SHS 250 EXAM 2026
phoneme
the smallest unit of sound that can distinguish between morphemes
morpheme
minimal unit of meaning
vowel reduction
occurs in unstressed syllables; vowel reduces along the dotted line, usually
moving one step in progression centrally
ex: /i/ to "i" in bit
diphthongs reduce to monophthongs
diphthong
employs a gradual transition from one vowel-like sound to another
allophone
variation of a phoneme which does not change meaning
complementary distribution
rules based on the phonetic environment. 2 allophones will not occur in the
same phonetic environment; the allophones occur in mutually exclusive
environments. Can be predicted
free variation
random; allophones can occur in the same environment
coarticulation
when a sound is produced differently because of the influence of sounds in
its phonetic context (neighborhood)
ex: key /ki/, k /k/, cow (rounded back vowel)
Assimilation
the change of a sound segment whereby it takes on characteristics of
neighboring sounds, becoming similar
spreading/shingling
as if the characteristics permeate nearby sounds, 'coloring' them ex: input >
imput
blending
as if the proximity of 2 sounds to each other creates a fusion, in which a
hybrid sound is created (also called co-production) ex: ASU
Anticipatory assimilation
most common in English; occurs when a sound is altered in anticipation of
the sound to follow ex: gang (velar n)
retentive (regressive assimilation)
a sound retains characteristics of a sound that has preceded it ex: me
(nasalized vowel)
broad transcription
, general detail; usually one symbol
narrow transcription
fine detail, more than one symbol; representation of target and variations in
production (diacritics)
phonetic transcription
the identification of allophones
phonemic transcription
the identification of phonemes
IPA
Internation Phonetic Alphabet; provides cross-linguistic consistency
minimal contrast/minimal pairs
two morphemes differing in only one sound segment (phoneme) ex: pin vs
bin
3 systems of speech production
-respiratory=air source
-lungs, trachea, ribcage, abdomen, air passages, thoracic musculature,
inhalation/expiration
-laryngeal=sound source
-larynx=voice box
-actual sound is produced by vibration of the vocal folds as air sets them in
motion
-larynx is housed between the trachea and the hyoid bone; includes the
thyroid cartilage as well as other cartilages and muscles
-vocal fold vibration=bilateral muscle; adduction (together).abduction
(apart); rapid opening and closing of the vocal folds is what creates voice
-supralaryngeal= sound filter (everything above vocal cords/larynx)
-filters and shapes sound as it travels
-three cavities: Pharyngeal, oral, nasal
fundamental frequency
the lowest frequency of vibration of a standing wave
2-way
right or wrong
5 way scoring
Correct, omission, distortion, substitution, addition
obstruent
more closure; fricatives, stops, and affricates
sonorant
more open; vowels, nasals, glides, and liquids
strident
phoneme
the smallest unit of sound that can distinguish between morphemes
morpheme
minimal unit of meaning
vowel reduction
occurs in unstressed syllables; vowel reduces along the dotted line, usually
moving one step in progression centrally
ex: /i/ to "i" in bit
diphthongs reduce to monophthongs
diphthong
employs a gradual transition from one vowel-like sound to another
allophone
variation of a phoneme which does not change meaning
complementary distribution
rules based on the phonetic environment. 2 allophones will not occur in the
same phonetic environment; the allophones occur in mutually exclusive
environments. Can be predicted
free variation
random; allophones can occur in the same environment
coarticulation
when a sound is produced differently because of the influence of sounds in
its phonetic context (neighborhood)
ex: key /ki/, k /k/, cow (rounded back vowel)
Assimilation
the change of a sound segment whereby it takes on characteristics of
neighboring sounds, becoming similar
spreading/shingling
as if the characteristics permeate nearby sounds, 'coloring' them ex: input >
imput
blending
as if the proximity of 2 sounds to each other creates a fusion, in which a
hybrid sound is created (also called co-production) ex: ASU
Anticipatory assimilation
most common in English; occurs when a sound is altered in anticipation of
the sound to follow ex: gang (velar n)
retentive (regressive assimilation)
a sound retains characteristics of a sound that has preceded it ex: me
(nasalized vowel)
broad transcription
, general detail; usually one symbol
narrow transcription
fine detail, more than one symbol; representation of target and variations in
production (diacritics)
phonetic transcription
the identification of allophones
phonemic transcription
the identification of phonemes
IPA
Internation Phonetic Alphabet; provides cross-linguistic consistency
minimal contrast/minimal pairs
two morphemes differing in only one sound segment (phoneme) ex: pin vs
bin
3 systems of speech production
-respiratory=air source
-lungs, trachea, ribcage, abdomen, air passages, thoracic musculature,
inhalation/expiration
-laryngeal=sound source
-larynx=voice box
-actual sound is produced by vibration of the vocal folds as air sets them in
motion
-larynx is housed between the trachea and the hyoid bone; includes the
thyroid cartilage as well as other cartilages and muscles
-vocal fold vibration=bilateral muscle; adduction (together).abduction
(apart); rapid opening and closing of the vocal folds is what creates voice
-supralaryngeal= sound filter (everything above vocal cords/larynx)
-filters and shapes sound as it travels
-three cavities: Pharyngeal, oral, nasal
fundamental frequency
the lowest frequency of vibration of a standing wave
2-way
right or wrong
5 way scoring
Correct, omission, distortion, substitution, addition
obstruent
more closure; fricatives, stops, and affricates
sonorant
more open; vowels, nasals, glides, and liquids
strident
