### Grab an IPA chart and reference guide (also on the syllabus) <img class="r-stretch" src="tmp/barner.png"> --- # Phonetics: The Sounds of Language ### Will Styler - LIGN 101 --- ### Today's Plan - How does speech work? - How can we write down speech? - How do we describe consonants? --- ## How does speech work? --- ### The Speech Process * Flapping bits of meat inside your head while blowing out air * This creates vibrations in the air you're expelling * The ear picks these up, and inteprets them as speech. * This process is studied in **Phonetics** --- ### The Lungs <img class="r-stretch" src="phonmedia/lungs.jpg"> --- ### Sagittal Sections <video class="wide" autoplay loop src="phonmedia/sagittal_will_video.webm"></video> --- ### Sagittal Sections <img class="r-stretch" src="phonmedia/sagittal_will.jpg"> --- ### Flapping bits of meat ("articulation") <img class="big" src="phonmedia/nasalsagittal.jpg"> --- ### Simplified a bit... <img class="r-stretch" src="phonmedia/sagittal_simple.jpg"> --- ### You will not be responsible for any anatomical terms not required for transcription on exams --- ### The Tongue <img class="r-stretch" src="phonmedia/tonguefromside.jpg"> --- <video class="wide" controls src="video/mri_joynash.mp4"></video> --- <video class="wide" controls src="video/mri_deck_the_halls.mp4"></video> --- <img class="r-stretch" src="humorimg/ohgodwhy.jpg"> --- ### Let's do an experiment --- > The North Wind and the Sun were disputing which was the stronger, when a traveler came along wrapped in a warm cloak. --- ### Speech is absolutely insane - It's a series of fluid and overlapping gestures - It's amazingly complex - ... and it's nothing like we think it is --- ### How do we wrap our heads around it? - First, we break speech into 'segments' or 'phones' - Then, we figure out how to describe those phones and their properties - This lets us *transcribe* what was said, rather than what words were said - But first you need to realize that... --- ## Your writing system is a trainwreck - <img class="r-stretch" src="humorimg/trainwreck.png"> --- ### Your writing system is lying to you - Every minute of every day - "They thoroughly and roughly wrought the boughs in the borough, through and through" - C doesn't exist - The 'ee' in 'pee' is silent - The 'e' - TH is neither a t nor an h, and represents two different sounds - ... and if you start thinking about letters, you're going to start struggling - For this class, consider your writing system with the same skepticism you would normally reserve for a guy with a broken bottle walking towards you in a dark alley. --- ### ... but wait, speech is super complicated - Our writing system is lying to us - Many languages don't have writing systems - ... and we still need to write down what was said in them - ## Is there no hope?! --- <img class="r-stretch" src="humorimg/surprised_owls.jpg"> <audio data-autoplay src="humorimg/dramatic.wav"></audio> --- (Nah, it's cool, we've got the IPA!) --- ### The International Phonetic Alphabet - A system for *transcribing* what was said, that's based on *describing* individual phones - We'll discuss a reduced set of the IPA focusing on the English language in this class --- <img class="r-stretch" src="phonmedia/ipa_chart.jpg"> --- ### The International Phonetic Alphabet - A system for *transcribing* what was said, that's based on *describing* individual phones - The IPA should be able to transcribe speech in *any* human language or dialect --- ### The IPA allows us to 'transcribe' speech - You throw away the writing system, and write down the *sequence of