Introduction to phonetics and English phonology Uttalslära Introduction to phonetics and English phonology

Course outline Part of the language structure course (together with grammar, translation and vocabulary) Written exam on 26 November

Course outline The course will focus on • Basic terminology • Transcription and the International Phonetic Alphabet • Spelling-sound differences • Contrasts between Swedish and English

Course material Introducing English Pronunciation by Rönnerdal & Johansson Study Guide Exercises

Variants of English Received Pronunciation (RP) “British English” General American (GA) “American English”

Spelling versus transcription Transcription is a way of writing down the sounds of the spoken language (phonemes) In English, spelling does not correspond exactly to pronunciation

Spelling versus transcription: examples Spelling Transcription pin /pın/ juice /dʒu:s/ gnat /næt/ International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA): used for transcription of all languages

Voiced - voiceless Voiced sounds are produced with the help of the vocal cords. Examples: /a/ /n/ /r/ Voiceless sounds are produced without the vocal cords. Examples: /f/ /t/ /s/

Vowels A vowel is a voiced sound that is produced without any obstruction of the oral cavity. A syllable normally has one vowel sound. English has 20 vowel sounds (but only 5 vowel letters).

Vowels: three characteristics Vowels are open or close, front or back, rounded or unrounded.

The vowel sounds of English /ı/ pit /e/ pet /æ/ pat /ʊ/ put /ʌ/ but /ə/ above /ɒ/ pot (only RP) /i:/ see /3:/ girl /ɑ:/ father /ɔ:/ door /u:/ noon /eı/ face, pain /aı/ iron /ɔı/ boy /aʊ/ scout /əʊ||o(ʊ)/ boat /ıə/ hear (only RP) /eə/ bear (only RP) /ʊə/ poor (only RP, uncommon)

Monophthongs Also known as pure vowels. Only one sound (mono- = one) Monophthongs can be short or long.

Short vowels /ı/ pit /e/ pet /æ/ pat /ʊ/ put /ʌ/ but /ɒ/ pot (only RP) /ə/ above

/e/ as in bed Spellings: e, ea Examples herring /'herıŋ/ bread /bred/ said /sed/

/æ/ as in bad Spellings: a Examples sad /sæd/ cabin /'kæbın/

/e/ versus /æ/ said /sed/ sad /sæd/ bed /bed/ bad /bæd/ head /hed/ had /hæd/ etc...

/ʊ/ as in put Spellings: u, oo, o Examples bull /bʊl/ wool /wʊl/ wolf /wʊlf/

/ʌ/ as in cut Spellings: u, o Examples but /bʌt/ none /nʌn/ front /frʌnt/

/ɒ/ (RP) as in got Spellings: a, o GA has /ɑ:/ or /ɔ:/ in most words where RP has /ɒ/. A difference in length (quantity) as well as sound (quality). Examples gone /gɒn || gɔ:n/ bomb /bɒm || bɑ:m/ quality /'kwɒlıtı || 'kwɑ:lıtı/

/ı/ as in sit Spellings: e, i, y Can occur in stressed or unstressed syllables Examples begin /bı'gın/ target /'tɑ:(r)gıt/ city /'sıtı/

/ə/ (schwa) Spellings: primarily a, o, u ; sometimes e, i Only in unstressed syllables. Examples above /ə'bʌv/ polite /pə'laıt/ suppose /sə'pəʊz/

/ə/ or /ı/ ? In an unstressed syllable, the vowel is sometimes realised as /ə/ and sometimes as /ı/. The high front /ı/ is the usual realisation of e and i in unstressed position, while the mid central /ə/ is the realisation of a, o, and u, and in some words e or i: center/centre /'sæntə(r)/ happily /'hæpəlı/

Long vowels /i:/ see /3:/ girl /ɑ:/ father /ɔ:/ door /u:/ noon

/i:/ as in see Spellings: ee, ea, e, i, ie Examples free /fri:/ bead /bi:d/ police /pə'li:s/

/3:/ as in earth Spellings: e, ea, i, u Examples heard /h3:(r)d/ girl /g3:(r)l/ lurk /l3:(r)k/

/ɑ:/ as in dark Spellings: a Examples castle /kɑ:sl/ star /stɑ:(r)/

/ɔ:/ as in door Spellings: a, au, aw, o, oa, oo, ou Examples stalk /stɔ:k || stɑ:k/ yawn /jɔ:n || jɑ:n/ gone /gɒn || gɔ:n/ sword /sɔ:(r)d/

/u:/ as in cool Spellings: ew, oo, ou, u, ue Examples blue /blu:/ blew /blu:/ soup /su:p/ pool /pu:l/

Thank you for listening!