Phonetics 2
Chapter 6 the duration of voiced portions
A syllable exists of a few parts. Every syllable has a peak. The peak of a syllable is the vowel.
Consonants before a vowel are called the onset. Consonants after a vowel are called the coda. Both
the onset and the coda are optional. The peak and the coda together make rhyme.
Phonemic duration is the length of a phoneme in the tree. The lax vowels have lengths l, the tense
vowels have length ll. The ash symbol () is the exception, this is intermediate and has length l in the
tree.
Allophonic duration is the lengths of a phoneme in a phonological context. When a vowel is followed
by fortis, the allophonic duration is the same as the phonemic length. When a vowel is followed by
lenis or nothing, the allophonic duration is twice the phonemic length. For the ash symbol the rules
are a bit different. When the ash symbol is followed by fortis, the allophonic lengths is l. When the
ash symbol is followed by lenis or nothing, the allophonic length is llll.
A voiced portion can is a vowel + /l/ + any nasal. The allophonic duration of a voiced portion is the
same as the allophonic length of a vowel.
Chapter 8 the vowel of AN and RP
The vowel diagram is a diagram of the oral cavity where the tongue movement when producing
vowels can be shown.
In this diagram, all PR monophthongs are shown as well as Dutch words that come close to the RP
phonemes.
Another way to describe the quality of vowels is with the three-term label
Overall, Dutch pronunciation is too close and the vowels are too short.
Diphthongizing: pronouncing a long vowel slightly longer, almost making it sound like a diphthong.
This is wrong!
, Phonetics 2
Chapter 9 the vowels of RP and AN compared
Diphthongs and weak vowels
We can divide diphthongs in two categories.
Closing diphthongs, the target is closer the tongue glides up. (/)
Centering diphthongs, the tongue glides to the center of the diagram. (//)
Smoothing/monophthonging: pronouncing a diphthong in a way that a diphthong sounds more like a
monothong. The target disappears.
This is good!
Chapter 10 the consonants
Obstruents: consonants produced with a form of obstruction
Vowels are produced with a free flow of air, they are voiced. That is why sonorants are sometimes
called semi-vowels.
The description of consonants is also a three-term label. However, this label is different than the one
we use for the vowels.
1. State of the glottis
2. The manner of articulation
3. The place of articulation
State of the glottis:
Voiced (sonorants
Fortis (obstruents)
Lenis (obstruents)
The manner of articulation
Plosives: obstruents produced starting with total obstruction, followed by a sudden release of air
Fricatives: obstruents produced with a narrowing, resulting in friction of the air stream
Affricates: obstruents beginning like plosives, ending like fricatives
Nasals: sonorants produced with a relatively free escape of air through the nose
Approximants: sonorants produced with a relatively free escape of air through the mouth
Chapter 6 the duration of voiced portions
A syllable exists of a few parts. Every syllable has a peak. The peak of a syllable is the vowel.
Consonants before a vowel are called the onset. Consonants after a vowel are called the coda. Both
the onset and the coda are optional. The peak and the coda together make rhyme.
Phonemic duration is the length of a phoneme in the tree. The lax vowels have lengths l, the tense
vowels have length ll. The ash symbol () is the exception, this is intermediate and has length l in the
tree.
Allophonic duration is the lengths of a phoneme in a phonological context. When a vowel is followed
by fortis, the allophonic duration is the same as the phonemic length. When a vowel is followed by
lenis or nothing, the allophonic duration is twice the phonemic length. For the ash symbol the rules
are a bit different. When the ash symbol is followed by fortis, the allophonic lengths is l. When the
ash symbol is followed by lenis or nothing, the allophonic length is llll.
A voiced portion can is a vowel + /l/ + any nasal. The allophonic duration of a voiced portion is the
same as the allophonic length of a vowel.
Chapter 8 the vowel of AN and RP
The vowel diagram is a diagram of the oral cavity where the tongue movement when producing
vowels can be shown.
In this diagram, all PR monophthongs are shown as well as Dutch words that come close to the RP
phonemes.
Another way to describe the quality of vowels is with the three-term label
Overall, Dutch pronunciation is too close and the vowels are too short.
Diphthongizing: pronouncing a long vowel slightly longer, almost making it sound like a diphthong.
This is wrong!
, Phonetics 2
Chapter 9 the vowels of RP and AN compared
Diphthongs and weak vowels
We can divide diphthongs in two categories.
Closing diphthongs, the target is closer the tongue glides up. (/)
Centering diphthongs, the tongue glides to the center of the diagram. (//)
Smoothing/monophthonging: pronouncing a diphthong in a way that a diphthong sounds more like a
monothong. The target disappears.
This is good!
Chapter 10 the consonants
Obstruents: consonants produced with a form of obstruction
Vowels are produced with a free flow of air, they are voiced. That is why sonorants are sometimes
called semi-vowels.
The description of consonants is also a three-term label. However, this label is different than the one
we use for the vowels.
1. State of the glottis
2. The manner of articulation
3. The place of articulation
State of the glottis:
Voiced (sonorants
Fortis (obstruents)
Lenis (obstruents)
The manner of articulation
Plosives: obstruents produced starting with total obstruction, followed by a sudden release of air
Fricatives: obstruents produced with a narrowing, resulting in friction of the air stream
Affricates: obstruents beginning like plosives, ending like fricatives
Nasals: sonorants produced with a relatively free escape of air through the nose
Approximants: sonorants produced with a relatively free escape of air through the mouth
