Linguistics phonetics
Learning vs acquiring
Learning: a conscious process of accumulating knowledge
Acquiring: the gradual development of ability in a language by using it
naturally
Linguistics is learning about the language
Phonetics
Study of speech sounds in different languages
System of symbols that represent those sounds
Written language uses orthographic script (letters). Spoken language uses
phonemic script to indicate the standard of language
Phonemes
A language is made up of an accepted ‘set’ of sound units called phonemes
which are combined into words
A phoneme is the smallest distinctive sound unit in a language
Different languages use different ‘sets’ of phonemes
Examples: Ph-o-n-e-m(e) 5 phonemes
b-o-n-d 4 phonemes
b-l-o-n-d 5 phonemes
b-l-o-n-d-i-sh 7 phonemes
The critical period
This is the period when the brain is most ready to receive input and learn language.
Cross linguistic reference
Negative transfer (interference) Positive Transfer
Dutch klaar English: clear Dutch: werken English: work
How are vowels and consonants different?
Vowel sounds Consonant sounds
Are produced with no obstruction Are produced with various types of
to the escape of air through the obstruction to the airflow (Except j and w!)
mouth With or without vibration of the vocal
ee/oo cords
b/t
‘Schwa’
, ə
The most frequent sound in continuous speech
Never carries stress
Interlanguage
An interlanguage is an idiolect that has been developed by a learner of second
language L2 which preserves some features of their first language L1
A so called ‘in between system’
Each learner’s ‘in between system’ is unique and changes constantly,
according to input
Difference between monophthongs and diphthongs
Monophthong Diphthong
A single vowel sound A glide from one vowel to another
No tongue movement Note how the tongue moves!
There are twelve There are eight
Lip shape
Lips spread = front vowels
, Fleece
tongue moves
from high to low
and jaw drops
Dress
Trap
Lips rounded = back vowels
Goose
tongue moves
from high to low
and jaw drops
Thought
Lot
Tongue position
Learning vs acquiring
Learning: a conscious process of accumulating knowledge
Acquiring: the gradual development of ability in a language by using it
naturally
Linguistics is learning about the language
Phonetics
Study of speech sounds in different languages
System of symbols that represent those sounds
Written language uses orthographic script (letters). Spoken language uses
phonemic script to indicate the standard of language
Phonemes
A language is made up of an accepted ‘set’ of sound units called phonemes
which are combined into words
A phoneme is the smallest distinctive sound unit in a language
Different languages use different ‘sets’ of phonemes
Examples: Ph-o-n-e-m(e) 5 phonemes
b-o-n-d 4 phonemes
b-l-o-n-d 5 phonemes
b-l-o-n-d-i-sh 7 phonemes
The critical period
This is the period when the brain is most ready to receive input and learn language.
Cross linguistic reference
Negative transfer (interference) Positive Transfer
Dutch klaar English: clear Dutch: werken English: work
How are vowels and consonants different?
Vowel sounds Consonant sounds
Are produced with no obstruction Are produced with various types of
to the escape of air through the obstruction to the airflow (Except j and w!)
mouth With or without vibration of the vocal
ee/oo cords
b/t
‘Schwa’
, ə
The most frequent sound in continuous speech
Never carries stress
Interlanguage
An interlanguage is an idiolect that has been developed by a learner of second
language L2 which preserves some features of their first language L1
A so called ‘in between system’
Each learner’s ‘in between system’ is unique and changes constantly,
according to input
Difference between monophthongs and diphthongs
Monophthong Diphthong
A single vowel sound A glide from one vowel to another
No tongue movement Note how the tongue moves!
There are twelve There are eight
Lip shape
Lips spread = front vowels
, Fleece
tongue moves
from high to low
and jaw drops
Dress
Trap
Lips rounded = back vowels
Goose
tongue moves
from high to low
and jaw drops
Thought
Lot
Tongue position
