Phonology:Introduction

Phonemes: the sound system differs from one language to another.

Phonology: when we deal with phonology, we deal with a particular language, i.e. a selection wide range of sounds. The treatment of the sound is different.

When we speak about phonetics we consider the physics of the sounds. So phonetics sees the sounds as a physical property, but phonology sees the sound as a functional property.

In phonetics we don't care about the language (any language), but in phonology we do. I.e. we deal with particular language
1-The range of possible human phonetic performance is very wide. Physically (biologically) speaking, all humans are equipped with similar organs of speech to produce any sound. Yet, we can notice that every language possesses its own sound-system. For example: the existence of ‘ق’ in Arabic/Hebrew, and its no-existence in French or English.

A child, for example, can produce any sound simply because he/she is not aware of his/her language own sound system which differs from another. It follows from this that a French child can produce ‘خ’ or ‘ح’ for instance. But as this child grows up, he/she gets familiar with his/he language own sound system, then he/she stops producing such sounds because socially and psychologically speaking such or sounds are classified as being odd.

A selection from the full general human phonetic range is made. The selection and the patterns, into which it is formed, constitute the phonology of the language. The phonology of every language is peculiar to that language, and different from that of every other language. A phonological approach to the medium (language) is one that brings out the pattern forming possibilities of the sounds as used in a particular language. Take the example of consonant cluster:

s + p = spin s + t = stick. These clusters obtain in English

Unlike the sequence s + b that lacks in English, but found in Arabic in the word /sd r/

s + v lacks in English but obtains in French /svelt/

No English word begins with the sequence s + b + f or +h. in phonology, we analyse restrictions and regularities existing in a certain language.

s + d lacks in English but obtains in Arabic /sd r/

s + m obtain in English /smel/, and in Arabic too: /sm ɑ/

s + n obtains in English /snəʊ /, and in Arabic /sn ɪ/

s + b lacks in English yet obtains in Arabic /sb ɑ/

In the same line of thought, an English vowel such as ʌ or ɔ is not found in Arabic. It would be very difficult for an Arab to produce correctly and to make difference between /e/ and /ɪ/ or again /æ/, /ʌ/, and /ɔ/

Merely because they are non-existent in such sound system that consists of three vowels which are: ɑ, ʊ and ɪ

It is not because he/she cannot do that physically, but because he/she socially and psychologically was not trained to produce such a vowel.

Thus the total range of sounds that can be produced / uttered by a speaker is infinite. A selection is done. The number of English vowels for instance is not more than twenty. If we substitute one of these twenty for the others, the meaning of a word will automatically change.

Substituting for instance, between the plosive p and t gives us six different words:

Pɪt, Pet, Pɔt, Pʊt, Pæt, Pʌt

Take the alphabet and writing. The alphabet is the abstract basis for writing. The same thing applies to speech-sound. There is an abstract set of units as the basis of our speech.

These units are Phonemes. And the complete sot of these units is termed the phonemic system of the language.

While a mere substitution of one unit for another changes meaning, two ways of pronouncing a sound makes a little difference. The /b/ sound at beginning of a word is normally pronounced with no voicing (devoiced) [b ]. Yet, a pronunciation with voicing causes little difference (when speaking emphatically). The two realizations are said to be in free variation. Complementary distribution, on the other hand, concerns those sounds the environment (phonetics context) of which is mutually exclusive. Aspiration, for instance, is a must with initial plosives. Yet, unaspiration is a must with plosives preceded by an initial /s/.

Phonetic transcription (narrow) accounts for all details concerning the exact quality of sounds (diacritics) such as aspiration, affrication, devoicing, etc.

Phonemic transcription (broad) accounts only for phonemes. Phonology concerns, then, the function of phonemes in language, and the relationship among different phonemes (contrast): abstract side of the sounds of a language.

2-· In phonology, function refers to meaning.

· Phonology operates in relation to a specific language.

· Phonology is interested in regularities of sound-

· Patterning, possibilities and also restrictions (limits).

· In phonology, we have the abstract system.

· Phonetics is to put this set of phoneme into practice.

· The sound can be physical (phoneme), functional (allophone)

· In phonology we keep the identity of sound
3-In his book, “phonology introduction to basic concepts”, Roger Kan defines the domain of phonology as: “phonology proudly speaking is that sub branch discipline within linguistics concerned with the ‘sound of language’ more narrowly phonology. Proper is concerned with the function, behaviour, and organization of sounds as linguistic items…”

Phonetics is the study of the speech sounds. The phonetic study tells how the sounds of a language (any language) are made, i.e. the way they are produced, and what are their acoustic properties.

A phonological study tells how these sounds are produces to convey (transmit) meaning. While the former is concerned with the physical of the speech sound, the letter is concerned with the structure and the function of these sounds in conveying.

It is said that two languages can have the same phonetics sounds, and yet, these sounds may have difference phonological properties in the two languages.