INTRODUCTION OF PHONOLOGY (PHONETICS)

1. The Definition of Phonetics
Phonology is the study of sound. Phonology is divided into two fields. One of the fields of the study of phonology is Phonetic. Based on English-English dictionary phonetic is the study of speech sounds. Moreover, according to R. H. Robins phonetic is the scientific study of speech. He also explained the general form of linguistic communication among human being is speech. In my own opinion phonetic is the study of production, transmition and reception of speech sound. 
2. The Organs of Speech
a. Oral cavity (mouth). Mouth is the main organ of speech. It consists of some organs of speech: Tongue (tip, front, middle, and back), Teeth (upper and lower teeth). Lips (upper and lower lips), Jaws (upper and lower jaws).
b. Nasal cavity. Nose is the main organ of nasal cavity. All the sounds produced by nose are voiced.
c. Larynx; some organs of larynx: throat, lungs and Vocal cords are a part of larynx that can produce a vibration. By the vibration, we can distinguish between voiced and voiceless sounds.
3. The Production of Sounds
Speech can be studied from three points of view:
1. Articulatory phonetic; the study how humans produce speech sound (explores the methods of sound production).
2. Auditory phonetic; concerned with the hearing, acquisition and comprehension of phonetic sounds of words of a language (explores the methods of reception--the ear to the brain, and those processes).
3. Acoustic phonetic; the study of how speech sounds are transmitted (which deals with acoustic aspects of speech sounds).
a. Voiced and Voiceless sounds:
 Voiced sounds are produced when the vocal cords vibrate or open. 
 Voiceless sounds are produced when the vocal cords do not vibrate or close.
These are two easy ways to feel the vibration of vocal cords:
 Put your fingers on your Adam’s apple. 
 Cover your ears by the palm of your hands.
b. The Points of Sound Articulation
1) Bilabial; when the point of articulation is at the upper and lower lips.
e.g. [b] (voiced); [p] (voiceless); [m] (voiced)
2) Labio-dental; when the point of articulation is at the upper set of teeth and the lower lip. E.g. [f] (voiceless); [v] voiced
3) Alveolar; the point of articulation is at the tongue tip and the alveolar ridge.
e.g. [n] (voiced); [l] (voiceless)
4) Glottal; the point of articulation is at the glottis (in the throat).
e.g. [h] (voiceless)
5) Palatal; the point of articulation is at the tongue middle and palate.
e.g. [j] (voiced)
6) Velar; the point of articulation is at the tongue back and the velum (soft palate). E.g. [k] (voiceless); [g] (voiced)
c. The Types of Sound Articulation
1) Stop or Plosives; produced by stopping the air somewhere in the mouth or vocal passage and releasing it. E.g. [p] (voiceless); [b] (voiced).
2) Fricatives or Sibilants; produced by having the air rub against some surface in the mouth. E.g. [s] (voiceless); [z] (voiced).
3) Nasals; produced by passing the air trough nose or nasal cavity. E.g. [m] (voiced), [n] (voiced).
4) Vibrant; produced by having the tongue vibrates in the mouth. E.g. [r] (voiced).
5) Affricates; made up of two part a stop and a fricative. E.g. [t∫] (voiceless), [dЗ] (viced).

Bibliography
Nasr, Raja T, The Essential of Linguistic Science, Longman House, Harlow, London, England, 1984.
Lyons, John, Language a Linguistic an Introduction, Cambridge University, New York, 1984.
Kenyo, John. S, American Pronunciation, Ann arbor, Micigan, 1968.
Boey, Lim Kiat, Introduction to Linguistics for Language Teacher, Singapore University Press, Singapore, 1975.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theoretical_linguistics
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phonetics

  IMAM SYAFI’I
  NIM. 180 713 199