Description of Polish obstruents, nasals and liquids

1. Classification of consonants................................................................................................................... 2

2. Stops..................................................................................................................................................... 2

2.1. Production.............................................................................................................................................2

2.2. Types of releases...................................................................................................................................3

3. Distribution........................................................................................................................................... 3

3.1. Glottal stop...........................................................................................................................................4

3.2. Exercises................................................................................................................................................43.2.1. p/, /b/ in consonant clusters........................................................................................................53.2.2. t/, /d/ in consonant clusters.........................................................................................................53.2.3. k/, /g/ in consonant clusters.........................................................................................................5

4. Fricatives............................................................................................................................................... 6

4.1. Atriculatory features.............................................................................................................................6

4.2. Distribution...........................................................................................................................................6

4.3. Exercises................................................................................................................................................84.3.1. f/, /v/ in consonant clusters.........................................................................................................84.3.2. s/, /z/ in consonant clusters.........................................................................................................84.3.3. ʃ/, /ʒ/ in consonant clusters.........................................................................................................94.3.4. ɕ/, /ʑ/ in contrast.........................................................................................................................94.3.5. ɕ/, /ʑ/ in consonant clusters........................................................................................................94.3.6. contrast /s/, /ʃ/, /ɕ/....................................................................................................................104.3.7. contrast /z/, /ʒ/, /ʑ/...................................................................................................................104.3.8. x/ in consonant clusters.............................................................................................................10

5. Affricates............................................................................................................................................. 11

5.1. Atriculatory features...........................................................................................................................11

5.2. Distribution.........................................................................................................................................12

5.3. Exercises..............................................................................................................................................125.3.1. t^s/, /d^z/ in contrast and in consonant clusters.......................................................................125.3.2. t^ʃ/, /d^ʒ/ in contrast and in consonant clusters.......................................................................135.3.3. t^ɕ/, /d^ʑ/ in contrast and in consonant clusters.......................................................................135.3.4. t^s/, /t^ʃ/ and /t^ɕ/ in contrast..................................................................................................135.3.5. d^z/, /d^ʒ/ and /d^ʑ/ in contrast...............................................................................................145.3.6. Affricates in contrast with plosive+fricative...............................................................................14

6. Nasals................................................................................................................................................. 15

6.1. General remarks..................................................................................................................................15

6.2. Distribution.........................................................................................................................................15

6.3. Exercises..............................................................................................................................................166.3.1. Contrast /ɲ/ - /n/........................................................................................................................166.3.2. Contrast /ɲ/ - /m/.......................................................................................................................166.3.3. Contrast /ɲ/ - /n/ - /m/...............................................................................................................166.3.4. N/ before /k/ and /g/.................................................................................................................166.3.5. Nasal clusters /mn/, /mɲ/, /ɲm/................................................................................................166.3.6. Realization of /nɲ/ (alternatively pronounced as geminate /ɲɲ/).............................................17

7. Liquids................................................................................................................................................. 17

7.1. Lateral approximant /l/.......................................................................................................................17

7.2. Trill /r/.................................................................................................................................................17

7.3. Exercises..............................................................................................................................................187.3.1. Contrast /r/ - /l/..........................................................................................................................187.3.2. r/ and /l/ in consonants clusters.................................................................................................18

1. Classification of consonants

obstruents:noticeably restricted airflow, the articulators are in complete closure or close approximation

stricture type

stops:complete closure of two articulators + velic closurefricatives:narrowing of two articulators + a turbulent airstreamaffricates:sequence of a plosive+fricative (involving a specific transition)

sonorants:free passage of the airflow through the vocal tract; no restriction in the oral tract or nasal tract opened

consonants

nasals:complete closure of two articulators + soft palate loweredliquidsa)lateral approximants:the obstruction is located centrally and the air passes out at the sideb) trills:articulator set in vibration by the airstreamglides (approximants):approximation of two articulators with no turbulent airstream

vowels

oral:free passage of the airflow through the vocal tract, nasal tract blocked offnasal:free passage of the airflow through the vocal tract: nasal tract opened

2. Stops

2.1. Production

Depending on the place of articulation we distinguish the following stops in Polish:a) bilabial: /p/, /b/b) post-dental: /t/, /d/c) palatal: /c/, /ɟ/d) velar: /k/, /g/

In general, the production of stops involves three stages:a) closing: the active articulator is raised to come in a firm contact with the passive articulatorb) closure: the articulators remain in contact and the pressure of the airstream behind the closure

is built upc) release: the active articulator is lowered and the air is released with some force

In connected speech the closing and/or release stage may be missing. The closure stage is what decides whether the sound is a stop or not.

If a stop follows a homorganic stop (i.e. a stop of the same place of articulation) then there is no closing stage, e.g. dąb /domp/, zmoknięty /zmokɲenty/If a stop precedes a homorganic stop then its release stage is missing e.g. “to jest dom”The same phenomena are observed if two identical plosives follow one another e.g. “jest to”

2.2. Types of releases

Depending on the context the release stage may involve different articulatory actions.a) Nasal release: It can occur in clusters of a plosive followed by a nasal (pm, bm, tn, dn, kɲ and

gɲ) of the same place of articulation: after the release of the closure the oral tract can still be blocked off (by the active articulator) and the pressure of the air increases to such an extent that it forces its way through the nasal tract by lowering velum for the nasal.

b) Lateral release: occurs in clusters of an post-dental plosive preceding an alveolar lateral approximant /l/ e.g. tlen (PL). The centre of the tongue tip remains in contact with the alveolar ridge for the /l/ and the built-up air is released when the sides of the tongue lower.

