Free Printable Worksheets for learning Phonetics at the College level

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Phonetics

Phonetics is the study of the sounds used in speech. It is concerned with the physical properties of sounds and how these are produced, transmitted and perceived.

Key Concepts

Phonemes

A phoneme is the smallest unit of sound that can change the meaning of a word. For example, the difference between the words bat and pat is the phoneme /b/ and /p/ respectively.

Articulation

The production of speech sounds involves a complex coordination of movements in the vocal tract. These movements are used to shape the sound waves produced by the vocal folds into the sounds of speech that we hear.

IPA

The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) is a system of phonetic notation that uses symbols to represent each sound in a language. It is used by linguists, speech therapists, and others to transcribe the sounds of speech.

Acoustics

Phonetics examines the physical properties of speech sounds, including their acoustic properties. Acoustic analysis can be used to study the frequencies, amplitudes, and durations of speech sounds.

Important Information

  • Vowels are produced with an open vocal tract and with no obstruction of the airflow. They are generally longer in duration than consonants.
  • Consonants are produced by obstructing or partially obstructing the airflow. They can be further classified according to the type and place of articulation (e.g. bilabial, labiodental, alveolar).
  • Syllables are units of sound that consist of one or more vowel sounds pronounced together with any accompanying consonant sounds.
  • Stress refers to the relative emphasis placed on different syllables in a word. In many languages, stress can change the meaning of a word (e.g. present as a noun versus present as a verb).
  • Phonetic transcription is a way of representing the sounds of speech using the symbols of the IPA.

Takeaways

  • Phonetics is the study of speech sounds.
  • Phonemes are the smallest units of sound that can change the meaning of a word.
  • The IPA is used to transcribe the sounds of speech.
  • Vowels and consonants differ in terms of how they are produced, and syllables can be composed of both types of sounds.
  • Stress and phonetic transcription are important concepts in phonetics.

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Word Definition
Phoneme The smallest unit of sound that can change the meaning of a word
Vowel A speech sound made with no blockage of the vocal tract
Consonant A speech sound made with partial or complete blockage of the vocal tract
Pronunciation The way a word is spoken, including its syllables, stress, and intonation
Articulation The way in which speech sounds are formed
Diphthong A combination of two vowel sounds pronounced in one syllable
Nasal A consonant sound made with the soft palate lowered, allowing air to pass through the nose
Alveolar A sound produced by the tongue touching the alveolar ridge behind the upper teeth
Palatal A sound produced by the tongue touching the palate (roof) of the mouth
Labial A sound produced with the lips, such as p, b, and m
Glottal A sound produced by the glottis, or the opening between the vocal cords, such as the h sound in have
Voiced A sound made with the vibration of the vocal cords, such as z or v
Unvoiced A sound made without the vibration of the vocal cords, such as s or f
Syllable A unit of sound consisting of one or more vowel sounds alone or with accompanying consonant sounds
Stress Emphasis or force placed on a syllable or word in speech
Intonation The pattern of pitch changes in speech, conveying meaning or emotion
Accent The distinctive way in which a group of people in a specific region or country pronounce words
Articulatory Phonetics The study of how speech sounds are articulated and perceived
Acoustic Phonetics The study of the physical properties of speech sounds, such as frequency and amplitude
Perceptual Phonetics The study of how listeners perceive and interpret speech sounds

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Phonetics Study Guide

Introduction

Phonetics is the study of the production, transmission, and reception of the sounds of speech. It plays an important role in understanding language and communication. This study guide will help you understand key concepts and terminology related to phonetics.

Articulatory Phonetics

Articulatory phonetics involves the study of how speech sounds are produced by the human vocal tract. This includes understanding the role of the vocal cords, tongue, lips, teeth, and other parts of the mouth.

  • Consonants: Sounds produced by constructing or constricting airflow. They can be voiced (using the vocal cords) or voiceless.
  • Vowels: Sounds produced by altering the shape of the oral cavity without constriction of airflow. There are different types of vowels including tense, lax, and diphthongs.

Acoustic Phonetics

Acoustic phonetics involves the study of the physical properties of sound waves produced during speech, including pitch, loudness, and duration.

