theoretical_phonetics / Cockney consonants

RP

Articultary changes

Auditory changes

Phonological changes

Reasons

p

[p] is heavily aspirated (more than in RP)

Certain consonants in Cockney differ from the RP ones. The difference takes place because of the rule of the economy of articultory effort.

1. Aspiration is a slight puff of breath which is heard after the explosion of [p, t , k] in initial position. More air is exhalated, it’s easier to break an obstruction. In case with [t] in particular may be realized as an affricate. That is instead of explosion being followed by more or less unimped breath, it’s followed by a clear fricative segment like [s]. E.g. RP top [t’h’op] – Cockney [tsop]

2. Interchanges

-[Ө] (interdental) and [f] (labio - dental) } both fricative, constrictive

-[ð] (interdental) and [v] (labio - dental) } both fricative, constrictive =>distant assimilation } non-verbal movements => the economy of effort

- [ð] => [d]

* the function frequency of articulatory movements: more consonants are produced with the tip of the tongue between the teeth:

* distant assimilation. This [dis], them [dəm]. [l] and [v] from the articulatory point of view – the tip of the tongue is in contact with alveolar ridge (in Cockney not in contact), the back of the tongue is i......, the parts of the tongue are lowered => no obstruction takes place=> simplification. From the auditory poin of view [l] is considered to be a vowel when it precedes a consonant and follows a vowel, or when it is syllabic. [l] is sonorant (the sound in production of which voice prevails over noise) vowel is voice. So the noise is omitted. Completely and only voice is left=> simplification. [n] and [ŋ] – nasal sonorants, occlusive, back – lingual -> apico – alveolar.

- the functional frequency of the articulatory movements: more consonants are produced with the tip of the tongue against the top of the alveolar ridge.

- the tip of the tongue is more flexible and it’s easier to pronounce [n] than [ŋ]. E.g. anything [əniӨiŋk]. [ŋ] is prolonged, the vocal cords should vibrate for a long period of time=> to stop it the voiceless consonant [k] should be pronounced to let the tongue go down. [h] – the absence of this sound in pronunciation is caused, because active organs of speech don’t create any obstruction.

b

t

[t] is heavily aspirated (more than in RP) is affricated: [s] is heard before the vowel. E.g. top [tsop]

d

k

[k] is aspirated (more than in RP)

g

[?] is widely spread in Cockney speech even in position where it is not supposed to be: paper [pǽi?pə], butterfly [b۸?təflai]

f

The contrast between [f] and [Ө] is completely lost. E.g. thin [fin], booth [bu:f]

Interchange of /f/ and /Ө/, e.g. /fing/ thing

v

-interchange of /v/ and /w/. E.g. wery vell:

-interchange of /v/ and /ð/, e.g./fa:ve/ father

Ө

The contrast between [f] and [Ө] is completely lost. E.g. thin [fin], booth [bu:f]

ð

• the contrast between /ð/ and /v/ occasionally lost. E.g. weather [wevə]

• /ð/ in initial position is either dropped or replaced by [d]

-interchange of /v/ and /ð/, e.g. /fa:ve/ father

-/ð/ in initial position is either dropped or replaced by.

- [d], e.g. this [ðis], them [(d)əm]

s

z

Ş

3

h

[h] in unstressed position is almost invariably absent

Interchange of /h/ and /-/, e.g. “ ‘eart” for “heart” and “hart” for “art”

tŞ

d3

m

n

ŋ

- [ŋ] is replaced by [n] in word – final position. E.g. dancing [da:nsin]

- [ŋ] is replaced by [n] in word final position

- [ŋ] may be pronounced as [iŋk] in something

w

Interchange of /v/ and /w/. E.g. wery vell

j

r

l

- is considered to be a vowel when it precedes a consonant and follows a vowel, or when it is syllabic: milk [mivk], table [teibv]

[l] disappears completely, when the preceding vowel is [o;]