs or
articulators. There are two types of articulators, namely, active
articulators and passive articulators. The active articulators
move, but the passive articulators do not. The former includes
lips and tongue, and the latter comprise upper teeth and upper
jaw. Depending upon the position of these articulators, different
sounds are produced.
Organs of Speech can be defined
as any part of the body, as the
tongue, velum, diaphragm, or lungs,
that participates, actively or
passively, voluntarily or involuntarily,
in the production of the sounds of
speech.
They are the organs of our mouth
which are being used to produce
sounds. They are also called speech
organs.
Organs of speech can also be
referred to as 'The Articulators'
Functions of the Organs of Speech
• Lips. The lips as organ of speech create two different sounds
which are mainly the labial, bilabial and labio-dental consonant
sounds. Thus, both the upper lips and the lower lips are
considered important apparatus in producing a speech sound.
• Teeth. Just like the lips, the teeth as one of the organs of speech
are important. Both the upper teeth and lower teeth are used in
producing sounds like dental and labio-dental consonant sounds.
• Tongue. The tongue is
considered the most
important apparatus out of
the organs of speech. The
tongue is divided into five
parts. They are:
1. Tip
2. Blade
3. Front
4. Back
5. Root
The tongue is effective in moving in different directions or
shapes in order to make speech sounds.
Image source: [Link]
tongue-body-tongue-root-lips_fig1_236230368
• Alveolar Ridge. This is the between the upper front teeth and
hard palate. Thus, to produce speech sounds, the alveolar ridge
and the blade of the tongue are used.
• Hard Palate. This is a plate located at the roof of the mouth. The
interaction between the hard palate and the tongue is necessary
for the production of certain sounds. They are, d, t and j.
• Pharynx. This helps manipulate the vocal structure.
• Uvula. This helps preventing air from escaping through the nose
while producing sounds.