  • Pitch: The perceived highness or lowness of sound. It is determined by the frequency of vibrations.
  • Loudness: The perceived intensity of sound. It is determined by the amplitude (volume) of vibrations.
  • Duration: The length of time a sound or speech segment is produced.

Auditory Phonetics

Auditory phonetics involves the study of how speech sounds are perceived and processed by the human ear and brain.

  • Phoneme: The smallest unit of sound that distinguishes one word from another in a language.
  • Minimal pairs: A pair of words in a language that differ only by a single phoneme, for example, 'cat' and 'bat'.
  • Coarticulation: The tendency of speech sounds to overlap due to the rapid movement of the jaw and tongue during speech.

Transcription

Phonetic transcription is the process of representing speech sounds in written form. The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) is the most widely used system for phonetic transcription.

  • IPA symbols: A set of symbols used to represent the sounds of speech in phonetic transcription.
  • Diacritics: Additional marks added to IPA symbols to indicate specific features of speech sounds.

Conclusion

Phonetics is a complex and crucial area of linguistic study. Understanding the mechanisms of speech production, physical properties of sound waves, and the perception of speech sounds can help in fields such as speech pathology, language teaching, and forensic linguistics. Use this study guide to aid in your understanding of phonetics concepts and terminology.

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Phonetics Practice Sheet

Directions: For each of the following prompts, transcribe the given words into International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) symbols.

  1. Transcribe the following words:

    • dress
    • choose
    • wrap
    • chest
    • measure

  2. Transcribe the following words with different vowel sounds:

    • cat
    • kit
    • cot
    • caught
    • cut

  3. Transcribe the following words with different consonant sounds:

    • phone
    • thing
    • sue
    • zip
    • shoe

  4. Transcribe the following words with word stress:

    • photograph
    • telephone
    • preference
    • vocabulary
    • geography

  5. Transcribe the following minimal pairs:

    • hat / hot
    • bet / bat
    • pit / bit
    • sit / seat
    • lick / leak

  6. Transcribe the following sentences using IPA symbols for any allophonic variations:

    • She said she would show us some choice shoes.
    • The dark park was stark and far from the market.
    • I think this thin thing will sing well in the spring.
    • The tough coughs as he ploughs the dough.
    • I have a cold, so I might hold the old bowl.

  7. Transcribe the following words with syllabic consonants:

    • little
    • bottle
    • riddle
    • button
    • kitten

Phonetics Practice Sheet

Introduction

Phonetics is the study of the sounds of human speech. It is an important part of linguistics, and it can help us understand how language works. In this practice sheet, we will explore different aspects of phonetics, including the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), articulatory phonetics, and acoustic phonetics.

International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)

The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) is an alphabetic system used to represent the sounds of human speech. It is used by linguists, speech pathologists, and language teachers to accurately describe the sounds of different languages.

  1. What is the IPA?
  2. What is the purpose of the IPA?
  3. How is the IPA used by linguists, speech pathologists, and language teachers?
  4. What is the difference between a phoneme and a grapheme?
  5. How is the IPA used to represent the sounds of different languages?

Articulatory Phonetics

Articulatory phonetics is the study of how speech sounds are produced. It focuses on the parts of the body used to produce speech sounds, such as the lips, tongue, and teeth.

  1. What is articulatory phonetics?
  2. What parts of the body are used to produce speech sounds?
  3. What are the three main articulatory features of speech sounds?
  4. How do the lips, tongue, and teeth work together to produce speech sounds?
  5. What is the difference between a consonant and a vowel?

Acoustic Phonetics

Acoustic phonetics is the study of the physical properties of speech sounds. It focuses on the way sound waves travel through the air and how they are perceived by the listener.

  1. What is acoustic phonetics?
  2. What are the physical properties of speech sounds?
  3. What are the three main acoustic features of speech sounds?
  4. How do sound waves travel through the air?
  5. How are speech sounds perceived by the listener?

Phonetics Practice Sheet

Introduction

Phonetics is the study of the physical properties of speech sounds, or phonemes. It is a branch of linguistics that deals with the production, perception, and analysis of speech sounds. This practice sheet will help you learn the fundamentals of phonetics.