sounds* being produced - "Black Lives Matter" - In Will's dialect: /blæk lajvz mæɾəɹ/ - Note the /z/, and the /ɾ/ tap, and the lack of "c" --- ### The Entire IPA is shown on the IPA chart <img class="r-stretch" src="phonmedia/ipa_chart.jpg"> --- ## Important Note: Most Online IPA Charts with Sound are awful! - ipachart.com is bad and should feel bad - <https://savethevowels.org/ipa> is not - [Here's the International Phonetic Association's Version](https://www.internationalphoneticassociation.org/IPAcharts/inter_chart_2018/IPA_2018.html) - If you're just typing IPA, you can use [this tool](https://wstyler.ucsd.edu/intipa/#/keyboard) - Use the quick reference guide too! --- ### We have a new tool! ## <http://savethevowels.org/ipa> - Give this a try to see audio and video of IPA sounds! --- ### To understand the IPA, you need to understand how sounds work --- ## How do we describe how speech sounds are made? --- ### We break the world into two kinds of speech sounds - **Consonants:** Constrict, obstruct, or divert air in the vocal tract when being produced - **Vowels:** Shape the (unobstructed) vocal tract to change the sound emitted --- ## Describing Consonants --- ### Three steps to describing Consonants * We need to know three things: * **Place**: Where is the sound made? * **Manner**: What are we doing there? * **Voicing**: Are we making voicing? --- ## Place --- ### Place of Articulation - Where is the sound being made? --- ### Place <img class="r-stretch" src="phonmedia/sagittal_flesh.jpg"> --- ### Place <img class="r-stretch" src="phonmedia/sagittal_labeled.png"> --- ### Place * **Bilabial**: As in "***b***oy" * **Labiodental**: As in "***V***ote" * **Interdental**: As in "***Th***ose" * **Alveolar**: As in "***T***o***t***e***s***!" - Your alveolars may be *dental* * **Postalveolar**: As in "***J***u***dge***" - Your textbook calls these 'palatal' - We'll accept either for this class * **Velar**: As in "**C**lam**k**i**ng** * **Glottal**: As in "Uh***-***oh!" --- <section class="clicker"></section> ### The first and last sounds in "King" are... A) **Bilabial**: As in "***B***at***m***an isn't ***m***e!" B) **Labiodental**: As in "***V***owels aren't ***f***oul!" C) **Alveolar**: As in "***T***o***t***e***s*** ***l***i***t***!" D) **Postalveolar**: As in "***J***u***dgy*** ***Ch***eetahs" E) **Velar**: As in "**G**o **c**all you**ng** **c**arpenters" --- ### The first and last sounds in "King" are... A) **Bilabial**: As in "***B***at***m***an isn't ***m***e!" B) **Labiodental**: As in "***V***owels aren't ***f***oul!" C) **Alveolar**: As in "***T***o***t***e***s*** ***l***i***t***!" D) **Postalveolar**: As in "***J***u***dgy*** ***Ch***eetahs" E) <correct>**Velar**: As in "**G**o **c**all you**ng** **c**arpenters"</correct> --- ### There are other places English doesn't use - 'Uvular' sounds are made involving the uvula - As Cardi B says, 'that little dangly thang that swang in the back of my throat' - The French "r" sound in 'rouge' - 'Retroflex' sounds curl the tongue up and back - Present in Hindi/Urdu, as well as many other languages! --- ### Reference Diagrams for Place of Articulation --- ### Bilabial <img class="r-stretch" src="phonmedia/sag_bilabial.jpg"> --- ### Bilabial <video data-autoplay width="600" src="ipa/voiced_bilabial_stop.mp4"></video> --- ### Dental <img class="r-stretch" src="phonmedia/sag_dental.jpg"> --- <video data-autoplay width="600" src="ipa/voiced_dental_fricative.mp4"></video> --- ### Alveolar <img class="r-stretch" src="phonmedia/sag_alveolar.jpg"> --- ### Alveolar <video data-autoplay