2. The connection of phonetics with other branches of linguistics.
Phonetics is closely connected with such branches of linguistics as grammar, lexicology and stylistics.
Grammar and phonetics.
Phonetics is connected with grammar through sound alternation and intonation.
Sound alternation may be defined as a regularly occurring replacement of one sound inside a morpheme by another sound, by a group of sounds, by “zero” sound. The sounds which can replace one another in certain definite cases form an alternation series. Sound alternations are of two different kinds: phonetic alternations and historical alternations. Phonetic alternations are the result of the phonetic laws which function in the modern stage of a particular language. They are caused by assimilation, accommodation and reduction in speech. Historical alternations are not affected by the phonetic position or context, they are the result of phonetic laws that functioned at another period in the development of the language.
Phonetic alternations, as a rule, have no definite grammatical functions, they accompany some grammatical phenomena. In the English language, for example, they helps to pronounce correctly
- singular and plural forms of nouns,
- the past tense forms E.g.: [d] is pronounced after voiced consonants and vowels (played);[t] is pronounced after voiceless consonants (looked);[id] after [t], [d] (wanted).
- definite and indefinite articles E.g.: [ði] before vowels (the apple), [ðə] before consonants (the pen), [æ], [ən] a pan, an apple
Historical alternations, on the contrary, always have definite grammatical functions. In the English language, for example, historical alternations are connected with the conjugation of irregular verbs and help to distinguish singular and plural of some nouns: E.g.: man [mæn] – men [men], foot [fu:t] – feet [fi:t].
The
role of intonation in grammar is also great. Sometimes intonation
alone can serve to single out the communicative centre of the
utterance.
E.g.:
'Did John 'phone you yesterday? 'Did John
phone
you yesterday? Did
John
phone you yesterday?
The rising nuclear tone may serve as the only indicator of an interrogation in the general questions with direct word order.
E.g.: Tom
saw it. (a statement) Tom saw it? (a question)
b) Lexicology and phonetics.
Phonetics is connected with lexicology through pronunciation, sound alternation, word-stress and onomatopoeia.
One word may differ from another in one sound only. E.g.: big [i], bag [æ]
Homographs can be differentiated only due to pronunciation, because they are identical in spelling. E.g.: bow [bəu] - bow [bau]; wind [wind] - wind [waind].
Historical alternation can help to differentiate parts of speech, such as:
nouns and verbs (life – live [f] – [v] + [ai] – [i]); adjectives and nouns (hot – heat [o] – [i:]); verbs and adjectives (moderate – moderate [ei] – [i]).
Due to the position of stress one can distinguish certain nouns from verbs. E.g.: 'object - ob'ject; 'present - pre'sent.
Due to the position of word accent one can distinguish between homonymous words and word groups.
E.g.: 'blackbird - 'black 'bird; 'dancing-girl - 'dancing 'girl.
Onomatopoeia or a combination of sounds which imitate sounds produced in nature (wind, sea), by things (machines, tools), by people (sighing, laughter) and by animals is a means of word formation. E.g.: crash, bang, slap, clap, dab, ping-pong, buzz, cuckoo
c) Stylistics and phonetics.
Phonetics is connected with stylistics through intonation and its components: speech melody, word stress, rhythm, pausation and voice tambre, which serve to express emotions, to distinguish between different attitudes on the part of the author and speaker. Very often the writer helps the reader to interpret his ideas through special words and remarks such as: a pause, a short pause, angrily, gently, hopefully, surprised.
E.g.: “Can you help me?” I asked hopefully.
Phonetics is also connected with stylistics through repetition of sounds, words, and phrases which serves the basis of rhythm, rhyme and alliteration.
Rhythm, or regular recurrence of stressed and unstressed elements, may be used as a special device not only in poetry, but in prose as well.
Alliteration, or repetition of identical or similar sounds, helps to convey a melodic effect to the utterance and to express certain emotions.