3. Distribution/p/, /b/, /t/, /d/, /k/ and /g/ do not occur before /i/ and /j/.

Before /i/ and /j/ palatal (or palatalized) variants are realized: /p,/, /b,/, /t,/, /d,/, /c/, /ɟ/. Palatalized /p,/ and /b,/ are pronounced with a greater degree of lip spreading and with the body of the tongue raised towards the hard palate comparing to non-palatal /p/ and /b/.

In case of dental /t,/ and /d,/ the place of articulation is moved to the back (i.e. towards the hard palate) the and in case of palatalized /c/, /ɟ/ more to the front of mouth comparing to the non-palatal variants.

/p,/

Clusters consisting of /k/ or /g/ followed by /ɨ/ are rare and occur mostly in words of a foreign origin (e.g. kynolog) or proper names (e.g. Kydryński, Kyrenia).

In Polish aspiration is not a regular feature of voiceless plosives as it is in English. It can occur, but it is speaker dependent rather than context dependent.

(There are two additional allophonic variants of dental /t/ and /d/ which are realized only before alveolar fricatives /ʃ/ and /ʒ/, and transcribed as /ḍ/ and /ṭ/ e.g. trzeba / ṭʃeba/, drzewo /ḍʒevo/.)

3.1. Glottal stop

In Polish it is realized only in the context of vowels when they occur word-initially, in the position of a hiatus (at the morpheme boundary: one ending and the other starting with a vowel) or pronounced in isolation e.g. nauka /naʔuka/, uiścić /ʔuʔiɕtɕitɕ/, o /ʔoʔ/.

/ɟ//c/

3.2. Exercises

3.2.1. /p/, /b/ in consonant clusters

dać-dbać dat^ɕ dbat^ɕdarzyć-obdarzyć daʒɨt^ɕ obdaʒɨt^ɕtak-ptak tak ptakkroki-kropki kroci kropcigór-gbur gur gburkacie-kapcie kat^ɕe kapt^ɕezadać-zbadać zadat^ɕ zbadat^ɕwić-wbić vit^ɕ vbit^ɕwieża-wierzba vjeʒa vjeʒbaTen gbur nie dba o swoje psy. ten gbur ɲe dba o sfoje psɨChłopcy mają podobne czapki, spodnie i kapcie. xwopt^sɨ majow~ podobne t^ʃapci spodɲe i

kapt^ɕeNad brzegiem rośnie wierzba płacząca i bzy. nad bʒeɟjem roɕɲe vjeʒba pwat^ʃont^sa i bzɨ3.2.2. /t/, /d/ in consonant clusters

len-tlen len tlenza-zda za zdakura-która kura kturałany-ładny wanɨ wadnɨusną-ustną usnow~ ustnow~dziesiąte-dziesiątce d^ʑeɕonte d^ʑeɕontt^semaki-matki maci matcilis-list lis listkosz-koszt koʃ koʃtkrzywa-krzywda kʃɨva kʃɨvdaMagda ma wyjazd z dworca w Bydgoszczy. magda ma vɨjazd z dvort^sa v bɨdgoʃt^ʃɨAktor był głodny, dlatego zjadł kotlet i sałatkę z octem.

aktor bɨw gwodnɨ dlatego zjatw kotled i sawatke z ot^stem

3.2.3. /k/, /g/ in consonant clusters

wjazd-gwiazd vjast gvjastgubić-zgubić gubit^ɕ zgubit^ɕZosia-Zośka zoɕa zoɕkawróżę-wróżkę vruʒe vruʃkerzep-grzeb ʒep gʒepakademiki-akademicki akademici akademit^scibrama-bramka brama bramkamina-gmina mina gminaono-okno ono oknona-gna na gnabania-bańka baɲa baɲkasunie-suknie suɲe sukɲepiła-piłka piwa piwkaMaleńkie dziecko biegnie do szkoły gminnej. maleɲcje d^ʑet^sko bjegɲe do ʃkowɨ gminnejSędzia zagwizdał gdy piłka wpadła do bramki. seɲd^ʑa zagvizdaw gdɨ piwka fpadwa do bramciZgubiłam gdzieś grzebień w knajpie. zgubiwam gd^ʑeʑ gʒebjeɲ f knajpjeZośka siedzi na oknie i żegna się z Wołgą. zoɕka ɕed^ʑi na okɲe i ʒegna ɕe z vowgow~

4. Fricatives

4.1. Atriculatory features

They are produced with a close approximation of active and passive articulator which form a narrow gap in the vocal tract. What is also critical in the production of fricatives is the mass and velocity of the air (Jassem). If the gap created by the articulators is small relative to the mass and velocity of the air, then the airstream from the lungs becomes disturbed, particles of the air start to vibrate irregularily (i.e. non-periodically) and the source of a friction is created. These non-periodical vibrations and the friction constitute the acoustic-auditory features of fricatives.

