Functional Phonetics

Question

Why do we call phonology functional phonetics?

Dave_anon · Accepted Answer

Hi

Phonology could be the study of any sound that a human being makes that might have meaning. So, as I'm typing this, I might sigh ... haaaah ... because I'm having difficulty finding the right idea

However, phonology is usually limited to sounds that relate to language. Haaaah is not a word and isn't intended to mean anything. If my neighbour now goes past the window and I say 'Hallo!' then I've made a sound that is language - I've deliberately uttered the word to mean something and I've done it by pronouncing the sounds that make up the word

So phonology is mainly functional phonetics

Dave

Kunsusuki · Answer

So,your point is that in order to make a sound that convey a meaning or not; we are going to use phonetic right?

Dave_anon · Answer

Hi

Yes, I think that's right. People do convey meaning with sound outside of language but almost all of the time they are relating their sound to the elements of spoken language

Dave

Fivejedjon · Answer

kunsusuki Why do we call phonology functional phonetics?

I wasn't aware that we did these days.

dave_anonHiPhonology could be the study of any sound that a human being makes that might have meaning. So, as I'm typing this, I might sigh ... haaaah ... because I'm having difficulty finding the right ideaHowever, phonology is usually limited to sounds that relate to language. Haaaah is not a word and isn't intended to mean anything. If my neighbour now goes past the window and I say 'Hallo!' then I've made a sound that is language - I've deliberately uttered the word to mean something and I've done it by pronouncing the sounds that make up the wordSo phonology is mainly functional phoneticsDave

No. Phonology is the that part of phonetics that deals with how sounds are used and perceived in a particular language. It is largely concerned with the phonemes of a language. To phoneticians, the sounds produced by native speakers in the words pit, tip and spit are significantly different, and will be transcribed with different symbols - or at least different superscript/subscrict symbols. To lexicographers and teachers, they are all allophones of the phoneme /p/, and for practical purposes, the phonemic symbol /p/ is adequate.

Dave_anon · Answer

Can you give us an example of how a subscript or superscript might be used in everyday spoken English, so that we can see the sense of what you are saying?

Dave

Fivejedjon · Answer

p^h– that is the aspirated /p/ in pin.
p^o - that is the unaspirated /p/ in spin.

The second symbol in each sound should appear raised, like the figure '2' in the mathematical symbol for x squared. Unfortunately, I can't get it to format properly here, but I think you'll get the idea.

Dave_anon · Answer

Hi

Yes, I see, but I don't see how it defeats my definition of phonology. It's the study of how people relate their voiced sounds to parts of language. Is that not what you are saying?

Dave

Kunsusuki · Answer

fivejedjonPhonology is the that part of phonetics

I thought they were two separate parts covered with an umbrella called linguistics, no?

fivejedjonthat deals with how sounds are used and perceived in a particular language

For the perception of sounds there is a study called acoustic phonetics, right?

Fivejedjon · Answer

kunsusukiI thought they were two separate parts covered with an umbrella called linguistics, no?

Some regard phonology as a branch of phonetics; others regard phonology and phonetics as separate branches of linguistics.

kunsusukiFor the perception of sounds there is a study called acoustic phonetics, right?

Yes.

Articulatory phonetics studies the ways in which we makes sounds.
Acoustic phonetics studies the way sounds are heard.
Experimental phonetics studies the aspects of sounds essential for understanding.

Cpu blue 911 · Answer

kunsusuki Why do we call phonology functional phonetics?

Functional Phonetics

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