Lecture 1 Phonetics as a Linguistic Science Plan

The analytic treatment suggested by some American and Copenhagen linguists regards diphthongs to be biphonematic combinations. The criterion used by American linguists is based on the method of complimentary distribution. As complex segments (diphthongs) consist of two components. The first components of the diphthongs /eI, I, əu, au/ are in complementary distribution with the simple vowels // and /a/ used in such words as let, sun. The second elements are also in complementary distribution with the semi-vowels or glides /j/ and /w/. The diphthongoids /i:/ and /u:/ are also treated as /ij/ and /uw/. According to this approach English diphthongs are regarded as the combinations of two phonemes, because their first and second elements can function as single phonemes.

On the paradigmatic axis the English diphthongs may form phonological oppositions both with simple phonemes and with each other. They have constitutive, distinctive and recognitive functions in the structure of English.

On the syntagmatic axis the structure of a diphthong is represented by three properties: a) the first component, called its nucleus; b) the second element, called its glide; c) its monosyllabic character, i.e. forming the crest of the syllable as in the word time /taIm/.

The length of the diphthong, which is equal to that of the simple vowel, also proves its monophonematic character.

D. Jones defined diphthongs from the phonetic point of view. He also regarded diphthongs as monosyllabic units pronounced by one expiration. He distinguished “rising” /Iə, uə/ and “falling” (all other diphthongs) diphthongs. The endings of the rising diphthongs have greater prominence than their beginnings, while in falling diphthongs their beginnings have greater prominence than their endings.

D. Jones’ treatment is based on the articulatory indivisibility of English diphthongs and their monosyllabic character. Besides he represented positional variants of the diphthongs /ɔI, eə, ɔə/ in his dictionary. But /uI/ can not function as a diphthong owing to its articulatory divisibility and disyllabic character.

The substitution of diphthongs by monophthongs takes place in morphological alternations: devine /dəˈvaIn/ - devinity /dəˈvInItI/, chubby /tƒʌbI/ - chubbier /tƒʌbIə/ etc. The gliding of English diphthongs may be represented in the following form:

Speaking about diphthongs we should mention two triphthongs: /aIə/ and /auə/. The first two elements of these combinations may be regarded as diphthongs /aI/ and /uə/ while the third element represents the neutral vowel /ə/. There is no stable articulatory and syllabic indivisibility among the elements of these combinations. Usually they are divided into two syllables: tire /taI-ə/, fire /faI-ə/, cower /kau-ə/, shower /au-ə/. The element /ə/ cannot be omitted in the pronunciation, otherwise words like high /haI/ - higher/ haIə/ , tie /taI/ - tire /taIə/ may be mixed.

The combinations /eIə/, /ouə/ and /ɔjə/ occur in word-forms as player /pleIə/ rower /rouə/ destroyer /dIstrɔjə/ and they are also considered to be combinations of vowel phonemes or groups of vowel phonemes.
4. The Articulatory Classification of English Vowels

Various qualities (timbres) of English vowels are determined by the oral resonator – its size, volume and shape. The resonator is modified by the most movable speech organs – the tongue and the lips. Moreover, the quality of a vowel depends on whether the speech organs are tense or lax and whether the force of articulation weakens or is stable throughout articulation.

The position of the speech organs in the articulation of vowels may be kept for a variable period of time.

All these factors predetermine the principles according to which vowels are classified:

according to the horizontal movement of the tongue;