Articulatory and physiological aspect of speech sounds

Speech is impossible without the following 4 mechanisms, which work simultaneously.

(1) the power mechanism

(2) the vibrator mechanism

(3) the resonator mechanism

(4) the obstructer mechanism

The power mechanisms consists of the diaphragm [ ], the lungs, the bronchi, the windpipe (or trachea) [ ] the glottis, the larynx, the mouth cavity and the nasal cavity.

The vibrator mechanism (or the voice producing mechanism) consists of the vocal cords, they are in the larynx. The vocal cords are 2 horizontal folds of elastic tissue. They may be opened or closed completely or incompletely. The pitch of the voice is controlled mostly by the tension of the vocal cords. 3 speech sounds are produced by the vocal cords: h,, its voiced allophone and glottal stop [?]

The resonator mechanism consists of the pharynx, larynx, the mouth cavity and the nasal cavity.

The obstructer mechanism consists of the tongue (blade with the tip, front, back): the lips, the teeth, the soft palate with the uvula, the hard palate, the alveolar ridge.

Articulatory differences between vowels, consonants and sonorants depend on the 3 articulatory criteria:

1. the presence or absence of an articulatory obstruction to the air stream in the larynx or in the supra-glottal cavities;

2. the concentrated or diffused character of muscular tension;

3. the force of exhalation.

On the basis of these criteria consonants may be defined as sounds in the production of which a) there is an articulatory obstruction to the air stream (complete or incomplete), b) muscular tension is concentrated in the place of obstruction; c) the exhaling force is rather strong.

Vowels may be defined as sounds in the production of which a) there is no articulatory obstruction to the air stream; b) muscular tension is concentrated more or less evenly throughout the supra-glottal part of the speech apparatus; c) the exhaling force is rather weak.

Sonorants are sounds intermediate between noise consonants and vowels because they have features common to both. There is an obstruction, but not narrow enough to produce noise. Muscular tension is concentrated in the place of obstruction, but the exhaling force is rather weak. English sonorants are [m, n, ŋ, l, w, r, j].

Articulatory and physiological classification of English consonants according to the following pronounles:

I. Work of the vocal cords and the force of exhalation.

II. Active organ of speech and the place of obstructor.

III. Manner of noise production and the type of obstruction with the following subdivisions:

(1) voice or noise prevalence

(2) number of noise producing foci

(3) shape of the narrowing

IV. Position of the soft palate

I. Consonant are subdivided into

- voiced – vocal cords are drawn together and vibrate

- voiceless – vocal cords are apart and don’t vibrate

Voiced consonants are also called “fortis” (Latin) – the force of exhalation is greater and “lenis” – soft, when the force of exhalating is weaker.

II. Consonant are classified into:

- labial – bilabial and labio-dental

- lingual – a) forelingual – dorsal,, θ, apiсal, cacuminal

b) medio-lingual

c) backlingual

- pharyngal or glottal – h

III. From the point of view of the closure consonants may be of (1) occlusive when complete closure is made (p, b, t, d, k, g, m, ŋ); (2) constrictive, when the closure is incomplete (f, r, θ, w, l, r); (3) occlusive-constrictive or affricates, when the combination of 2 closures takes place [t∫, d ]; (4) rolled-intermittent closure – Russian p. Some phonetic include in the 3^rd group lateral, nasals and semivowels.

IV. – Oral-soft palate is raised and the air passes through the larynx and month cavity

- Nasal consonants – soft palate is lowered and the air passes through the nasal cavity [m, n, ŋ]

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