WHAT IS PHONOLOGY?
Introduction
This book deals with phonology, the study of the sound systems of language. In the following chapters, a close look will be taken at the ways in which various languages organize or structure different sounds. Since speech sounds are used to convey meaning, sound systems cannot be fully understood unless they are studied in a wider linguistic context. A language learner, for instance, must master the production and perception of the sounds of a given language. He must also, however, learn when to use these sounds. Thus, speakers of English must learn not only the sounds [k] and [ s ], which are transcribed between phonetic brackets (see below), but also that the [k] of opaque changes to [ s] when the suffix -ity is added to form the word opacity. This change of [k] to [ s] is as much a part of the sound system of English as is the fact that English contains the sounds [k], [g], [s], and[z]. The goal of phonology is, then, to study the properties of the sound systems which speakers must learn or internalize in order to use their language for the purpose of communication. Thus, when approaching the sound system of a language, it is necessary to study not only the physical properties of the attested sounds (that is, how they are made and what their acoustic correlates
are), but also the grammatical properties of these sounds.
Crystal (1992: 300): phonology is the study of the sound systems of a language, and of the general or universal properties displayed by these systems.
Hornby (1973): phonology is a science of vocal sounds; the study of the sound changes which take place, or have taken place in a language.
SPEECH ORGANS
Cavities:
1.Pharyngeal Cavity : In the pharingeal cavity (pharynx) the epiglotis serves as a protective cover for the larynx so that food does not ‘go down the wrong way.’ The total size can be altered so that its use as a resonating chamber for the sounds produced by vibrations of the vocal cords may vary considerably.
2.Oral Cavity : The greatest source of modifications of the airstream is the oral cavity.The modifications result from movements of the uvula, lower lip, and tongue.
3.Nasal Cavity : It is connected to the oral cavity by way of the velic at the back of the mouth. The soft part of the roof of the mouth, velum, can be drawn back to close the velic so that all air exiting from the lungs must proceed through the mouth. It can also be left open to allow the air to exit through the nose.
Reverence :
Boey, Lim Kiat. 1975. An Introduction to Linguistics for the Language Teacher. Singapore: Singapore University Press.
Fromkin, Victoria and Rodman, Robert. 1988. An Introduction to Language. Toronto: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Inc.
George Yule. The Study of language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Gleason, H.A. 1961. An Introduction to Descriptive Linguistics. Toronto: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Inc.
Wardhaugh, Ronald. 1977. Introduction to Linguistics. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company.