Depending on the location of the narrow gap between the active and passive articulators the following types of fricatives are distinguished:

a) labio-dental: /f/, /v/b) dental: /s/, /z/c) alveolar: /ʃ/, /ʒ/d) alveolo-palatal: /ɕ/, /ʑ/e) velar: /x/

4.2. Distribution

Voiced fricatives /v/, /z/, /ʒ/ and /ʑ/ do not occur word-finally – in this position the corresponding voiceless variants are realized (/f/, /s/, /ʃ/ and /ɕ/ respectively).

The alveolo-palatal /ɕ/, /ʑ/ occur mostly before vowels except for /ɨ/.

/ʒ/ /ʃ/

/f/, /v/, /s/, /z/, /ʃ/, /ʒ/ and /x/) before /i/ and /j/ are realized as palatalized variants: /f,/, /v,/, /s,/, /z,/, /ʃ,/, /ʒ,/ and /x,/). Comparing to their non-palatal counterparts they are articulated with the body of the tongue raised towards the hard palate.

In case of palatalized /f,/ and /v,/ the gap created by the approximating articulators is greater than that used in the production of non-palatal /f/ and /v/. Compare:

chwała vs. chwila: /xfawa/ /xf,ila/ wada vs. wina: /vada/ /v,ina/

In case of palatalized /s,/, /z,/, /ʃ,/ and /ʒ,/ the place of articulation is moved more to the back of the oral tract comparing to their non-palatalized (standard) counterparts. Compare:

sam vs. sinus: /sam/ /s,inus/koza vs. Zanzibar: /koza/ /zanz,ibar/szok vs. Sziwa: /ʃok/ /ʃ,iwa/żuk vs. reżim: /ʒuk/ /reʒ,im/

In case of /x,/ the place of articulation is moved more to the front of the oral tract comparing to the non-palatalized variant /x/. Compare:

chata vs. Chiny: /xata/ /x,inɨ/

/ʑ/ /ɕ/

/f,/

4.3. Exercises

4.3.1. /f/, /v/ in consonant clusters

chodzić-wchodzić xod^ʑit^ɕ fxod^ʑit^ɕnęka-wnęka neŋka vneŋkamawiać-wmawiać mavjat^ɕ vmavjat^ɕlew-wlew lef vlefrunie-równie ruɲe ruvɲebary-barwy barɨ barvɨdzik-dźwig d^ʑik d^ʑviksad-wsad sat fsatszedł-Szwed ʃet ʃfetSzwed żwawo wchodzi do wnętrza i wzywa pomoc.

ʃfed ʒvavo fxod^ʑi do vnentʃa i vzɨva pomot^s

Na dźwięk dzwonka łyżwiarz na chwilę przerwał ćwiczenia.

na d^ʑvjeŋg d^zvoŋka wɨʒvjaʒ na xfile pʃervaw t^ɕfit^ʃeɲa

Nie wmówisz mi, że właściciel hurtowni to równy gość.

ɲe vmuviʒ mi ʒe vwaɕt^ɕit^ɕel xurtovɲi to ruvnɨ goɕt^ɕ

4.3.2. /s/, /z/ in consonant clusters

myć-zmyć mɨt^ɕ zmɨt^ɕnać-znać nat^ɕ znat^ɕniknąć-zniknąć ɲiknoɲt^ɕ zɲiknoɲt^ɕzielenieć-zzielenieć ʑeleɲet^ɕ zʑeleɲet^ɕżyć-zżyć ʒɨt^ɕ zʒɨt^ɕkoła-kozła kowa kozwamarnie-marznie marɲe marzɲeława-łzawa wava wzavator-tors tor torsszyć-zszyć ʃɨt^ɕ sʃɨt^ɕsiadać-zsiadać ɕadat^ɕ sɕadat^ɕchody-schody xodɨ sxodɨZziajany Zbyszek zsiadł z kozła i wszedł po schodach.

zʑajanɨ zbɨʃek sɕatw s kozwa i fʃetw po sxodax

Prezes wyznał, że zrzeszenie ma zszarganą opinię.

prezez vɨznaw ʒe zʒeʃeɲe ma sʃarganow~ opiɲe

Zamarzam i jestem zmęczony, nie idę dziś na kurs.

zamarzam i jestem zment^ʃonɨ ɲe ide d^ʑiʑ na kurs

/x,/

4.3.3. /ʃ/, /ʒ/ in consonant clusters

mara-marża mara marʒafar-farsz far farʃhan-chrzan xan xʃanrunie-różnie ruɲe ruʒɲepoła-poszła powa poʃwarama-szrama rama ʃramaloch-szloch lox ʃloxmąka-mrzonka moŋka mʒoŋkalej-lżej lej lʒejmer-szmer mer ʃmermyca-mszyca mɨt^sa mʃɨt^samija-żmija mija ʒmijaW oberży chłopy żrą dorsza z chrzanem i żłopią piwo.

v oberʒɨ xwopɨ ʒrow~ dorʃa s xʃanem i ʒwopjow~ pivo

Żniwa zniszczyła mżawka i szron. ʒɲiva zɲiʃt^ʃɨwa mʒafka i ʃronDalszą trasę przeszła czarnym szlakiem. dalʃow~ trase pʃeʃwa t^ʃarnɨm ʃlacjemUlżyło mu że zrzucił jarzmo i koszmar się skończył.

ulʒɨwo mu ʒe zʒut^ɕiw jaʒmo i koʃmar ɕe skoɲt^ʃɨw

Nie pieprz Pietrze wieprza pieprzem, bo przepieprzysz pieprzem wieprza.

