PHONETICS SYMBOLS/PHONEMES

Q- Define phonetics and give the list of phonetics symbols (or phonemes).

Answer-

PHONETICS

In language, we use writing, reading, listening, and speaking. To learn a second language, we depend either on reading so that we can write a language or on listening so that we can speak. Hence, we must practice all four skills to learn a language perfectly. 

Grammar is a branch of language learning where we learn the basic structure of a language and various rules related to sentence formation. It helps to write correctly.

On the other hand, Phonetics is the branch of language learning in which we study about the sounds. It helps us to pronounce words correctly. Here, we study about the sound symbols. These sound symbols are called phonemes.

PHONETIC SYMBOLS (PHONEMES):

A phonetic symbol is a written character (symbol) that represents a sound. A single sound has a distinct symbol. These symbols are called phonemes. Phonetic symbols are different from the alphabet (letters-vowels and consonants). In English, we have forty-four (44) sounds that are represented by forty-four (44) phonetic-symbols. Each symbol has a specific sound which is used to pronounce it correctly.

TYPES OF PHONETIC SYMBOLS (PHONEMES)

When we speak a language, the important thing is to pronounce sounds clearly. Speech sounds are studied on three stages like the production stage, the transmission stage and the reception stage. We must know how we can produce a sound using speech of organs. All the sound symbols are classified into two categories-

1.     Vowel Sounds

2.     Consonants Sounds

1.     VOWEL SOUNDS:

For more details, study of the classification of  Vowel - click here 

In the English language, we are informed that the five letters - a, e, i, o, and u are vowels (letters) but we must understand the vowel sounds and their symbols are different from letters. Vowel is a category of speech sounds not of the alphabet.

In phonetic terms ‘a vowel' is a sound that is produced without an obstruction in the pharynx and the mouth. When we speak vowels, air comes out freely through mouth and there is no closure or narrowing of passage. 

TYPES OF VOWEL SOUNDS

There are twenty (20) vowel sounds in English Language. All the vowels are divided into two categories-

A. Pure Vowels

B. Diphthongs

A. Pure Vowels: 

When there is a single vowel sound, it is called the pure vowel sound. Pure vowel sounds are 12 in number. The list of pure vowels with examples in words is given below-  

PURE VOWEL SOUNDS (PHONEMES) WITH EXAMPLES

/ɪ/ as in ship, hit

/ʊ/ as in book, could

/e/ as in egg, bed

/æ/ as in cat, black

/ʌ/ as in cup, luck

/ɒ/ as in hot, rock

/ə/ as in father, cinema, away

/i:/ as in sheep, please

/u:/ as in boot, food

/ɜ:/ as in learn, turn

/ɔ:/ as in door, four

 /ɑ:/ as in car, father, arm,    

These Pure vowel sounds are also divided in to various basis-

1.     According to the duration of the sound, they can be 

 a) Short Vowel Sounds (/ɪ/, /e/, /æ/, /ɒ/, /ʊ/, /ʌ/, /ə/): When they are produced for a shorter duration. For examples:

 /ɪ/ as in ship, hit 

/ʊ/ as in book, could  

/e/ as in egg, bed 

/æ/ as in cat, black

/ʌ/ as in cup, luck

/ɒ/ as in hot, rock

/ə/ as in father, cinema

 

b) Long vowels (/i:/, /u:/, /ɑ:/, /ɔ:/, /ɜ:/): when they are produced for a longer duration. For examples-

i:/ as in sheep, please 

/u:/ as in boot, food

/ɜ:/ as in learn, turn

/ɔ:/ as in door, four 

/ɑ:/ as in car, father

B. Diphthongs (Phonemes)

 When there is a gliding movement from one vowel to another then the vowel sounds are called diphthongs. Hence, Diphthongs means two vowel sounds spoken together. Diphthongs are 8 in number. The list of diphthongs with examples in words is given below-

DIPHTHONGS- WITH EXAMPLES

2.     CONSONANTS:

For more detail classification of consonant-click here

A consonant is a sound pronounced with mouth fairly closed. The air stream is obstruction either at one point or the other in the way before it is released from the mouth. Over all we have twenty-four consonants. 

The list of consonants with examples is given below-