Voicing and ConsonantsVoicing and Consonants

Presented to Presented to Mr. . Sohail Falak SherMr. . Sohail Falak Sher

Presented By Presented By M.Sajid us Salam

M.Phil LinguisticsThe Islamia University Bahawalpur

cupidlucid@gmail.com

IntroductionIntroduction::

Voicing is a complex phenomenon Voicing is a complex phenomenon We articulate thousands of sounds, We articulate thousands of sounds,

unconscious of their process of articulation.unconscious of their process of articulation. Humans are privileged ones as compared Humans are privileged ones as compared

to their primates.to their primates. Humans have a vocal apparatus that is apt for Humans have a vocal apparatus that is apt for

articulation of discrete speech sounds articulation of discrete speech sounds TongueTongue TeethTeeth LipsLips

The Larynx The Larynx In the production of speech sounds the larynx has In the production of speech sounds the larynx has

many important functions, but before we can look many important functions, but before we can look at these functions we must examine its anatomy at these functions we must examine its anatomy and physiology, how it is constructed and how it and physiology, how it is constructed and how it works.works.

Larynx is in the neck.Larynx is in the neck. Its main structure is CARTILAGE.Its main structure is CARTILAGE. Larynx is made up of two cartilages these Larynx is made up of two cartilages these

cartilages are hollow and are attached to the top of cartilages are hollow and are attached to the top of the TRACHEA. the TRACHEA.

When we breath the air passes through the When we breath the air passes through the trachea and the larynx. trachea and the larynx.

The front of larynx has The front of larynx has Adam’s AppleAdam’s Apple which which is quite prominent in slim adults.is quite prominent in slim adults.

Adam’s apple is in fact a box which contains Adam’s apple is in fact a box which contains vocal folds which are made up of these two vocal folds which are made up of these two cartilages.cartilages.

Vocal FoldsVocal Folds: These are two thick flaps of : These are two thick flaps of muscles rather like a pair of lips, the ex-muscles rather like a pair of lips, the ex-name for these is vocal cords.name for these is vocal cords.

At the front, the vocal folds are joined and At the front, the vocal folds are joined and fixed to the inside of the thyroid cartilage. At fixed to the inside of the thyroid cartilage. At the back they are attached to a pair of small the back they are attached to a pair of small cartilages called the cartilages called the Arytenoid Cartilages Arytenoid Cartilages so that if the arytenoid cartilages move the so that if the arytenoid cartilages move the vocal folds move to. vocal folds move to.

The arytenoid cartilages are attached to the The arytenoid cartilages are attached to the top of the top of the Cricoid cartilageCricoid cartilage, but they can , but they can move so as to move the vocal folds apart or move so as to move the vocal folds apart or together. We use the word glottis to refer to together. We use the word glottis to refer to the opening between the vocal folds.the opening between the vocal folds.

If the vocal folds are apart we say that the If the vocal folds are apart we say that the glottis is open, if they are pressed together glottis is open, if they are pressed together we say that the glottis is closed.we say that the glottis is closed.

Different positions of Vocal Different positions of Vocal Folds Folds Wide Apart: Wide Apart: The vocal folds are wide apart The vocal folds are wide apart

for normal breathing and usually during for normal breathing and usually during voiceless consonants like p, f, s.voiceless consonants like p, f, s.

For example:For example:

Narrow Glottis:Narrow Glottis: If air is passed through the If air is passed through the glottis when it is narrowed, the result is a glottis when it is narrowed, the result is a fricative sound for which the symbol is /h/. fricative sound for which the symbol is /h/. The sound is not very different from a The sound is not very different from a whispered vowel. It is called a voiceless whispered vowel. It is called a voiceless Glottal FricativeGlottal Fricative. .

