Phonetic basis. Articulatory basis: static and dynamic approaches

Phonetic basis suggests a number of the most typical pronunciation tendencies of the language. These tendencies are perceived by listeners as a certain “colouring” of the language under consideration.

Since phonetics deals with sounds and intonation, we distinguish between:

• articulatory (or organic) basis;

• Intonational (prosodic) basis.

Articulatory basis has 2 aspects:

1. the static aspect;

2. the dynamic aspect.

The static aspect is the position of the organs of speech provided a person does not speak (or when he is about to speak) and when an isolated sound is uttered. This position of the organs of speech is usually called ARTICULATOTY SETTING.

General tendencies of the articulatory setting of English:

1. The lips are spread and pressed tightly against the teeth.

2. The tip of the tongue is slightly curled back and is opposite the alveoli (but does not touch them!). So the tongue is drawn back from the teeth.

3. The middle and the back parts of the tongue are flattered and lowered (the back part in particular!).

4. The soft palate is raised, as in yawning. Such a position of the soft palate in combination with the lowered position of the back part of the tongue contributes to the increase of the mouth resonator.

General tendencies of the articulatory setting of Russian:

1. The lips are slightly rounded and with some speakers even protruded. The lips are not pressed against the teeth.

2. The tip of the tongue is put forward and touches the teeth.

3. The middle and the back parts of the tongue are slightly raised.

These differences in the articulatory settings of English & Russian are quite obvious, and Russian learners of English must be constantly aware of them when speaking English.

The dynamic aspect of the articulatory basis is the manner of transition from a consonant to a vowel or from a vowel to a consonant within a syllable or at the junction of syllables/words. This aspect also suggests the dynamics of the articulation of vowels in stressed and unstressed syllables.

For ex., the manner of transition from a consonant to a vowel may be characterized either as loose or as close. In different languages it is difficult. In English it is loose, while in Russian it is close. Cf.: “niece” (n + i : s) and “низ” (нис). Of in the English the first pretonic vowel has a high degree of reduction, while in Russian it has a very low degree of reduction. Cf.: “suppose” – “сапок”.

Prosodic basis suggests a number of the most typical prosodic (intonational) patterns as well as the rhythmical contour, most characteristic of the language under consideration.

It is common knowledge, for ex., that the complex falling-rising tone is quite frequent in English, but this tone can never be heard in Standard Russian Pronunciation.

Principal and subsidiary variants of english phonemes

There are 2 types of allophones: