Scribd
Upload
28 views3 pages

Distinctive Features of English Phonemes

The document outlines the distinctive features of English phonemes, focusing on both consonants and vowels. Consonants are characterized by voicing, place of articulation, and manner of articulation, while vowels are classified based on height, backness, rounding, and tenseness. Examples of each phoneme with their respective features are provided for clarity.

Uploaded by

achanna917
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
28 views3 pages

Distinctive Features of English Phonemes

The document outlines the distinctive features of English phonemes, focusing on both consonants and vowels. Consonants are characterized by voicing, place of articulation, and manner of articulation, while vowels are classified based on height, backness, rounding, and tenseness. Examples of each phoneme with their respective features are provided for clarity.

Uploaded by

achanna917
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 3

Distinctive Features of English Phonemes (Vowels and Consonants)

In phonology, distinctive features are characteristics of speech sounds (phonemes) that serve to
distinguish one phoneme from another. Each phoneme can be broken down into a set of
distinctive features, which describe how and where the sound is produced in the vocal tract.

Let's look at the distinctive features of English vowels and consonants.

1. Distinctive Features of English Consonants

Consonants are characterized based on several features, including voicing, place of articulation,
and manner of articulation.

Features of Consonants

1. Voicing:
o Voiced: The vocal cords vibrate (e.g., /b/, /d/, /g/, /z/, /v/).
o Voiceless: No vibration of the vocal cords (e.g., /p/, /t/, /k/, /s/, /f/).
2. Place of Articulation: This refers to where in the vocal tract the constriction occurs.
o Bilabial: Both lips come together (e.g., /p/, /b/, /m/).
o Labiodental: Lower lip against the upper teeth (e.g., /f/, /v/).
o Dental: Tongue against the upper teeth (e.g., /θ/ as in think, /ð/ as in this).
o Alveolar: Tongue against the alveolar ridge (e.g., /t/, /d/, /s/, /z/, /n/, /l/).
o Postalveolar: Tongue near or behind the alveolar ridge (e.g., /ʃ/ as in sh, /ʒ/ as in
measure).
o Palatal: Tongue against the hard palate (e.g., /j/ as in yes).
o Velar: Back of the tongue against the soft palate (e.g., /k/, /g/, /ŋ/).
o Glottal: Constriction at the vocal cords (e.g., /h/ and the glottal stop /ʔ/).
3. Manner of Articulation: This describes how airflow is affected by the position of the
tongue, lips, and other speech organs.
o Plosive (Stop): Complete closure of airflow followed by release (e.g., /p/, /b/,
/t/, /d/, /k/, /g/).
o Fricative: Partial obstruction of airflow, causing friction (e.g., /f/, /v/, /s/, /z/,
/ʃ/, /ʒ/, /θ/, /ð/).
o Affricate: A combination of a stop and a fricative (e.g., /tʃ/ as in church, /dʒ/ as in
judge).
o Nasal: Air flows through the nose (e.g., /m/, /n/, /ŋ/).
o Lateral: Air flows around the sides of the tongue (e.g., /l/).
o Approximant: Minimal obstruction of airflow (e.g., /w/, /j/, /r/).

Examples of English Consonants with Distinctive Features

 /p/:
o Voiceless, Bilabial, Plosive
 /b/:
o Voiced, Bilabial, Plosive
 /f/:
o Voiceless, Labiodental, Fricative
 /v/:
o Voiced, Labiodental, Fricative
 /s/:
o Voiceless, Alveolar, Fricative
 /z/:
o Voiced, Alveolar, Fricative
 /ʃ/:
o Voiceless, Postalveolar, Fricative (as in shoe)
 /ʒ/:
o Voiced, Postalveolar, Fricative (as in measure)
 /m/:
o Voiced, Bilabial, Nasal
 /n/:
o Voiced, Alveolar, Nasal
 /ŋ/:
o Voiced, Velar, Nasal (as in sing)
 /tʃ/:
o Voiceless, Postalveolar, Affricate (as in church)
 /dʒ/:
o Voiced, Postalveolar, Affricate (as in judge)
 /w/:
o Voiced, Bilabial, Approximant
 /r/:
o Voiced, Alveolar, Approximant
 /l/:
o Voiced, Alveolar, Lateral Approximant

2. Distinctive Features of English Vowels

Vowels are classified based on their height, backness, rounding, and tenseness.

Features of Vowels

1. Height: Refers to the position of the tongue relative to the roof of the mouth.
o High (Close): Tongue is raised (e.g., /i:/ as in beat, /ɪ/ as in bit).
o Mid: Tongue is in a middle position (e.g., /e/ as in bet, /ə/ as in sofa).
o Low (Open): Tongue is low in the mouth (e.g., /æ/ as in cat, /ɑ:/ as in father).
2. Backness: Refers to the horizontal position of the tongue.
o Front: Tongue is toward the front of the mouth (e.g., /i:/, /e/).
o Central: Tongue is in the middle of the mouth (e.g., /ə/, /ʌ/).
o Back: Tongue is toward the back of the mouth (e.g., /u:/ as in boot, /ɔ:/ as in
bought).
3. Rounding: Refers to whether the lips are rounded or not.
o Rounded: Lips are rounded (e.g., /u:/, /ɔ:/).
o Unrounded: Lips are spread or neutral (e.g., /i:/, /æ/).
4. Tenseness: Refers to the degree of muscle tension and length of the vowel.
o Tense: More tension and typically longer duration (e.g., /i:/, /u:/).
o Lax: Less tension and typically shorter (e.g., /ɪ/, /ʊ/).

Examples of English Vowels with Distinctive Features

 /i:/ (as in beat):


o High, Front, Unrounded, Tense
 /ɪ/ (as in bit):
o High, Front, Unrounded, Lax
 /e/ (as in bet):
o Mid, Front, Unrounded, Lax
 /æ/ (as in cat):
o Low, Front, Unrounded, Lax
 /ʌ/ (as in cup):
o Mid, Central, Unrounded, Lax
 /ɑ:/ (as in father):
o Low, Back, Unrounded, Tense
 /u:/ (as in boot):
o High, Back, Rounded, Tense
 /ʊ/ (as in foot):
o High, Back, Rounded, Lax
 /ɔ:/ (as in thought):
o Mid, Back, Rounded, Tense
 /ə/ (as in sofa):
o Mid, Central, Unrounded, Lax (Schwa)

You might also like