LECTURE I

Phonetics as a branch of linguistics

Plan

1. Phonetics as a branch of linguistics.

2. Subdivisions of phonetics
3. Phonology and its difference from phonetics
4. Connection of phonetics with other sciences
5. Application of phonetics
Phonetics is a special branch of linguistics which deals with the sounds of language. The term
phonetics comes from the Greek word “Phoneticos” which means a science about sounds. Phonetics
studies the nature of speech sounds, their formation and production, syllable formation and syllable
division, different types of stress and Intonation. Phonetics also deals with the substantial and
functional (linguistic) nature of all phonetic phenomena, with their mutual influence and mutual
dependence in the speech continuum.
The essential part of phonetics is the learning of speech sounds or the system of segmental
phonemes. Phonetics analyses the complex nature of sounds, the laws of their combination and
modification in speech and gives their classification.
The sound aspect of language is a very complicated phenomenon and in this connection, it is
possible to approach it from different points of view.

Subdivisions of phonetics
Being a special branch of linguistics, phonetics has derived its own branches. The most
important of these are special phonetics and general phonetics. In its turn, special phonetics may be
subdivided into descriptive phonetics and historical phonetics. Special phonetics is concerned with
the study of the phonetic structure of one language only, in its static form, at a particular period of
time. This kind of phonetics is called descriptive phonetics and it uses the methods of synchronic
analysis. Special phonetics is also concerned with the study of phonetic structure of a language in its
historical development. This kind of phonetics is called historical phonetics and it uses the methods
of diachronic analysis.
But General phonetics is based on the extensive material which a special phonetics of a great
number of languages provide: general phonetics is also based on other sciencies, such as physics
(acoustics), biology,(physiology), speech pathology etc.
 General phonetics has been able to make a number of general conclusions concerning the
complex nature of speech sounds; it has been able to analyse speech sounds from different points of
view and to formulate a number of important theories; the phoneme theory, the theory of syllable
formation, the theory of stress, the theory of intonation etc.
There are also experimental and comparative phonetics which are frequently considered to be
branches of phonetics, but actually they must be treated as methods of phonetic investigation.
At present universal tendency to solve purely linguistic problems by means of complex
apparatus has resulted in a new term – acoustic phonetics. The term “acoustic phonetics” may be
taken equal to “experimental phonetics”.
Physiological phonetics or in other terms “anthropophonics” is a branch of phonetics which
studies the speech sounds from the point of view their formation as the result of the speech organs.

Phonology and its difference from Phonetics

According to the conceptions of the Prague Linguistic School, which existed in the 30 ies of the
XX centure, phonetics and phonology were treated as two independent branches of science.
According to the linguistic conceptions of this school, phonetics should be considered as a
biological science, dealing with the physical and physiological characteristics of speech sounds. But
phonology, as they confirm is a linguistic science, and it is concerned with the social functions of
different phonetic phenomena as signs or codes of information.
At present in linguistics phonology is a convenient term to indicate that section of phonetics in
which the social (linguistic) functions of speech sounds are discussed. However, it does not seem
logical to separate function from phonetic form, as it is impossible to imagine function without a
substance. Most of the contemporary linguists considered phonetics as an inseperable part of
linguistics and don`t oppose it to phonology either.
Connection of phonetics with other sciences
Phonetics as the linguistic sciences, first of all, is connected with grammar, lexicology and
stylistics.
Actually grammar, vocabulary and different styles of speech depend on phonetics, they cannot
exist outside of phonetics because all lexical, grammatical and stylistic phenomena are expressed
phonetically.
For example, lexical units – words are expressed in certain phonetic forms and can be analyzed
into separate sounds. One word or morpheme may differ from another in one sound only; tip – tap –
top; speech – speak;
 The alternation of vowels in the so – called irregular verbs in English has a grammatical
function; swim – swam – swum.
Connection of phonetics with stylistics is expressed in the use of different styles of speech, for
ex, in recitation of pieces in fiction literature and poetry.
Phonetics is also connected with a number of other sciences, such as physics (or acoustics),
biology (or physiology) psychology etc. Today the more phonetics develops the more various
branches of science become involved in the field of phonetics investigation.
Application of phonetics
Today phonetics has a wide sphere of application. First of all it is used in teaching children to read
and write in their mother tongue. It would be very difficult to do that without a knowledge of
phonetic laws of a given language. Today a know - ledge of phonetics is obligatory in teaching and
learning foreign languages. The modern methods of teaching of foreign languages in many countries
is based on phonetics. Phonetics is also used in teaching deaf – mutes to speak and in correcting
speech defects.
It is also used in creating orthographies, in telephony, in radio – TV broadcasting, in training
actors, teachers singers.
Three aspects of phonetics.
Speech sounds are of complex nature and their production can be studied from thre points of view:
1. Biological (or anatomo - physiological);
2. Acoustic;
3. Linguistic.
1. Speech sounds are produced as a result of activities of the speech organs.
That part of phonetics which is concerned with the work of the speech organs and their ability to
form definite speech sounds was termed anthropophonics by L. A. Baudouin de Courtenay.
But according to acad. I.P. Pavlov`s theory speech is considered to be a complex system
conditioned reflexes governed by the cortex of the cerebral hemispheres. This sphere of human
activity (the linguistic activity) was termed by acad. I.P. Pavlov “the second signal system”. The
speech production is subject to anatomo physiological investigation as well as to linguistic analysis.
Thus we see that phonetics is closely connected with biology.
2. Speech sounds can be analysed from acoustic point of view. Like any other sounds. Speech
sounds are also communicated to the air in the form of sound waves. Speech sounds have length,
duration such physical properties as pitch intensity and tamber.
 3. Phonetics, as a linguistic science, naturally, studies the linguistic aspect of sound structure of
language. As the human intercourse is realized in the sound form, the object of the linguistic
approach is to study those functions, that cause the process of communication by means of oral
speech. It is not enough to be able to detect, by means of experiments and observations, the minutest
sound features, one should be able to determine in what ways speech sounds can function as
significant sound units or phonemes, The same thing can be said about other phonetic phenomena.