ɲe pjepʃ pjetʃe vjepʃa pjepʃem bo pʃepjepʃɨʃ pjepʃem vjepʃa

4.3.4. /ɕ/, /ʑ/ in contrast

śle-źle ɕle ʑlesioło-zioło ɕowo ʑowoBasia-bazia baɕa baʑałasić-łazić waɕit^ɕ waʑit^ɕrasie-razie raɕe raʑepasie-pazie paɕe paʑenieśli-nieźli ɲeɕli ɲeʑliKasia-Kazia kaɕa kaʑadusi-duzi duɕi duʑiŚledczy odnaleźli ściganego śledząc ślady na ścieżce.

ɕlett^ʃɨ odnaleʑli ɕt^ɕiganego ɕled^zont^s ɕladɨ na ɕt^ɕeʃt^se

Zimą jadam ziemniaki z kozim serem i ziołami. ʑimow~ jadam ʑemɲaci s koʑim serem i ʑowami

Ziutek i Stasiu to duzi chłopcy. ʑuteɟ i staɕu to duʑi xwopt^sɨKasia z Kaziem to źle dobrana para. kaɕa s kaʑem to ʑle dobrana para

4.3.5. /ɕ/, /ʑ/ in consonant clusters

pisz-śpisz piʃ ɕpiʃnić-śnić ɲit^ɕ ɕɲit^ɕBaś-baśń baɕ baɕɲLena-leśna lena leɕnarany-raźny ranɨ raʑnɨlepy-ślepy lepɨ ɕlepɨzielenieć-zzielenieć ʑeleɲet^ɕ zʑeleɲet^ɕkole-koźle kole koʑle

miał-śmiał mjaw ɕmjawsinieć-zsinieć ɕiɲet^ɕ sɕiɲet^ɕWolisz baśń o Królowej Śniegu czy Śpiącej Królewnie?

voliʒ baʑɲ o krulovej ɕɲegu t^ʃɨ ɕpjont^sej krulevɲe

Na widok żółwia ślimak wyraźnie zzieleniał z zazdrości.

na vidog ʒuwvja ɕlimag vɨraʑɲe zʑeleɲaw z zazdroɕt^ɕi

To źle, że rozsiewasz te śmieszne plotki. to ʑle ʒe rosɕevaʃ te ɕmjeʃne plotci

4.3.6. contrast /s/, /ʃ/, /ɕ/

syna-szyna-sina sɨna ʃɨna ɕinaSara-szara-siara sara ʃara ɕarasyta-szyta-sita sɨta ʃɨta ɕitasali-szali-siali sali ʃali ɕalikasa-kasza-Kasia kasa kaʃa kaɕaryś-ryż-rys rɨɕ rɨʃ rɨskosy-koszy-kosi kosɨ koʃɨ koɕinosy-noszy-nosi nosɨ noʃɨ noɕicisy-ciszy-cisi t^ɕisɨ t^ɕiʃɨ t^ɕiɕipasę-paszę-pasie pase paʃe paɕeSzedł Sasza suchą szosą w czasie suszy. ʃetw saʃa suxow~ ʃosow~ f t^ʃaɕe suʃɨKasia zanosi koszyk z kaszą do kasy. kaɕa zanoɕi koʃɨk s kaʃow~ do kasɨWiesia wiesza na krześle siennik w szarej poszewce.

vjeɕa vjeʃa na kʃeɕle ɕenɲik f ʃarej poʃeft^se

4.3.7. contrast /z/, /ʒ/, /ʑ/

zonie-żonie-zionie zoɲe ʒoɲe ʑoɲegrozę-grożę-grozie groze groʒe groʑekozę-korze-kozie koze koʒe koʑegazę-gaże-gazie gaze gaʒe gaʑemuzę-murze-muzie muze muʒe muʑełzę-łże-łzie wze wʒe wʑepozę-porze-pozie poze poʒe poʑeKozie i zebrze wystają żebra. koʑe i zebʒe vɨstajow~ ʒebraW wazie jest zimna zupa ziemniaczana z zieleniną.

v vaʑe jezd ʑimna zupa ʑemɲat^ʃana z ʑeleɲinow~

Kazia wiezie w wozie bazie i zioła. kaʑa vjeʑe v voʑe baʑe i ʑowaWróżę Rózi duży sukces i życie usłane różami. vruʒe ruʑi duʒɨ sukt^sez i ʒɨt^ɕe uswane ruʒami

4.3.8. /x/ in consonant clusters

ciało-chciało t^ɕawo xt^ɕawołodzie-chłodzie wod^ʑe xwod^ʑemurka-chmurka murka xmurkaronić-chronić roɲit^ɕ xroɲit^ɕfalą-chwalą falow~ xfalow~jad-jacht jat jaxttnie-tchnie tɲe txɲespiż-spichrz spiʃ spixʃzmierz-zmierzch zmjeʃ zmjeʃxCzy masz ochotę na szachy? t^ʃɨ maʒ oxote na ʃaxɨ

