Theory of phonetics

Canteen? (Is it canteen?) Denotes your surprise and disbelief. We pro-
nounce with the question mark to show that we doubt very much.
This is the very particular manner of pronunciation that makes
the word alive, that organizes the segments into something
meaningful.
For example, are [R], [q·] – The quality of a segment may depend on stress or lack of
it. With the full stress we have the full vowel; with lack of stress we have
reduced sounds.
This variety of pronunciation may depend on the style. But style presupposes other factors and other elements. In an informal conversation the tempo is likely to be faster. The speech is not as measured as a formal conversation. Thus the reduction of the word “сколько” (скоко) may be ascribed to a number of factors like style, tempo, rhythm etc. These examples show that suprasegments and segments are inseparable and they tell on each other.
For example, [Im'pLt] – v The segments are the same, but the stress is different.
['ImpLt] – n The quality is the same in both the words. But there are differences in the quantity of their sounds. In the second word the quality of the first sound [I] isn’t changed, but it’s longer than that one in the first word under the influence of the stress. When compare the two sounds “p” we’ll speak about the degree of aspiration which is more observable in the first word and very weak in the second one. The first [L] is longer.
For example, [tq'deI]
[tq'deI·] ? When a “?” [eI] is longer. It was lightened due to melody of a question. If you have troubles with segments, you won’t speak fast.
We can’t consider sounds separately from prosodic modifying factors. Only as a unit they are able to convey the information a speaker gives including his/her attitude to it, its importance, and necessity, etc.


Topics for discussions:

1. 
   What are the main stages of speech production? How can you describe the “relations” between the speaker and the listener?
   
2. 
   What function does the respiratory mechanism fulfill? What are the main groups of organs of speech? What additional modifications are caused by their work?
   
3. 
   What do we call “segmental” phonetics and “suprasegmental” phonetics? When does our speech become “alive”? Give your examples.