Theorit.phonet. Syllabic structure. 1.Syllable- is the smallest part of speech. Every syllable has a definite structure. It belongs to one of the following 4 main types of syllables: V, VC, CV. CVC. They are classified as covered, uncovered, open and closed. A syllable which begins in a vowel is called uncovered, a syllable which begins in a consonant is called covered. A syllable which ends in a vowel is called open, a syllable which ends in a consonant is called closed. So, the main types of syllables may be defined in the following way:

V – uncovered, open: e.g. /o:/ (or)

VC – uncovered, closed: e.g. /it/ (it)

CV – covered, open: e.g. /si:/ (see)

CVC – covered, closed: e.g. (catch).

a.) There are several theories which try to explain the mechanism of syllable formation and syllable division. The oldest of them is the so-called expiratory theory (also breath-puff, pressure. or. chest-pulse theory) The expiratory theory is strongly criticized here and abroad (by B.I.Zh1nkin,.G.P.Torsuyev, A.C.Gimson and others. Division is (root +morpheme).Formation divided into 4 types: Analytical type( help of 2 words- I have done),Sound intanation(inside of the root- take-took),syntactic type(with the help of affixes, suffixes),suppletive(root is changed-I- my- mine)

-morning-(root word),nearer(near-root,er-suff.-syntactic type.),butter(butt-root,er-suff.-suntactic type.),organic(or-root,gan-root,ic-suff),little(litt-root,le-suff),garden(gard-root,en-suff),blossom(bloss-root,om-suff).

b. The syllable as a phonological unit performs three functions: constitutive, distinctive, identificatory. They are closely connected.

Constitutive-Syllables constitute words, phrases and sentences through the com­bination of their prosodic features: loudness — stress, pitch — tone, duration — length and tempo.

Distinctive- The distinctive, differentiator function of the syllabic boundary makes it possible to introduce the term "juncture". (a name –an aim, mice kill-my skill(the same part of the speech)

Identificatory Function- This function is conditioned by the pronunciation of the speaker. The listener can understand the exact meaning of the utterance only if he perceives the correct syllabic boundary-ice-cream –I scream, an ice house- a nice house.(different parts of the speech)

2.Speech mechanism-is responsible for consonant and vowel production. Phonetics is traditionally divided into two branches: acoustic, concerned with the structure of the acoustic signal itself, and articulatory, concerned with the way these sounds are produced. Speech is impossible without the following mechanisms: Vibrator mechanism - vocal cords

Resonator mechanism - oral cavity, nasal cavity

Obstructer mechanism - tongue, VC, teeth

Power mechanism - lungs, diaphragm

a)[m]-voice, resonator mechanism.,[f]-voiceless,[t]-voiceless.

b) a phoneme – is a sound in its contrasting position (capable of distinguishing the meaning of a word)an allophone – is a representation of a phoneme in a particular position/ context.[let] – [led] phonemes [let] - [let them] allophones

2 Types of allophones: principal and subsidiary

Principal are the allophones which don’t undergo any changes in the flow of speech => they are the closest to the phoneme) Ex: [t] -> [to:k]

In the articulation of a subsidiary allophone we observe predictable changes under the influence of the phonetic context.

Quite-Subsidiary[k]phoneme

Cool-principal.

4.Assimilation is a process of alteration of speech sounds as a result of which one of the sounds becomes fully or partially similar to the adjoining sound.

Types of assimilation can be distinguished according to:

1.Direction of assimilation

2.Degree of completeness.

Direction of assimilation

According to this point assimilation can be:

1. Progressive -The articulatory features of the following sound are changed under the influence of the preceding sound. e.g pens (n - the preceding sound, s - the following sound) [penz], calls [ko:lz], desks [desks], books [buks]. (The pronunciation of the suffix –s depends on the quality of the preceding sound).

2. Regressive -The articulatory features of the preceding sound are changed under the influence of the following sound. E.g in them (the alveolar n becomes dental before the interdental [Θ]).

3. Reciprocal (double)-- It means complex influence of the sounds. e.g. tree [tri:] – the sonorant [r] is partly devoiced under the influence of the voiceless [t] and the alveolar [t] becomes the post-alveolar before the post-alveolar [r].

Degree of completeness

According to its degree, assimilation can be complete and incomplete.

Complete assimilation The two adjoining sounds become alike. e.g. cupboard [kΛbəd]

Incomplete assimilation The likeness of the adjoining sounds is partial. e.g. the sonorants [w, r, l] are partly devoiced when preceded by the voiceless [p, t, k, s, f, Θ] within words: sweet, place, try.

a) does she- progressive, thank- regressive, gooseberry- reciprocal (double), newspaper- Regressive, quick- Progressive , twins- Progressive

b) skate[skeit]-Kate[keit], looked- look at

5. Speak on phoneme theory, its variants and aspects

The Phoneme Theory

Segmental phonetics – the linguistic function of individual sounds or segments of speech.

[let] apical alveolar fortis [l]

[led] apical alveolar lenis [d]

[let them] dental [t] (assimilation)

are different in one feature, but the contrast between first 2 sounds changes the meaning.

The contrast between 1 and 3 sounds has no functional significance because it doesn’t change the meaning.

In our speech we are not aware of sounds differences which don’t change the meaning.

2 terms: a phoneme and an allophone

a phoneme – is a sound in its contrasting position (capable of distinguishing the meaning of a word)

an allophone – is a representation of a phoneme in a particular position/ context.

[let] – [led] phonemes

[let] - [let them] allophones

The phoneme is a minimal abstract language unit realized in speech in the ofrm of speech sounds opposable to other phonemes of the same language to distinguish the meaning of morphemes and words (by Shcerba + Vasiliev).