Halinka macha chustką na odchodne. xaliŋka maxa xustkow~ na otxodneChcę popłynąć jachtem do zachodnich Włoch. xt^se popwɨnoɲd^ʑ jaxtem do zaxodɲix vwoxO zmierzchu schronił się przed chłodem w chatce Stacha.

o zmjeʃxu sxroɲiw ɕe pʃet xwodem f xatt^se staxa

5. Affricates

5.1. Atriculatory features

They are not very common in the languages of the world. Usually, if a language has affricates they are represented by a small number of variants. In this respect Polish is exceptional as it distinguishes three types of affricates:

a) dental: /d^z/, /t^s/

b) alveolar: /d^ʒ/, /t^ʃ/

c) alveolo-palatal: /d^ʑ/, /t^ɕ/

To some extent, affricates are phonetically similar to clusters of a plosive followed by a fricative, because they involve a closing stage, a closure and a release stage (-> plosive), and a friction (-> fricative). What distinguishes affricates from such clusters is the transition between the two segments. In case of Plo+Fri clusters the transition is sudden (the active articulator is swiftly and fully lowered) is accompanied by an explosion. Affricates are characterized by a gradual transition with no release

/d^z/ /t^s/

/d^ʒ/ /t^ʃ/

/d^ʑ/ /t^ɕ/

stage: the active articulator remains close to the passive articulator resulting in friction as the air passes between them. The articulation of a fricative segment of an affricate starts before the closure is released (so called open transition) as oppossed to Plo+Fri clusters where it is preceded by the release of the closure (closed transition). Compare:trzy vs. czyzatrzyma vs. zaczynadrzewo vs. dżem

5.2. Distribution

Alveolo-palatal /t^ɕ/ and /d^ʑ/ do not occur before /ɨ/.

Voiced affricates /d^z/, /d^ʒ/ and / d^ʑ / do not occur word-finally – in this position the corresponding voiceless variants are realized (/t^s/, /t^ʃ/ and /t^ɕ/ respectively).

/t^s/, /d^z/, /t^ʃ/ and /d^ʒ/ before /i/ and /j/ are realized as palatalized variants: /t^s ,/, /d^z,/, /t^ʃ,/ and /d^ʒ,/. Comparing to their non-palatalized counterparts they are articulated with the body of the tongue raised towards the hard palate. Compare:

owoce vs. lekcja: /ovot^se/, /lekt^s,ja/dzwon vs. wódz (i armia): /d^zvon/, /vud^z, i armja/człowiek vs. Chile: /t^ʃwovjek/, /t^ʃ,ile/dżudo vs. dżin: /d^ʒudo/, /d^ʒ,in/

5.3. Exercises

5.3.1. /t^s/, /d^z/ in contrast and in consonant clusters

noce-nodze not^se nod^zeprace-Pradze prat^se prad^zeracą-radzą rat^sow~ rad^zow~vice-widzę vit^se vid^zerace-Rabce rat^se rapt^secena-scena t^sena st^senaowa-owca ova oft^safale-wcale fale ft^salewał-cwał vaw t^sfawCelina spędza całe noce nudząc się i nucąc piosenki.

t^selina spend^za t^sawe not^se nud^zont^s ɕe i nut^sont^s pjoseŋci

Widzę jak prezes z vice prezesem radzą o cle. vid^ze jak prezez z vit^se prezesem rad^zow~ o t^sle

W Pradze robią operację rdzenia za bezcen. f prad^ze robjow~ operat^sje rd^zeɲa za best^sen

5.3.2. /t^ʃ/, /d^ʒ/ in contrast and in consonant clusters

czemu-dżemu t^ʃemu d^ʒemuczyn-dżyn t^ʃɨn d^ʒɨnczip-dżip t^ʃip d^ʒipczapa-szczapa t^ʃapa ʃt^ʃapaszyty-szczyty ʃɨtɨ ʃt^ʃɨtɨłowy-łowczy wovɨ woft^ʃɨłapać-człapać wapat^ɕ t^ʃwapat^ɕczytać-sczytać t^ʃɨtat^ɕ st^ʃɨtat^ɕczasy-wczasy t^ʃasɨ ft^ʃasɨNa wczasach często czytuję kiczowate na ft^ʃasax t^ʃew~sto t^ʃɨtuje cit^ʃovate

czasopisma. t^ʃasopismaSłudzy maharadży jeżdżą dżipem po dżungli. swud^zɨ maxarad^ʒɨ jeʒd^ʒow~ d^ʒipem po

d^ʒuŋgli

5.3.3. /t^ɕ/, /d^ʑ/ in contrast and in consonant clusters

ciało-działo t^ɕawo d^ʑawocielić-dzielić t^ɕelit^ɕ d^ʑelit^ɕjecie-jedzie jet^ɕe jed^ʑekocie-kodzie kot^ɕe kod^ʑegrocie-grodzie grot^ɕe grod^ʑesieci-siedzi ɕet^ɕi ɕed^ʑiwąż-wciąż vow~ʃ ft^ɕow~ʃkoś-kość koɕ koɕt^ɕsiana-ściana ɕana ɕt^ɕanawyje-wyjdzie vɨje vɨjd^ʑechała-chciała xawa xt^ɕawama-ćma ma t^ɕmakuka-kciuka kuka kt^ɕukawiemy-wiedźmy vjemɨ vjed^ʑmɨmaku-Maćku maku mat^ɕkuuczę-uczcie ut^ʃe ut^ʃt^ɕeMaciek ciągle wcina ciasta i potem cierpi. mat^ɕek t^ɕoŋgle ft^ɕina t^ɕasta i potem t^ɕerpiTa dziewczyna odziedziczyła wdzięk po dziadkach.

