Chapter Summary
Phonetic science is
concerned with the objective description and analysis of all aspects of
speech. The representation of speech depends upon treating it as a
succession of sounds. The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) aims to
provide a symbol for any sound in any language.
The sounds in
speech are of two kinds: vowels and consonants. Vowels may be simple, or
diphthongal. Segments are grouped into syllables, which are the smallest
units that can be pronounced in a natural way. Recording speech with a
microphone enables us to display a waveform, on which certain aspects of
speech can be observed and measured.
Speech and writing
are separate channels through which language messages can be passed. The
two channels have different uses, and different characteristics. Writing
is important in our culture but we must avoid the mistake of believing
that written language can somehow show us what speech is really like (or
how it ought to be).