English Phonology, Essay Example

Chapter 3 concerns English phonology and includes discussions of how people understand and produce language and defines the phonemes of English. This chapter is particularly interesting because oral communication is an essential part of the human experience and the analysis of language is complex. Miscommunication is the source of many problems and proper communication allows individuals to spread ideas and convince people of their views, so it is essential to break down the English language in a manner that allows its speakers to understand how it is structured and how it can be used in a meaningful way.

The chapter begins by explaining the rationalization of using sound to communicate. Using sound is practical primarily because it allows individuals to communicate while using their hands for other tasks. Individuals that are able to here are therefore able to maximize their multitasking ability on this basis. Furthermore, it discusses how sounds are useful to mean a variety of things. Even though the same words are spoken, the way that they are said can give rise to a different meaning. Therefore, not only the combination of sounds that are used, but the tone of these sounds, are necessary for human communication.

The process of sound production itself is a complicated process and the brain must work in conjunction with the lungs, vocal cords, tongue, and lips to produce a phoneme. The brain is necessary both to produce sounds and to interpret their meanings. Phonetics itself is the study of sounds across languages and it is important to stand phonetics in order to fully understand how people communicate. In English, there are both long vowels and short vowels, which are created by changing the sound quality. Reduced vowels also exist and are created by using a weaker airflow. In addition to vowels, there are several different kinds of phonemes that are used in English communication. One group of phonemes are referred to as stops, which are formed by blocking air and then releasing it. Nasal consonants are produced by stopping air in the oral cavity and lowering the velum so the air can pass through the nasal cavity. Liquids are used to pronounce the sounds that make r and l, and are made primarily by placing the tip of the tongue against the alveolar ridge. Fricatives are made by forcing an air through a narrow channel by bringing two parts of the mouth close together. Affricates begin at stops and are released at fricatives. Lastly, glides are also known as semivowels and function as syllable boundaries.

Understanding these elements of English phonology is important because it can help us understand how different languages have evolved from one another. Furthermore, it can help ESL students gain a greater conceptual understanding of how English differs from their native language and improve upon how they pronounce these words on a daily basis. Since different languages focus on the use of different phonemes, this will help individuals understand one another more greatly.

An important concept discussed in the chapter is that young children learn how to pronounce phonemes without instruction. This is equally good and bad because sometimes children learn how to pronounce them improperly, and it is difficult to correct these issues later in life. However, it is beneficial because it allows children to learn multiple languages depending on the words that their parents speak to them as a child. Ultimately, phonetics is an essential component of language and communication and it is important to emphasize pronunciation of words in order to ensure that communication is clear.