Charateristic features of V + C

English Phonetics and Phonology

Two forms of English

---  written form

---  spoken form

For spoken / oral form, it involves the production of speech sounds and the mechanism involved.

Classification of speech sounds

Speech sounds can be classified into two main groups

---  Vowels

---  Consonants

I.  Vowel Speech Sounds (phonemes)

There is no obstruction of airstream in producing vowel speech sounds.

5 features to classify and distinguish the different vowels

    (Refer to the Quadrilateral Chart)

1.  the height of the tongue

     high / mid-high / low

2.  the advancement of the tongue

     front/ central / back

3.  lip rounding  (the shape of the lips)                 

     unround / half-round / round

4.  the state of the tongue

     tense / lax    

5.  length of monophthongs

     long / short

                            

II.  Consonant Speech Sounds  (phonemes)

       There is partial or complete obstruction of airstream in producing  

      consonant speech sounds.

        Consonant speech sounds are made either in oral cavity or nasal  

         cavity.

        3 features to classify and distinguish the different consonants

A.  Places of Articulation  (24)

     1.  Bilabial  [p, b, m, w]

     2.  Labiodental  [f, v]

     3.  Interdental  [θ, ð]

     4.  Alveolar  [t, d, s, z, l, r, n]

     5.  Palatal  [ʃ,  ʒ,  ʧ, ʤ, j]

     6.  Velar  [k, g, ŋ]

     7.  Glottal  [ h ]

B.  Manners of Articulation  (23)

     1.  Plosives / Stops  [p, b, t, d, k, g]  = 6

     2.  Fricatives          [f, v, θ, ð, s, z, ʃ,  ʒ, h] = 9   

     3.  Affricatives / Affricates   [ʧ, ʤ]

     4.  Approximants     [w, j]

         Liquids       Lateral                [l]                   

                           Retroflex              [r]

     5.  Nasals                  [m, n, ŋ]

C.  Phonation

     ----->  voiceless  / voiced consonants