Directions

  1. Define the term phoneme.
  2. Describe the three areas of study within phonetics.
  3. Explain the difference between a phoneme and an allophone.
  4. Describe the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA).
  5. Identify the two types of vowel sounds.
  6. Explain the difference between voiced and voiceless sounds.
  7. List the four major types of consonant sounds.
  8. Describe the concept of assimilation.
  9. Explain the difference between free variation and conditioned variation.
  10. Explain the concept of coarticulation.

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Problem Answer
According to the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), what symbol represents the voiced alveolar fricative sound as in the word zebra? /z/
What are the three main parts of a syllable? onset, nucleus, coda
True or False: Vowels are always voiced. True
In English, what is the difference between a diphthong and a pure vowel sound? Give an example of each. A diphthong consists of two vowel sounds pronounced within the same syllable, while a pure vowel is a single vowel sound. Example of a diphthong: /aʊ/ as in out. Example of a pure vowel: /i/ as in meet.
What is the difference between a fricative and an affricate consonant sound? Give an example of each. A fricative is a consonant sound produced by forcing air through a narrow channel, while an affricate begins as a plosive stop sound and transitions into a fricative sound. Example of a fricative: /s/ as in snake. Example of an affricate: /tʃ/ as in church.
Which of the following is not a manner of articulation for consonant sounds in the IPA?
A. plosive
B. nasal
C. approximant
D. fused		 D. fused
According to the IPA, what symbol represents the voiceless alveolar plosive sound as in the word top? /t/
What is the difference between a voiced and voiceless consonant sound? Give an example of each. A voiced sound is produced when the vocal cords vibrate, while a voiceless sound is produced without vibration of the vocal cords. Example of a voiced sound: /z/ as in zebra. Example of a voiceless sound: /s/ as in snake.
What is phonology? How does it relate to phonetics? Phonology is the study of the sound systems within languages and how they are used to convey meaning. Phonetics deals with the physical aspects of speech sounds, such as their production and perception. Phonology is concerned with the abstract sound patterns that exist across different languages, while phonetics focuses more on the variations in sound production within a single language.
According to the IPA, what symbol represents the velar nasal sound as in the word sing? /ŋ/
Question Answer
What is the difference between a phoneme and an allophone? A phoneme is a unit of sound that conveys meaning in a language, while an allophone is a variant of a phoneme that is used in certain contexts.
What is the difference between a voiced and an unvoiced sound? A voiced sound is produced by vibrating the vocal cords, while an unvoiced sound is produced without vocal cord vibration.
What is the difference between a stop and a fricative? A stop is a consonant sound produced by a complete closure of the vocal tract, while a fricative is a consonant sound produced by a partial closure of the vocal tract.
What is the difference between a vowel and a consonant? A vowel is a sound made with an open vocal tract, while a consonant is a sound made with a partially or completely closed vocal tract.
What is the difference between a monophthong and a diphthong? A monophthong is a single vowel sound, while a diphthong is a combination of two vowel sounds.
What is the difference between a syllable and a phoneme? A syllable is a unit of pronunciation made up of one or more phonemes.
What is the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)? The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) is a system of symbols used to represent the sounds of all languages.
What is the difference between a phonetic transcription and a phonemic transcription? A phonetic transcription is a representation of the exact pronunciation of a word, while a phonemic transcription is a representation of the underlying phonemes of a word.
What is the difference between an affricate and a plosive? An affricate is a consonant sound produced by a combination of a stop and a fricative, while a plosive is a consonant sound produced by a complete closure of the vocal tract.
What is the difference between a nasal and a lateral consonant? A nasal consonant is a consonant sound produced with a partial or complete closure of the nasal cavity, while a lateral consonant is a consonant sound produced with a partial or complete closure of the lateral cavity.

Quiz on Phonetics

Questions Answers
What is the term for the study of speech sounds? Phonetics
What is the study of the sounds of language in general? Phonology
What is the study of how sounds are produced? Articulatory Phonetics
What is the study of how sounds are heard? Acoustic Phonetics
What is the study of how sounds are represented in writing? Phonemic Transcription
What is the study of how sounds are used in language? Phonotactics
What is the study of how sounds change over time? Historical Phonetics
What is the study of how sounds are used in speech? Phonetics of Speech
What is the study of how sounds are used in language? Pragmatic Phonetics
What is the study of how sounds are used in communication? Socio-Phonetics
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