The sounds of English
nasal
oral
stop
continuant
fricative
affricative
approximation
vowel
i:
I u:
u
e
3:
ə Λ
ↄ æ
ↄ:
α:
w l r j h
ʧ
f
θ
s ∫
v
ð
z ʒ
b
d g
p t k
m
n η
3. The articulatory classification of the english vowels
The system of the English vowels was investigated by well-known British, Russian and Ukrainian phoneticians: Henry Sweet, Daniel Jones, Alfred Ch. Gimson, John C. Wells, V. A Vassilyev, G. P. Torsuyev, L.V. Shcherba and others.
The articulatory classification of vowels in English can be described according to the following critirea: Stability of articulation; 2. Tongue position; 3. Lip position; 4. Character of the vowel end; 5. Length; 6. Tenseness.
1. Stability of articulation |
Monophthongs – 12 |
Diphthongs 8 |
Thriphthongs |
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2. Length of articulation |
Long - i:, u:, a:, ↄ:, 3: |
Short - I, e, æ, ↄ, Λ, υ, ə |
Iə, ə, υə, eI, αI, ɔI, əυ, αυ |
eIə, αIə, ↄIə, əυə, αυə |
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3. Degree of muscular tension |
Tense - i:, u:, a:, ↄ:, 3: |
Lax - I, e, æ, ↄ, Λ, υ, ə |
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4. Lip participation |
Rounded (labialized) - u:, υ, a:, ↄ: |
Unrounded (non-labialized) - I, e, æ, Λ, υ, ə, i:, a:, 3: |
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5. Vertical movement of the tongue
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6. Horizontal movement of the tongue |
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fully front |
front retracted |
central (mixed) |
back advanced |
fully back |
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High (close) |
narrow variety |
i: |
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u: |
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broad variety |
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I |
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υ |
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Mid (mid-open) |
narrow variety |
e |
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3: |
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broad variety |
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ə Λ, |
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Low (open) |
narrow variety |
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ↄ |
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broad variety |
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æ |
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ↄ: a: |
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4. The articulatory classification of the english consonants
The system of the English consonants was investigated by well-known British, Russian and Ukrainian phoneticians: Henry Sweet, Daniel Jones, Alfred Ch. Gimson, John C. Wells, V.A Vassilyev, G.P. Torsuyev, L.V. Shcherba and others.
The articulatory classification of consonants in English can be described according to the following criteria:
1) active organ(s) of speech and the place of obstruction;
2) type or kind of articulatory obstruction and manner of noise production.
Active organ, place of
o
Type of ob- struction, manner of the production of noise |
Labial |
Lingual |
Pharyngeal |
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Forelingual |
Medio-lingual |
Back lingual |
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bilabial |
labio-dental |
interdental |
alveolar |
post-alveolar |
palato-alveolar |
palatal |
velar |
glottal |
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Occlusives |
plosives |
p, b |
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t, d |
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k, g |
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nasal sonorants |
m |
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n |
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ŋ |
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Constrictives |
fricatives |
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f,v |
ð, θ |
s, z |
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∫, ʒ |
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h |
sonorants |
w |
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l |
r |
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j |
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Affricates |
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t∫, d ʒ |
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bstruction