Reflection about phonology

 

1.       Spelling and symbols, organ of speech, airstream mechanism (pronunciation practice).

2.       Place of articulation.

3.       Manner of articulation.

4.       Vowels and diftongs.

5.       Phonetic Features.

6.       Minimal pairs and distinctive features, phonemes, phones, allophones, complementary distribution, free variation.

7.       Phonetic rules of English.

8.       Prosodic Suprasegmenal phonology (pronunciation practice, noun, verbs).

9.       Phonological rules.

10.   Morphophonemics.

 

First, we learn about Sound, spelling and symbols, organ of speech, airstream mechanism (pronunciation practice). In this material it is explained about phonetics is the study of speech sound and phonology is the study of sound patterns. Phonetic spelling is the representation of vocal sounds which express pronunciations of words. Phonetic symbols are used to represent. Sound is a vibration in air that stimulate the nerves inside the ears to create the sensation of hearing. It has 44 English sound. Divided in two categories; a vowel is a speech sound made with your mouth fairly open, the nucleus of a spoken syllable and consonant is a sound made with your mouth fairly closed. (B, C, D, F, JK, M, P, Q, S, T, V, X, Z). First group also explained about organ of speech. Organ of speech is the various organs of our mouth we use to produce speech sounds. In this material they also explained about airstream mechanism. Airstream mechanism is the method by which airflow is created in the vocal tract.

 

Second, we learn about place of articulation. In this material second group already explained about the place of articulation is another way observe how sounds are articulated. Place of articulation start from contact-vocal tract- active articulator-passive articulator. Place of articulators have bilabial, labio dental, dental, velar, alveolar, post alveolar, and glottal.

 

Third, we learn Manner of articulation. In this material third group already explained The manner of articulation is the way the airstream is affected as it flows from the lungs and out of the mouth and nose. In manner of articulation have Stop/plosives, Nasal, Fricative, Affricates, Approximant and Lateral.

 

Fourth, we learn about Vowels and diftongs. Vowel is a speech sound produced without significant constriction of the air flowing through the mouth. Vowels are produced with a relatively open vocal tract. Vowel sound can be divided into sets in a number of different ways, in terms of Voicing, in term of which part of the tongue is raised, distinguishing between front vowels, central vowels and back vowels, in term of which part of the tongue is raised, distinguishing between high vowels, mid vowels and low vowels, in terms of whether or not the lips are rounded or unrounded, and in terms of length, distinguishing between long vowels and short vowels. Diphthong is a vowel in which there is a change in quality during a single syllable, as the English word boy, buy and bow. Diphthongs can be analyzed as a sequence of two vowels or as vowel glide.

 

Fifth, we learned about Phonetic Features. Phonetic features are the parts of sound that can each be independently controlled by the articulators.  The type of phonetic features is major class features, manner features, place features, and lariyngeal features.

 

Sixth, we learned about minimal pairs and distinctive features, phonemes, phones, allophones, complementary distribution, free variation. Minimal pair in english is a pair of words that differs only in one sound. The two words of a minimal pair have a different meaning. Distinctive features are the most basic unit of phonological structure that distinguishes one sound from another within a language. For example, the feature [voice] distinguishes the two bilabial plosives: [p] and [b]. The sixth group also explained about phonemes are language-specific. In other words, phonemes that are functionally distinct in English (for example, /b/ and /p/) may not be so in another language. (Phonemes are customarily written between slashes, thus /b/ and /p/.) Different languages have different phonemes.

 

Seventh, we learned about Phonetic rules of English. Seventh group already explained about vowel sound and consonant sound. Vowel sound have single vowels and vowel diagraphs.

Single vowels: a,e,i, o,u,sometimes y and Vowel diagraphs: a single vowel is always long, the second silent: ai,ay,ea,ee,ei,ie,oa,oe,oo,ou,ow,ue,ui.  Consonants sound have Single consonant: All of the alphabet expect a,e,i,o,u. Consonant diagraphs: two consonants which together make one consonant sound. Basic diagraphs: ch,sh,th,wh,ng,nk. Other diagraphs: ck, ph, gh, wr, kn, gn, mn, mb. And blends: two or three consonants said together, each keeping its own sound: br,cr,dr,fr,gr,tr,scr,bl,cl,fl,gl,pl,sc,sk,sm,sn,sp,st,sw,tw.

 

Eighth, we learned about Prosodic Suprasegmenal phonology (pronunciation practice, noun, verbs).

 

Ninth, we learned about Phonological rules. In this material ninth group already explain Speaker’s knowledge of the language they use speech processes which happen naturally that can be understood by both speakers and listeners and how speech sounds form pattern is made. The types of Phonological rules are assimilation, dissimilation, insertion and deletion. Assimilation is common phonological process by which one sound becomes more like a nearby sounD. This can occur either within a word or between words.  Dissimilation is a rule in which a segment becomes less similar to another segment. Insert a syllabic or non- syllabic segment. Also known as Epenthesis. And deletion is removes a segment from certain phonetic contexts.

 

Tenth, we learned about Morphophonemics. In this material they are explained Morphophonemics is a study of the interaction between morphonological and phonetic processes.

 

My feeling when I took part in phonology lessons was that with this material, I was able to recognize letters and sound them properly and correctly. I also feel happy when during the teaching and learning process I can participate happily. I am also happy and proud when I can answer or ask questions when my friends present Phonology material.

 

After I studied Phonology, I wanted to apply the material I had learned in my own life. If in my life's journey ahead and I decide to make a final project with this material, then this material is the guide that I have.

That’s all my reflection about phonology and thank you so much for this semester.