Position for vocal fold vibration:Position for vocal fold vibration: when the when the edges of vocal folds are touching each other edges of vocal folds are touching each other are nearly touching, air passing through the are nearly touching, air passing through the glottis will usually cause vibration. Air is glottis will usually cause vibration. Air is pressed up from the lungs and this air pressed up from the lungs and this air pushes the vocal folds apart so that the little pushes the vocal folds apart so that the little air escapes. As the air flows swiftly past the air escapes. As the air flows swiftly past the edges of the vocal folds the folds are edges of the vocal folds the folds are brought together again. This opening and brought together again. This opening and closing happens very rapidly and is repeated closing happens very rapidly and is repeated regularly between two and three hundred regularly between two and three hundred times per second in woman’s voice and times per second in woman’s voice and about half that rate in an adult man’s voice. about half that rate in an adult man’s voice.

Vocal folds tightly closed:Vocal folds tightly closed: the vocal folds the vocal folds can be firmly pressed together so that air can be firmly pressed together so that air cannot pass between them.cannot pass between them.

We cal this position a glottal stop or glottal We cal this position a glottal stop or glottal plosive, and for this we use the symbol /h/.it plosive, and for this we use the symbol /h/.it can be practised by coughing gently ; then can be practised by coughing gently ; then practise the sequence ahahahah. practise the sequence ahahahah.

Respiration and Voicing Respiration and Voicing When air is moved out of the lungs we say there is When air is moved out of the lungs we say there is

an egressive pulmonic air stream.an egressive pulmonic air stream. All speech sounds are made with some movements All speech sounds are made with some movements

of air.of air. How air is moved in and out of the lungs?How air is moved in and out of the lungs? The lungs are like sponges that can be filled with The lungs are like sponges that can be filled with

air and they are contained within the rib cage.air and they are contained within the rib cage. If the rib cage is lifted upper and outwards there is If the rib cage is lifted upper and outwards there is

more space in the chest for the lungs and they more space in the chest for the lungs and they expand with the result they take in more air.expand with the result they take in more air.

If we allow the rib cage to return to its rest If we allow the rib cage to return to its rest position quite slowly, some of the air is position quite slowly, some of the air is expelled and can be used for producing expelled and can be used for producing speech sounds.speech sounds.

If we wish to make the egressive pulmonic If we wish to make the egressive pulmonic air stream continue without breathing in air stream continue without breathing in again. (for example, when saying a long again. (for example, when saying a long sentence and not waiting to be interrupted).sentence and not waiting to be interrupted).

We can make the rib cage press down on We can make the rib cage press down on the lungs so that more air is expelled. the lungs so that more air is expelled.

We obstruct the air flow by articulators.We obstruct the air flow by articulators.

We form strictures in the vocal tracts.We form strictures in the vocal tracts.

If the vocal folds are apart there will be no If the vocal folds are apart there will be no vibration, thus no voicing will take place.vibration, thus no voicing will take place.

But if the vocal folds are intact there will be But if the vocal folds are intact there will be voicing and vibration.voicing and vibration.

Different variations in the vocal Different variations in the vocal folds for different voicing folds for different voicing..

Variations in intensity:Variations in intensity: We produce We produce voicing with high intensity for shouting, for voicing with high intensity for shouting, for example, and with low intensity for speaking example, and with low intensity for speaking quietly.quietly.

Variations in Frequency:Variations in Frequency: If the vocal folds If the vocal folds vibrate rapidly, the voicing is at high vibrate rapidly, the voicing is at high frequency; if there are fewer vibrations per frequency; if there are fewer vibrations per second the frequency is lower.second the frequency is lower.

