Phonemes are the basic units of phonology that signal differences in meaning. They are the perceived speech sounds that make up words. This document discusses phonemes and pronunciation, describing phonemes, features of pronunciation including segmental features like vowels and consonants, and suprasegmental features. It also outlines the human speech apparatus and articulators involved in sound production.

1. ENGLISH PHONOLOGY:
PRONUNCIATION
LESSON 1
FEATURES OF PRONUNCIATION
The Description of Speech
Mgs. Nina Nesterenko

2. Phonemes
Phonemes are considered the basic unit of phonology.
The word phoneme is of Greek origin that means sound.
Phonemes are speech sounds as they are
perceived, that is to say, it is pronunciation
“A phoneme is a perceived unit
of language that signals a
difference in meaning when
contrasted to another”
Whenever we think of the individual sounds that are combined to
make up a word, we always think in terms of phonemes. When we
learn a new word, we should try to think about its phonetic
pronunciation. We also use phonemes as a reference point for
spelling.

3. Phonemes help us distinguish an uttered (spoken) word
from its written form.
EX: log dog fog
mob sob bob
- Rhyme - similar phonemes
“Pig Latin”- shifting vowel and consonant sounds.
Ex: mess → essmay chick → ickchay
father → atherfay star → arstay
- telephone connection
- accents: difficulty in understanding
a foreigner speaking your native language.

4. Features of Pronunciation
supra-
segmental
segmental
diphthongs voiced
vowels thriphthongs consonants
voiceless
short
Single
long
B C D F G H J K L M
N P Q R S T V X Z
W Y

5. rhythm intonation length
supra-segmental
syllable tone
elements of
structure
speech
utterance pitch
stress
word sentence
stress stress

6. 1.THE PHYSIOLOGICAL DIFFERENCE - the way the sounds
are produced.
2. ACOUSTIC DIFFERENCE - auditory quality of sounds
3. ROLE IN THE SYLLABLE - vowels are usually the centre
or nucleus of the syllable; consonants are marginal
Ex: dog, sail, book, phone, beau-ti-ful,
di-ffi-cult
4. VOICING - activity of the vocal cords.
belief - believe
baθ - baðe
All vowel sounds are voiced

7. Human Speech Apparatus
1. The RESPIRATORY apparatus (lungs) –
provides the air which is used in the pro-
duction of most speech sounds.
2. The LARYNX (vocal cords)-
generates most of the energy
in speech sounds.
3. The SUPRAGLOTTAL CAVITIES
(mouth, pharynx, nasal cavity), which act as
resonators for the laryngeal tone

8. According to their functions, the organs of speech
are sub-divided into:
ARTICULATORS and
PLACES ( POINTS) OF ARTUCULATION
The articulators are movable parts of
the vocal tract. They are organs or parts
of organs that produce speech .

9. Lower lip production of
p, b, m, t, v
Tongue, and
its three parts:
Tip Thin, then, din, line
Middle Sin, chin, join
Back Goal, coal, cold
Vocal cords All sounds

10. The PLACES (points) of Articulation
The PLACES (points) of Articulation - place in
the vocal tract where there is the greatest
degree of air obstruction
Upper lip Initial sounds like pill, bill
Upper front teeth and Initial sounds like fan, van
lower lip
Lower front teeth, with As in words like
the tip of tongue as articulator. think, thank, this, those
Alveolar ridge, located Initial sounds in the words like
behind the upper front teeth. ten, den, let, chin.

11. Thank you!
nnesterenko@utpl.edu.ec
To be continued!...
nnesterenko@utpl.edu.ec