introduction to linguistics n how do linguists use phonetics to analyse language?

Introduction to Introduction to LinguisticsLinguistics

How do linguists use phonetics How do linguists use phonetics to analyse language?to analyse language?


How do linguists use phonetics How do linguists use phonetics to analyse language?to analyse language?– English plural rule - 3 hypothesesEnglish plural rule - 3 hypotheses



English speakers simply memorize English speakers simply memorize all the plural forms in their all the plural forms in their language; it is not rule governedlanguage; it is not rule governed



English speakers simply memorize English speakers simply memorize all the plural forms in their all the plural forms in their language; it is not rule governedlanguage; it is not rule governed

If we make a list, we can see that If we make a list, we can see that there is some kind of pattern to there is some kind of pattern to English pluralsEnglish plurals



Then the rules seems to be:Then the rules seems to be: 1) /s/ if word ends in /p,t,k,f or 1) /s/ if word ends in /p,t,k,f or Ø// 2) /z/ if words ends in 2) /z/ if words ends in

/b,m,d,n,g,”ng”,ð,l,r,w,y/ or any vowel/b,m,d,n,g,”ng”,ð,l,r,w,y/ or any vowel 3) “es” if word ends in /s,z,”sh”, “dz”, 3) “es” if word ends in /s,z,”sh”, “dz”,

“ch” or j/“ch” or j/


How do linguists use phonetics to How do linguists use phonetics to analyse language?analyse language?– English plural rule - 3 hypothesesEnglish plural rule - 3 hypotheses

Then the rules seems to be:Then the rules seems to be: 1) /s/ if word ends in /p,t,k,f or 1) /s/ if word ends in /p,t,k,f or Ø// 2) /z/ if words ends in 2) /z/ if words ends in

/b,m,d,n,g,”ng”,ð,l,r,w,y/ or any vowel/b,m,d,n,g,”ng”,ð,l,r,w,y/ or any vowel 3) “es” if word ends in /s,z,”sh”, “dz”, 3) “es” if word ends in /s,z,”sh”, “dz”,

“ch” or j/“ch” or j/

– What about foreign words??What about foreign words??



Use of phonetic featuresUse of phonetic features– Plural is “es” if it attaches to an alveolar Plural is “es” if it attaches to an alveolar

fricative, an alveopalatal fricative or an fricative, an alveopalatal fricative or an alveopalatal affricate, otherwise:alveopalatal affricate, otherwise:

– The plural is /z/ (voiced) if last sound is The plural is /z/ (voiced) if last sound is voicedvoiced

– The plural is /s/ (voiceless) if last sound is The plural is /s/ (voiceless) if last sound is voicelessvoiceless



To investigate variations of a To investigate variations of a phoneme, ex. /t/phoneme, ex. /t/



To investigate variations of a To investigate variations of a phoneme, ex. /t/phoneme, ex. /t/

– realeased, aspirated [th] as in tin– unreleased, preglottalizex [?t] as in kit– Glottal stop [?], as in kitten or button– flap [D] , as in pitted– alveopalatal stop, as in truck– realeased, unaspirated, [t] as in stint


How do linguists use phonetics to How do linguists use phonetics to analyse language?analyse language?– Phonetic variations on a phonemic theme– Phonetic and Phonemic Representation– The Phoneme /t/ has variations, which

do not change the meaning of words [khit] vs. [khi?t]

– Phonetic difference Vine vs. Fine

introduction to linguistics n how do linguists use phonetics to analyse language?

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