ta d^ʑeft^ʃɨna od^ʑed^ʑit^ʃɨwa vd^ʑeŋk po d^ʑatkax

Na uczcie wiedźma zadźgała księcia. na ut^ʃt^ɕe vjed^ʑma zad^ʑgawa kɕeɲt^ɕa

5.3.4. /t^s/, /t^ʃ/ and /t^ɕ/ in contrast

cesze-czesze-cieszę t^seʃe t^ʃeʃe t^ɕeʃemacek-maczek-Maciek mat^sek mat^ʃek mat^ɕeklecę-leczę-lecie let^se let^ʃe let^ɕepłac-płacz-płać pwat^s pwat^ʃ pwat^ɕprac-pracz-prać prat^s prat^ʃ prat^ɕciec-ciecz-cieć t^ɕet^s t^ɕet^ʃ t^ɕet^ɕCzy się Czesi cieszą, gdy się Czesio czesze? t^ʃɨ ɕe t^ʃeɕi t^ɕeʃow~ gdɨ ɕe t^ʃeɕo t^ʃeʃeCecylia czyta cytaty z Tacyta. t^set^sɨlja t^ʃɨta t^sɨtatɨ s tat^sɨta

5.3.5. /d^z/, /d^ʒ/ and /d^ʑ/ in contrast

dał-dział daw d^ʑawpodał-podział podaw pod^ʑawrodzinka-rodzynka rod^ʑiŋka rod^zɨŋkaradzę-radzie rad^ze rad^ʑebrudzę-brudzie brud^ze brud^ʑegardzę-gardzie gard^ze gard^ʑeogrodzę-ogrodzie ogrod^ze ogrod^ʑedrzwi-dźwig d^ʒvi d^ʑvikzjeżdżać-zjeździć zjeʒd^ʒat^ɕ zjeʑd^ʑit^ɕNa dźwięk dzwonka rodzinka skoczyła do drzwi. na d^ʑvjeŋg d^zvoŋka rod^ʑiŋka skot^ʃɨwa do

d^ʒvi

Od dżemu i rodzynek bolą mnie dziąsła. od d^ʒemu i rod^zɨneg bolow~ mɲe d^ʑow~swaDziś słucha dżezu i popija wino z dzbanka. d^ʑiɕ swuxa d^ʒezu i popija vino z d^zbaŋka

5.3.6. Affricates in contrast with plosive+fricative

/t^ʃ/ vs. /tʃ/czy-trzy t^ʃɨ tʃɨoczyma-otrzyma ot^ʃɨma otʃɨmarozpaczy-rozpatrzy rospat^ʃɨ rospatʃɨszczerze-strzeże ʃt^ʃeʒe stʃeʒeszczygła-strzygła ʃt^ʃɨgwa stʃɨgwaczysta-trzysta t^ʃɨsta tʃɨstabogacze-bogatsze bogat^ʃe bogatʃeuczę-utrze ut^ʃe utʃewieczny-wietrzny vjet^ʃnɨ vjet^ʃnɨmecze-metrze met^ʃe metʃeliczę-litrze lit^ʃe litʃepoczyta-podszyta pot^ʃɨta potʃɨtakrucze-krótsze krut^ʃe krutʃe

/d^ʒ/ vs. /dʒ/dżem-drzemka d^ʒem dʒemkadrzwi-drzewo d^ʒvi dʒevogadżet-kadrze gad^ʒet kadʒedidżej-mądrzej did^ʒej mondʒejbrydże-biodrze bryd^ʒe bjodʒe

sentencesCzy widzisz te trzy drzewka obok drzwi? t^ʃɨ vid^ʑiʃ te tʃɨ dʒefka obog d^ʒviDidżej mógłby mądrzej dobierać repertuar. did^ʒej mugwbɨ mondʒej dobjerad^ʑ repertuarPo meczu w metrze jest dużo kibiców. po met^ʃu v metʃe jezd duʒo cibit^sufZjadł naleśniki z dżemem i uciął sobie drzemkę. zjadw naleɕɲici z d^ʒemem i ut^ɕow sobje

dʒemkeW Szczebrzeszynie chrząszcz brzmi w trzcinie. f ʃt^ʃebʒeʃɨɲe xʃow~ʒd^ʒ bʒmi f t^ʃt^ɕiɲeBezczeszczenie cietrzewia cieszy moje czcze trzewia.

best^ʃeʃt^ʃeɲe t^ɕetʃevja t^ɕeʃɨ moje t^ʃt^ʃe tʃevja

Czy rak trzyma szczypcami strzęp szczawiu, czy trzy części trzciny?