Variations in Quality:Variations in Quality: We can produce We can produce different sounding voice qualities, such as different sounding voice qualities, such as those we might call harsh, breathy, those we might call harsh, breathy, murmured, or creaky.murmured, or creaky.

plosivesplosives

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

Bilabial Alveolar VelarBilabial Alveolar Velar

Fortis P t kFortis P t k

(Voiceless)(Voiceless)

LenisLenis

(voiced) b d g(voiced) b d g

Four phases of articulationFour phases of articulation

Closing phaseClosing phase

Compression phase Compression phase

Release phase Release phase

Post release phase Post release phase

BILABIALBILABIAL

ALVEOLARALVEOLAR

VELARVELAR

Positions of plosivesPositions of plosives

Initial position (c v)Initial position (c v)

Medial position (v c v)Medial position (v c v)

Final position (v c)Final position (v c)

Initial position (c v)Initial position (c v)

Closing phaseClosing phase

P, t, k (No voicing takes place)P, t, k (No voicing takes place)

b , d , g (No voicing takes place)b , d , g (No voicing takes place)

Initial position (c v)Initial position (c v)

Compression phaseCompression phase

P , t , k (No voicing takes place)P , t , k (No voicing takes place)

b , d , g (voicing takes place during the b , d , g (voicing takes place during the entire compression phase) entire compression phase)

Initial position (c v)Initial position (c v)

Release phaseRelease phase

p , t , k (Release of p,t,k is followed by an p , t , k (Release of p,t,k is followed by an audible plosion)audible plosion)

b , d , g (Release of b,d,g is followed by a b , d , g (Release of b,d,g is followed by a weak plosion)weak plosion)

Initial position (c v)Initial position (c v)

Post-release phasePost-release phase

p , t , k (Air escapes through vocal folds, p , t , k (Air escapes through vocal folds, making a sound like h. ”aspiration” )making a sound like h. ”aspiration” )

b, d ,g (there is no aspiration and voicing b, d ,g (there is no aspiration and voicing continues)continues)

Difference in the initial Difference in the initial positions of positions of p, t, kp, t, k & & b, d, gb, d, g

AspirationAspiration

In initial position b , d ,g cannot be In initial position b , d ,g cannot be preceded by any consonant preceded by any consonant

In initial position p , t ,k can be preceded In initial position p , t ,k can be preceded by s and in such a situation p , t ,k will be by s and in such a situation p , t ,k will be un aspirated (spy, store, ski)un aspirated (spy, store, ski)

Medial position (v c v)Medial position (v c v)

We can say that a medial plosive may We can say that a medial plosive may have the characteristics either of final or have the characteristics either of final or of initial plosives.of initial plosives.

Final position (v c)Final position (v c)

In final position b , d ,g have little voicing and if In final position b , d ,g have little voicing and if there is voicing it is at the beginning of there is voicing it is at the beginning of compression phase.compression phase.

In final position p , t , k are obviously voiceless.In final position p , t , k are obviously voiceless.

In final positions the plosion following the In final positions the plosion following the release of p,t,k & b,d,g is very weak and often release of p,t,k & b,d,g is very weak and often not audible.not audible.

In final positions the vowels preceding p,t,k are In final positions the vowels preceding p,t,k are much shorter. The shortening effect of p, t, k is much shorter. The shortening effect of p, t, k is most noticeable when the vowel is a long vowel most noticeable when the vowel is a long vowel or a dipthong. Note the length difference in or a dipthong. Note the length difference in vowelvowel

MateMate Made Made Leak Leak LeagueLeague Hurt Hurt Heard Heard

ConclusionConclusion The process of voicing, different The process of voicing, different

articulators---their anatomy and physiology articulators---their anatomy and physiology have been discussed in detail. The complex have been discussed in detail. The complex phenomenon of place and manner of phenomenon of place and manner of articulation of English plosives have also articulation of English plosives have also been discussed because in the realm of been discussed because in the realm of consonants this is a problematic area consonants this is a problematic area regarding voicing as three of the plosives are regarding voicing as three of the plosives are voiceless and aspirated (/p/, /t/, /k/) whereas voiceless and aspirated (/p/, /t/, /k/) whereas the rest of the three are voiced (/b/, /d/, /g/). the rest of the three are voiced (/b/, /d/, /g/).