Phonology

Jayson Donor Zabala

QC Science HS

Fact for you!

All vocal tracts are unique.

Individuals pronounce
sounds differently.

What is Phonology?

Systematic study of
sounds (patterns and
speech sounds) in
languages

What is Phonology?

Creates a blueprint or underlying

design in sound types which serves
as basis for different physical
articulations of that sound type in
different contexts.

Phonemes

Meaning-distinguishing
sounds of language (e.g.
the variations of a
particular sound, say [t])

Phonemes

Meaning-distinguishing
sounds of language (e.g.
the variations of a
particular sound, say [t])

Phonemes

Can be used contrastively (fat

and fine, vat and vine) we must
be able to substitute one sound
for another in a word and there is
a change of meaning.

Phonemes

Can be used contrastively (fat

and fine, vat and vine) we must
be able to substitute one sound
for another in a word and there is
a change of meaning.

Phones

different versions of the soundtype (the phoneme) regularly

produced in actual speech

Allophones

a set of phones, all of which are

versions of one phoneme (allo
one of a closely related set)

Allophones

star, tar aspiration (puff of

air)
writer flap
eighth dental end

Phones and Allophones

The crucial distinction between phonemes and
allophones is that substituting one phoneme for
another will result in a word with a different
meaning (as well as a different pronunciation),
but substituting allophones only results in a
different (and perhaps unusual) pronunciation
of the same word.

Review!

For ten minutes, answer the

following questions:

What is phonology? How is

it different from phonetics?

Review!

For ten minutes, answer the

following questions:

What is a phoneme?

Review!

For ten minutes, answer the

following questions:

What is a phone? An
allophone? Identify the
distinction between the two.

Minimal Pairs

Tests phonetic distinctions in a

language

Minimal Pairs

PAT

and BAT

Identical form but there is a

contrast in one phoneme.

Minimal Pairs

Minimal Pairs have been used by

instructors of the English language
to teach phonetic awareness.

Minimal Pairs

What are other minimal pairs you

know of? Pair up and give 10
examples.

Syllables

Basis for word formation, i.e., an

atom of any particular word.

Syllables

Must contain vowel sounds,

including diphthongs.

Syllables

Three elements onset

(consonant), rhyme/nucleus
(vowel sound), coda (consonant)

Syllables

Open syllables oftentimes onset

and nucleus only

Closed syllables complete

onset, nucleus and coda.