t^ʃɨ rak tʃɨma ʃt^ʃɨpt^sami stʃemp ʃt^ʃavju t^ʃɨ tʃɨ t^ʃew~ɕt^ɕi t^ʃt^ɕinɨ

6. Nasals

6.1. General remarks

Nasals are articulated with a complete closure in the oral tract, thus they constitute a type os stops. Contrary to production of stops, in the articulation of nasals the velum is lowered and the air flows through the nasal tract. Nasals are almost always voiced and only few languages contrast voiced and voiceless nasals (e.g. Burmese). Depending on the location of the closure formed by the active and passive articulators, the oral tract has greater or lesser effect on the auditory characteristics of nasals. Generally, if the closure is located in the front of the oral tract (i.e. closure formed by the upper and lower lip) the effect is greater (and as regards acoustics – the frequencies of the formants are lower).

In the production of Polish nasals the closure can be located in the following places:a) the lower and the upper lip (bilabial): /m/b) the tip of the tongue and upper teeth (dental): /n/c) the blade and the center of the tongue and the front of the hard palate (palatal): /ɲ/

d) back of the tongue and velum (velar): /ŋ/

6.2. Distribution

/m/, /n/ and /ɲ/ occur in all positions.

In the word–initial (pl: nagłos) or word–medial syllables (pl: śródgłos) /m/ and /n/ occur mostly before vowels except for /i/ (and /j/).

/ɲ/ does not occur before /ɨ/./ŋ/ is realized only in the middle of the word before /k/ and /g/ and as the second segment in the pronunciation of Polish nasal vowels.

Before /c/ and /ɟ/ /n/ is realized (the /ŋ,/ variant is also possible, see below).

In specific contexts the following allophones of the nasal phonemes are realized:a) palatalized /m,/ and /ŋ,/:

they are articulated with the body of the tongue protruding and raised towards the hard palate

palatalized /m,/ is realized before /i/ (and /j/) at the end of the word or followed by a consonant, vowel /e/, /a/, /o/ or /u/ (also /w/)

palatalized /ŋ,/ is pronounced in sequences: -ęki(-), -ęgi(-), -ąki(-), -ągi(-) e.g. ręki /reŋ,ci/, obcęgi /opt^seŋ, ɟi/, pociągi /pot^ɕoŋ, ɟi/

palatalized /ŋ,/ may optionally be realized instead of /ɲ/ when it occurs before /k/, /g/, /c/ and /ɟ/ e.g. bańka /baŋ,ka/, mańkut /maŋ,kut/

b) alveolar /ṇ/: occurs only before alveolar affricates /t^ʃ/ and /d^ʒ/ e.g. męczyć /meṇt^ʃɨt^ɕ/, tęcza / /teṇt^ʃa/, sączek /soṇt^ʃek/

c) voiceless nasals: occur optionally in the context of voiceless consonants and/or after a voiceless consonant before a pause e.g. czosnkowy, pieśń

6.3. Exercises

6.3.1. Contrast /ɲ/ - /n/

len-leń len leɲran-rań ran raɲwon-woń von voɲsilne-silnie ɕilne ɕilɲekona-konia kona koɲawolnej-wolniej volnej volɲej

6.3.2. Contrast /ɲ/ - /m/

mim-nim mim ɲimmina-Nina mina ɲinadama-dania dama daɲakomin-Konin komin koɲinbrom-broń brom broɲdym-dyń dɨm dɨɲ

6.3.3. Contrast /ɲ/ - /n/ - /m/

sań-San-sam saɲ san samtoń-ton-tom toɲ ton tomczyń-czyn-czym t^ʃɨɲ t^ʃɨn t^ʃɨmlinia-lina-Lima liɲa lina limamiń-min-mim miɲ min mimrani-rany-ramy raɲi ranɨ ramɨJako mim, Nina pilnie ćwiczy robienie min. jako mim ɲina pilɲe t^ɕfit^ʃɨ robjeɲe minLecę tanią linią z Konina do Limy. let^se taɲow~ liɲow~ s koɲina do limɨTa woń to danie z dwóch dyń. ta voɲ to daɲe z dvux dɨɲ

6.3.4. /N/ before /k/ and /g/

ran-ranga ran raŋgabon-bongo bon boŋgoRen-ręka ren reŋkaranek-ranka ranek raŋkamantra-mango mantra maŋgotan-tango tan taŋgoMimo anginy, Anka od ranka do wieczora chodzi na castingi.

mimo aŋɟinɨ aŋka od raŋka do vjet^ʃora xod^ʑi na kastiŋgi

Podczas sparingu złamał rękę i wyleciał za doping.

pott^ʃas spariŋgu zwamaw reŋke i vɨlet^ɕaw za dopiŋk

6.3.5. Nasal clusters /mn/, /mɲ/, /ɲm/

nogi-mnogi noɟi mnoɟimą-mną mow~ mnow~nie-mnie ɲe mɲeduma-dumna duma dumnauczymy-uczyńmy ut^ʃɨmɨ ut^ʃɨɲmɨdzwony-dzwońmy d^zvonɨ d^zvoɲmɨMnich siedzi w zimnej i ciemnej komnacie. mɲix ɕed^ʑi v ʑimnej i t^ɕemnej komnat^ɕeMnóstwo gimnazjalistów nie umie mnożyć. mnustfo ɟimnazjalistuv ɲe umje mnoʒɨt^ɕ

