UNIT 1
Section 1
Make a careful study of the text below and pick out the terms related to
phonetics.
Consonants: Principles of Classification
Unlike vowels consonants are produced with an obstruction to the air-stream in the mouth or nasal cavities. That is why they are characterized by a certain degree of noise. The organs of speech are tense at the place of obstruction.
To differentiate the 24 consonants from each other, phoneticians use a classification based on the following principles:
I) degree of noise, II) manner of articulation, III) place of articulation.
I. According to the first principle all English consonants are divided into two big classes noise consonants and sonorants. In their turn noise consonants vary 1) in the work of the vocal cords (voiced/voiceless) and 2) in the degree of force of articulation (lenis/weak, fortis/strong).
II. We need to know how the sound is made, i.e. the manner of articulation. It is determined by the type of obstruction. According to this principle the English consonants fall into 3 groups: occlusive; constrictive; occlusive-constrictive (affricates). Occlusive sounds are produced when the air stream meets a complete obstruction in the mouth (the organs of speech are in contact). The sounds of this type are also called stops because the breath is completely stopped at some point of articulation and then it is released with a slight explosion (that is why they are also called plosives). Constrictive fricative consonants are those in the production of which the air stream meets an incomplete obstruction in the resonator (the air passage is constricted and escapes through the narrowing with friction). Occlusive-constrictive (or affricates) are noise consonant sounds produced with a complete obstruction, which is slowly released, and the air escapes from the mouth with some friction.
III. We also need to know where in the vocal tract the sound is made (i.e. its place of articulation) and which vocal organs are involved. The place of articulation is determined by the position of the active organ of speech against the point of articulation. There may be one place of articulation (focus), or two (foci), when active organs of speech are in contact with two points of articulation. The sounds of the first type are called unicentral, of the second type - bicentral.
According to this principle the English consonants are divided into labial, lingual and glottal.
Labial sounds are produced when both lips are active (bilabial) or with the lower lip against the edge of the upper teeth (labio-dental).
Lingual sounds are classified into:
1) forelingual, w hich are made with the tip or the blade of the tongue against the teeth ridge or the teeth correspondingly (* remember apical or dorsal articulation - the latter is not typical of English), or with the tip of the tongue at the back part of the teeth ridge (cacuminal articulation).
According to the place of obstruction forelingual consonants may also be divided into: a) interdental (made with the tip of the tongue projected between the teeth); b) dental (produced with the blade of the tongue against the upper teeth); c) alveolar (articulated with the tip against the upper teeth ridge); d) post-alveolar (made with the tip/blade of the tongue against the back part of the teeth ridge or behind it); e) palato-alveolar (the tip/blade of the tongue is against the teeth ridge and the front part of the tongue is raised towards the hard palate, thus having 2 foci);
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2) mediolingual; produced with the front part of the tongue. They are always palatal, i. e. made with the front part of the tongue raised high to the hard palate;
3) backlingual (= velar), produced with the back part of the tongue raised towards the soft palate.
The glottal sound is articulated in the glottis.
voiced (lenis/weak) b g d z ð v d
Noise
voiceless (fortis/strong) p k t s θ f ∫ h
Sonorants w l r n ŋ j m
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occlusive stops (plosives)
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constrictive fricatives
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occlusive 
- constrictive
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t∫
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d
occlusive (nasal) m n ŋ
(medial) w r j
constrictive (oral)
(lateral) l
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(alveolar t d s z n l (apical)
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palato-alveolar ∫ t∫
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d
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Section 2 [ p ]
(occlusive, plosive, bilabial, strong/fortis, voiceless)
I. Practise the articulation of the sound [ p ]. Observe the necessary degree of
aspiration, loss of plosion, nasal / lateral plosions, and correct pronunciation of
the combinations [ pl ], [pr].
peace speak except happen please present stop looking
part sport stopped halfpenny place practice cheap book
pair spell hope to shopman plan prize stoop down
post spade ripe corn stop me plant prove sharp remark
pan spoon stop please top meeting plot proud help me
II. Read the sentences. Follow the tonetic marks.
1. Present company excepted. .
2. Keep up appearances. .
3. Pats a perfect paragon. .
4. Percys as proud as a peacock. .
5. Polls as plump as a partridge. .
6. Pegs as pretty as a picture. .
7. Stop playing Pantaloon. .
8. They pulled Paul to pieces. .
III. Match the following English idioms, proverbs and sayings with their Russian
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equivalents. Make up situations to illustrate their usage.
1. open a new chapter a. ,
2. out of place b. ,
3. plenty is no plague c.
4. put to the proof d.
5. on purpose e. -.
6. pick up with smb f.
IV. Pronounce the tongue twister in the quickest possible way. Observe the correct
articulation of [ pl ].
A pleasant place to place a plaice is a place where a plaice is pleased to be placed.
Section 3
Listen to the dialogue and learn it by heart.
Passports, please
Mr and Mr. Tupman are at the airport. They have just got off the plane from Paris.
Official: Passports, please!
Mrs. Tupman: I think Ive lost the passports, Poppy.
Mr. Tupman: How stupid of you, Peter! Didnt you put them in your pocket?
Mr. Tupman: (emptying his pockets) Heres a pen a pencil my pipe a
postcard an envelope a stamp a pin
Mrs. Tupman: Oh, stop taking things out of your pockets. Perhaps you put them
in the plastic bag.
Mr. Tupman: (emptying the plastic bag) Heres a newspaper an apple a
pear plastic cup a spoon some paper plates a piece of
pork pie a pepper pot
Mrs. Tupman: Oh, stop pulling things out of the plastic bag, Peter. These people
are getting impatient.
Mr. Tupman: Well, help me, Poppy.
Mrs. Tupman: Weve lost our passports. Perhaps we dropped them on the plane.
Official: Then let the other passengers past, please.
Mr. Tupman: Poppy, why dont you help? You arent being very helpful. Put
the things in the plastic bag.
Official: Your name, please?
Mr. Tupman: Tupman.
Official: Please go upstairs with this policeman, Mr. Tupman.
Review questions and tasks:
1. What are vowels and consonants? Remember the differences in their production.
2. How are consonants classified?
3. State the difference between noise consonants and sonorants.
4. How does the degree of noise vary because of the force of articulation?
5. What determines the manner of articulation?
6. Define each type of obstruction.
7. What groups of sounds can be distinguished according to the manner of articulation? Name the English consonants of each group.
8. Why are plosives called stops?
9. How is the place of articulation determined?
10. State the difference between unicentral and bicentral consonants.
11. Enumerate the consonant groups according to the place of articulation.
12. How do the forelingual consonants differ according to the place of obstruction?
13. Study the chart given above and define every consonant. Explain why this or that sound refers to a particular consonant group.
14. Copy out the chart. Compare the Russian and English consonants.
UNIT 2
Section 1
Make a careful study of the text below and pick out the terms related to phonetics.
