Phonology

Phonology
Student’s Name
Institution
LING1402: Introduction to Language Structure
GRADED PHONETICS ACTIVITY(10 points = 2%)
Type name here:Type ID #:
ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS
Transcribe the following words phonetically as you would pronounce them. [3 points]
Believable __________ /bɪˈliːvəbl/_______________
align ___________ /əˈlʌɪn/______________
plainly ____________ /pleɪnli/______________
(a) Write down the full phonetic description of the sounds represented by the following symbols [3 points]
[f] – voiceless labiodental fricative
[ŋ] – voiced velar nasal
[o] – tense mid back rounded vowel
(b) Write down the phonetic symbols for the following sounds. [2 points]
Voiced interdental fricative – [ð]
Voiced bilabial Nasal – [m]
mid front unrounded lax vowel – [ɛ]
(iv)high back rounded lax vowel – [ʊ]
3. Discuss the importance of the velum in the production of speech (in no more than 4 sentences). [2 points]
During the speech, the velum is raised to prevent air from escaping through the nose. The velum is also an articulator that can be touched by the tongue. Therefore, it is used in speech to make the sounds g and k, also called velar consonants.
Phonology – Activity 3.1
ANSWER ALL THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONSExplain with the use of examples what a minimal pair is.
In phonology, the term minimal pair refers to two words that only have one sound difference. Examples of such pairs include cheer and jeer, hat and cat.
Minimal pairs in Italian -Consider the following data below
i.

[tiŋgo] ‘I dye’ [teŋgo] ‘I keep’ _____________YES_______________
ii. [Tinta] ‘dye’ [tɛnda] ‘tent’ _______________NO_____________
iii. [fuŋgo] ‘mushroom’ [faŋgo] ‘mud’ ________YES___________________
For each of the data above, answer YES if the paired words constitute a minimal pair and NO if they do not. Make sure you pay attention to the meanings given in single quotation marks. Give a reason for your answer.
(b) If YES, represent the contrastive phones using the formal phonological convention. (i.e. / /)
i. [tiŋgo] ‘I dye’ [teŋgo] ‘I keep’ _____________/ɪ/ and /ɛ/_______________
iii. [fuŋgo] ‘mushroom’ [faŋgo] ‘mud’ ________/ʌ/ and /a/___________________
Minimal Paris in English – Examine the following pairs of words and say whether it is a minimal pair. Support your answer.
(a) [laɪ] ‘lie’ [paɪ] ‘pie’ This ____is_____ (is/is not) a minimal pair.
Reason: the words differ only in one phonological element /l/ and /p/ and have different meanings _________________________________________________________________________________
(b) [slɪŋ] ‘sling’ [flɪŋ] ‘fling’ This ____is______ ( is/is not) a minimal pair.
Reason: the words differ only in one phonological element /s/ and /f/ and have different meanings _________________________________________________________________________________
(c) [fɪʃən] ‘fission’ [vɪʒən] ‘vision’ This ___is not______ (is/is not) a minimal pair.
Reason: the words differ in more than one phonological element /f/ and /v/ as well as /ʃ/ and /ʒ/ contrary to the requirements of a minimal pair. _________________________________________________________________________________
(d) [ste:k] ‘steak‘ [te:ks] ‘takes’ This ___is not______ (is/is not) a minimal pair.
Reason: The words vary by more than one sound contrary to the requirements of a minimal pair.______________________________________________________________________________