width="600" src="ipa/voiced_alveolar_stop.mp4"></video> --- ### Retroflex <img class="r-stretch" src="phonmedia/sag_retroflex.jpg"> --- ### Retroflex <video data-autoplay width="600" src="ipa/voiced_retroflex_stop.mp4"></video> --- ### Palatal <img class="r-stretch" src="phonmedia/sag_palatal.jpg"> --- ### Palatal <video data-autoplay width="600" src="ipa/voiced_palatal_stop.mp4"></video> --- ### Velar <img class="r-stretch" src="phonmedia/sag_velar.jpg"> --- ### Velar <video data-autoplay width="600" src="ipa/voiced_velar_stop.mp4"></video> --- ### Uvular <img class="r-stretch" src="phonmedia/sag_uvular.jpg"> --- ### Uvular <video data-autoplay width="600" src="ipa/voiced_uvular_stop.mp4"></video> --- ## Manner of Articulation --- ### Manner "So what are you doing with the articulators?" --- ### Manner * **Stops**: Stop the airflow (also called 'plosives') - As in '**c**a**t** **d**o**ck**e**t**' * ***Taps***: Throw your tongue against the roof of your mouth - As in 'la**t**er la**dd**er wi**nn**ers' * **Fricatives**: Constrict the airflow to make sounds - As in '**f**la**sh**y **s**o**v**iet **sh**i**f**ter**s**' * **Nasals**: Channel the air out the nose - As in 'wi**ng** **m**a**n** ' --- ### Oral Stop (/d/) <img class="r-stretch" src="phonmedia/sag_alveolar.jpg"> --- ### Oral Stop (/d/) <video data-autoplay width="600" src="ipa/voiced_alveolar_stop.mp4"></video> --- ### Nasal Stop (/n/) <img class="r-stretch" src="phonmedia/sag_nasal.jpg"> --- ### Nasal Stop (/n/) <video data-autoplay width="600" src="ipa/voiced_alveolar_nasal.mp4"></video> --- ### Manner (Continued) * **Approximants**: Bring the tongue *toward* the place - As in '**y**ou **w**ill' * **Laterals**: Channel air *around* the tongue - As in '**l**atera**l**s' --- <img class="r-stretch" src="ling_memes/preferredmannerstop.jpg"> --- ### The initial sounds in "Taco Bell" are... A) **Stops**: Stop the airflow B) **Fricatives**: Constrict the airflow to make sounds C) **Nasals**: Channel the air out the nose D) **Approximants**: Bring the tongue *toward* the place E) **Laterals**: Channel air *around* the tongue <section class="clicker"></section> --- ### The initial sounds in "Taco Bell" are... A)<correct> **Stops**: Stop the airflow</correct> B) **Fricatives**: Constrict the airflow to make sounds C) **Nasals**: Channel the air out the nose D) **Approximants**: Bring the tongue *toward* the place E) **Laterals**: Channel air *around* the tongue --- ### The initial sounds in "Vaguely Silly Phantom Show" are... <section class="clicker"></section> A) **Stops**: Stop the airflow B) **Fricatives**: Constrict the airflow to make sounds C) **Nasals**: Channel the air out the nose D) **Approximants**: Bring the tongue *toward* the place E) **Laterals**: Channel air *around* the tongue --- ### The initial sounds in "Vaguely Silly Phantom Show" are... A) **Stops**: Stop the airflow B) <correct>**Fricatives**: Constrict the airflow to make sounds</correct> C) **Nasals**: Channel the air out the nose D) **Approximants**: Bring the tongue *toward* the place E) **Laterals**: Channel air *around* the tongue --- ## Voicing --- ### Voicing * Is the larynx buzzing, or not? --- Content Warning: Things are about to get weird. --- <video class="r-stretch" controls src="video/laryngoscopy_transnasal.mp4"></video> [Video Source](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwAR7J9471M) --- ### This is not the only such video - [Here's one featuring Will Ramos of Lorna Shore](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ua8SuWNPrLE) getting scoped during heavy metal vocals! - The twisting his larynx can do is *incredibly* unusual, and really cool! --- ### Let's pretend we're snakes eating bees! <img class="r-stretch" src="phonmedia/snakesbees.jpg"> --- ### Voiced vs. Voiceless - Cat - Bob - Month - Those - Crash - Judge --- ### The initial sounds in "Phonetics wins popularity" are... A) All Voiced B) All Voiceless C) Voiceless, Voiced, Voiceless D) Voiced, Voiceless, Voiced E) None of the above <section class="clicker"></section> --- ### The initial sounds in "Phonetics wins popularity" are... A) All Voiced B) All Voiceless C) <correct>Voiceless, Voiced, Voiceless</correct> D) Voiced, Voiceless, Voiced E) None of the above --- ### Three steps to describing Consonants * We need to know three things: * **Place**: Where is the sound made? * **Manner**: What are we doing there? * **Voicing**: Are we making voicing? --- ### All consonants can be described this way - /m/ - Voiced Bilabial Nasal - /t/ - Voiceless Alveolar Stop - /g/ - Voiced Velar Stop - /f/ - Voiceless Labiodental Fricative --- ### There are a couple of weird ones - /ɹ/ - The English "R", a voiced 'alveolar' approximant - "Reed read the wrong resolution" - Super weird - /w/ - A voiced labio-velar approximant - "Will would wisely watch the wind" - Has a voiceless version ("Cool whip" from Family Guy) --- ### 'Affricates' If you combine a fricative and a stop, you get an affricate - **J**u**dg**e (d͡ʒʌd͡ʒ) - **Ch**eese (t͡ʃiz) - Ca**ts** (kæts) --- Once we've organized sounds by place, manner, and voicing, we have... --- ### English Consonants <img class="r-stretch" src="phonmedia/ipa_consonants_english.jpg"> --- <img class="r-stretch" src="phonmedia/ipa_conschart_reading.jpg"> --- <img class="wide" src="phonmedia/ipa_consonants.jpg"> --- ### Can't figure out where in the mouth that is? Ask [Sammy the Interactive Sagittal Section](http://smu-facweb.smu.ca/~s0949176/sammy/)! - Or check UBC's [Enunciate](https://enunciate.arts.ubc.ca/) site --- ### So, that's consonants. - We'll talk about vowels next time! - But those are described also by thinking about where your tongue is in your mouth - And what your lips are doing! --- ## Let's Practice! --- ### Every vowel here is /i/ - BBs - Meat - Sheen - Thief - Reap - Cheek - Weeder --- ### Spoiler alert --- ### Every vowel here is /i/ - BBs /bibiz/ - Meat /mit/ - Sheen /ʃin/ - Thief /θif/ - Reap /ɹip/ - Cheek /t͡ʃik/ - Wheel /wil/ --- ### Every vowel here is /ɛ/ - Wrecked - Them - Gem - Hedge - Geth --- ### Spoiler Alert --- ### Every vowel here is /ɛ/ - Wrecked /ɹɛkt/ - Them /ðɛm/ - Gem /d͡ʒɛm/ - Hedge /hɛd͡ʒ/ - Geth /gɛθ/ --- ### Every vowel here is /ɑ/ - Song - Wrought - Shop - Rot - Thought - Chop --- ### Spoiler Alert --- ### Every vowel here is /ɑ/ - Song /sɑŋ/ - Wrought /ɹɑt/ - Shop /ʃɑp/ - Rot /ɹɑt/ - Thought /θɑt/ - Chop /t͡ʃɑp/ --- ### So, that's how we describe consonants - Place, manner, and voicing! - Vowels talk about the height of the tongue, the front-backness of the tongue, and the rounding of the lips - ... and we have way more of them than the writing system makes you believe! --- ### Wrapping it up - Speech is crazy complicated - The English writing system is a large lagoon of lies - We describe consonants by talking about place, manner, and voicing - The English writing system is a festival of falsehoods - You can use your knowledge of articulation to help with transcription - The English writing system is a dumpster of deception - The IPA can save us! --- ### Next time... - Vowels, more on transcription, and some phonetic phun! --- ### Download an IPA chart and reference guide from the syllabus or take one here! <huge>Thank you!</huge>