6.3.6. Realization of /nɲ/ (alternatively pronounced as geminate /ɲɲ/)

rodzinie-rodzinnie rod^ʑiɲe rod^ʑinɲerani-ranni raɲi ranɲipanie-pannie paɲe panɲepłynie-płynnie pwɨɲe pwɨnɲegościnie-gościnnie goɕt^ɕiɲe goɕt^ɕinɲedzwoni-dzwonnik d^zvoɲi d^zvonɲikPanie mówią starannie i płynnie po angielsku. paɲe muvjow~ staranɲe i pwɨnɲe po aŋɟjelskuRanni czynnie brali udział w obronie miasta. ranɲi t^ʃɨnɲe brali ud^ʑaw v obroɲe mjasta

7. LiquidsThe main articulatory characteristic of liquids is that unlike obstruents they are produced with unhindered airflow. Contrary to vowels, their articulation involves some kind of obstruction in the oral tract. Liquids are classified as sonorants; they are almost always voiced and oral (as oppossed to nasals).

7.1. Lateral approximant /l/

The class of lateral approximants is represented in Polish by phoneme /l/. During the pronunciation of /l/ the tip of the tongue touches near the center of the alveolar ridge, but despite this closure the air flows out freely over the side of the tongue.

The phoneme /l/ is realized in all word-positions and contexts, but it does not occur before /i/, /ɨ/ and /j/*.

In specific contexts one of the allophones of /l/ can be realized:

a) *post-alveolar /l,/ is realized before /i/ and /j/ e.g. lipa, ljana

b) voiceless variant is realized after a voiceless consonant before a pause (e.g. kreśl), when preceded and followed by voiceless

consonants (e.g. kreślcie) or when preceded by a voiceless consonant and followed by a voiced consonant (e.g. wykreślny)

7.2. Trill /r/

/r/ is realized with the same place of articulation as /l/, but it involves different activity of the tongue. The sides of the tongue are in a firm contact with the upper teeth and gums, and at the same time the tip of the tongue vibrates and at moments it forms a closure with the center of the alveolar ridge. It can be said that what distinguishes /r/ from /l/ is the vibrating nature of the former and the lateral character of the latter.

Trill /r/ has a polisegmental structure which is the effect of the stages of the closure and release which occur one after another as the active articulator vibrates (this is reflected on the spectrogram, see the handout on acoustic phonetics).

The phoneme /r/ is realized in all word-positions and contexts, but it does not occur before /i/, and /j/*.

In specific contexts one of the allophones of /r/ can be realized:

a) *post-alveolar /r,/ is realized before /i/ and /j/ in words of foreign origin and at the word boundary e.g. riksza /r,ikʃa/, gloria /glor,ja/, wiatr i mgła /v,jatr, i mgwa/

b) voiceless variant is realized after a voiceless consonant before a pause (e.g. wiatr) and between voiceless consonants (e.g. krwawy)

7.3. Exercises

7.3.1. Contrast /r/ - /l/

initial positionlok-rok lok rok

lód-ród lut rutlen-Ren len renlas-raz las ras

medial positionpola-pora pola porakula-kura kula kuracela-cera t^sela t^serafilmy-firmy filmɨ firmɨpalę-parę pale pare

final positionpól-pór bul burból-bór dal dardal-dar bal barbal-bar pal par

after consonants in initial positionklan-kran klan kranblat-brat blat brattlen-tren tlen trenflak-frak flak frakplanie-pranie plaɲe praɲepluszy-prószy pluʃɨ pruʃɨ

sentencesCar wydał bal u podnóża gór kaukaskich. t^sar vɨdaw bal u podnuʒa gur kawkascixBar słynie z kojarzenia par. bar swɨɲe s kojaʒeɲa parPoproszę ten szary szal w groszki. poproʃe ten ʃarɨ ʃal v groʃciKrem tej firmy poprawia cerę. krem tej firmɨ popravja t^sereZa radą rodziców Romka zrobiła sobie loki. za radow~ rod^ʑit^suv romka zrobiwa sobje lociRaz do roku idę na rower do lasu. raz do roku ide na rover do lasuBrat Bronka pracuje w pralni w Krakowie. brad broŋka prat^suje f pralɲi f krakovjeTrener trochę narzeka na brak formy. trener troxe naʒeka na brak formɨTrzeba naprawić kran i zamontować blat. tʃeba napravit^ɕ kran i zamontovad^ʑ blat

7.3.2. /r/ and /l/ in consonants clusters

orlę orleskarlały skarlawɨburleska burleskaBerlin berlinperlisty perlistɨmetr metrteatr teatrłotr wotrkart kartstart startTeatr w Berlinie wystawia burleskę. teatr v berliɲe vɨstavja burleskeWiatr zniszczył kilometr autostrady w pobliżu Tatr.

vjatr ɲiʃt^ʃɨw cilometr awtostradɨ f pobliʒu tatr

Arlekin zaśmiał się perliście. arlecin zaɕmjaw ɕe perliɕt^ɕe