turkish phonology and morphology (türkçe ses ve b‹ç‹mb‹lg‹s‹)

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It is your turn!
Turkish Phonology and Morphology (Türkçe Ses ve Biçim Bilgisi)
Now that we know the different parts of the vocal tract, we can begin to
describe consonants.
CONSONANT DESCRIPTION
Consonants are described in terms of
• voicing (presence or absence of vocal cord vibration)
• place of articulation (where in the vocal tract sounds are produced)
• manner of articulation (how sounds are produced in terms of airflow)
Voicing
Voicing is defined as the presence or absence of vocal cord vibration. Vocal
cords are two muscular folds within the larynx behind the Adam’s apple. You can
manipulate your vocal cords by opening and closing them. The vocal cords are
open when breathing. You can also close your vocal cords. Make the sound you
would make when you are surprised: Two ‘a ’s with a stop in between (may be
written as ‘a-a’). Stop after you make the first ‘a ’. Try breathing. You should not
be able to because you have closed your vocal cords, not leaving a passage
between them thus preventing the air from passing through.
The air that comes out of the lungs goes up through the trachea into the larynx
and between the vocal cords. As the air passes between the vocal cords, vocal
cords may be apart or close together. If the vocal cords are apart, the air passes
through the vocal cords freely. If the vocal cords are close together, then there is
a narrow passage between them which causes a build up of air pressure. This air
pressure in turn causes vocal cords to vibrate. If the vocal cords vibrate in the
production of sounds, then those sounds are voiced. If the vocal cords do not
vibrate, then those sounds are voiceless.
To be able to distinguish voiced consonants from voiceless ones, produce the
sound /ssssss/, then follow it with /zzzzzz/. Then, alternate between /s/ and /z/
producing /sssszzzzsssszzzz…/. You should notice that both of these sounds are
formed in the same way and in the same place. The only difference between /s/
and /z/ is voicing where /s/ is voiceless as there is no vocal cord vibration, /z/ is
voiced as there is vocal cord vibration. You can feel vocal cord vibration by placing
your finger on the Adam’s apple when you are producing /z/. You can also hear
your vocal cords vibrate. Stop up your ears by putting your fingers on your ears.
When you produce /z/ you should hear a buzzing sound which is vocal cord
vibration. You can also try this with /f/ (voiceless) and /v/ (voiced).
Voicing is important in distinguishing sounds because there are pairs of sounds
which are formed It is your turn! in the same way and in the same place and the only difference
1 between 1such
sounds is voicing; one sound being voiced and the other voiceless.
It is your turn!
Produce the It following is your turn! sounds. Decide whether they are voiced or voiceless.
2 Letter 2
Sound voiced/voiceless
fl S
It is your turn!
3
l
It is your turn!
m
3
ç
l
m
tS
It is your turn!
4
r
It is your turn!
c
j4 R
dZ
Z
It is your turn!
It is your turn!
5 5
It is your turn!
It is your turn!
6 6