1. What is SCIENCE? What is the difference between NATURAL and SOCIAL sciences? What is covered by LINGUISTICS? What is PHONETICS? How does it differ from PHONOLOGY? What is GENERALIZATION? What is a (phonemic) SYSTEM? What is CONTRASTIVE science?

2. What is SCIENCE? Any systematic knowledge-base or prescriptive practice that is capable of resulting in a prediction or predictable outcome (from the Latin scientia, meaning "knowledge") Answering questions Asking them

3. What is the difference between NATURAL and SOCIAL sciences? Laws of nature vs. intuition No clear-cut borders; fluid continuum or range Ends of spectrum: Quantum mechanics vs. Philosophy Economy vs. Linguistics

4. What is covered by LINGUISTICS? Phonetics and phonology Morphology Lexicology Syntax Stylistics Pragmatics and Discourse Studies Corpus Linguistics Sociolinguistics, Psycholinguistics, etc.

5. What is PHONETICS? Study of speech sounds Syllables Stress Rhythm Intonation

6. How does PHONETICS differ from PHONOLOGY? Letters vs. speech sounds Generalization Concrete realization vs. Abstract units Speech sounds vs. Phonemes

7. What is a (phonemic) SYSTEM? Elements (phonemes) Connections and relationships among them Change of one element is reflected in the whole system Open systems vs. closed systems

8. What is CONTRASTIVE science? Comparison and contrast of sound material of different languages Mostly English/Czech (not exclusive) Fixed vs. Relative length of vowels Different function of tones in English and Chinese

9. Some notes British vs. American English Active skills vs. passive knowledge Received Pronunciation (RP) Transcription symbols of International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)

10. Production of speech sounds Expiratory air flow Lungs – bronchi – trachea – larynx Vocal folds (wide open, narrowing or closed) Pharynx - oral (or nasal) cavity Articulators modifying the air flow

11. Articulators Soft palate (k) Hard palate(s) Alveolar ridge(t) Tongue Lips(p) Teeth(th) Nasal cavity(m)