The Phenomenon of Adaptation

Non-obligatory Assimilation.

English Consonants in Connected Speech.

English Vowels in Connected Speech.

The Phenomenon of Adaptation.

Outline

VIII. Modifications of Phonemes in Connected Speech

Questions

1) What are the general principles of consonant formation?

2) What principles of consonant classification do you know?

3) What types of obstacles are possible in most languages?

4) What are the main groups of consonants according to the type of obstacle?

5) What kinds of consonants are distinguished according to the manner of articulation?

6) What are the main groups of consonants according to the articulating organ?

7) What are the main groups of consonants according to the passive organs of speech?

8) What are the main groups of consonants according to the presence or absence of voice?

9) How many consonant phonemes form the English consonant system?

10) What are the main principals forming oppositions of consonant phonemes?

11) What problem of phonological character is there in the English consonant system?

When a phoneme is articulated separately it displays all its characteristic features. But phonemes are seldom articulated singly; in speaking they are generally used in sentences consisting of a number of words and, consequently, are pronounced in sequences of sounds, interrupted by pauses. Thus, in the process of speaking the speech organs are constantly changing their position.

The articulation of one sound, pronounced separately, can be analysed into three phases:

1. The on-glide (initial, excursion), when the speech organs are placed in position.

2. The detention (medial, stop-stage, the hold, retention stage), when the speech organs preserve their position for a certain period of time.

3. The off-glide (final, recursion, release) during which the speech organs return to a position of rest.

For example, the on-glide of [p] is the closure of the lips, the second phase is the pause, and the off-glide is the explosion.

There are two ways of joining the sounds:

1) merging of stages – when the final stage of the first sound merges with the initial stage of the second sound. It takes place when sounds of different nature are joined together: vowels and consonants (e.g. law);

2) interpenetration of stages – when the medial stage of the second sound “penetrates” into the medial stage of the first sound. It takes place when sounds of similar or identical nature are joined together (e.g. little, battle, middle).

When phonemes are pronounced in sequences, we observe the phenomenon of adaptation (assimilation) — the speech organs adjust themselves to make a more convenient transition from one articulation to another, they display, as it were, a certain "economy" of effort. Of course, this "economy" may vary in different languages. The type of adaptation depends on the articulation basis as well as on the concrete phonetic laws functioning in every language. As a result of such adaptation of one articulation to another, we have combinative phonemic variants.

When articulating sounds in sequences, the three phases are not necessarily preserved. For example, the [k]-phoneme in the English word actor has only the first and the second phase, while the following [t]-phoneme has only the second and the third phase. Thus, the articulation of this combination of two plosives has a closure, a double long pause and an explosion; the third phase of [k] and the first phase of [t] coalesce. It is interesting to note that the same sequence of sounds in the Russian word актер is pronounced differently: the [K]-phoneme and the [T]-phoneme have all the three phases of articulation.

In some cases, the modifications of phonemes in Russian are the same as in English. For instance, the on-glide of a labial consonant or a rounded vowel begins at the same time as the on-glide of the preceding consonant. As a result, we have labialized consonants both in English and in Russian.

E. g. twelve, sort, стул, дом

Adaptation or assimilation may be of two kinds: historical and "living" (functioning).

The process of historical assimilation went on even in the early epochs of the development of a language. However, the forms of words created in earlier periods as a result of this process of historical-assimilation still exist in the language and are used at the present time.

Classical examples of historical assimilation can be found in words borrowed from Norman-French:

FrenchEnglish

permission [p@r'mIsj@n] [p@'mISn],

measure ['mezjur] ['meZ@].

Here we see the adaptation of the articulation of [s] and [z] to the articulation of the [j]-phoneme. It does not function in present-day English.

It is necessary to elucidate the terms used in this chapter. The term " assimilation " includes all changes in the characteristic features of phonemes as a result of adjustment of articulations in sound-sequences." The term "assimilation" usually denotes the result, while the term " adaptation " denotes rather the method by which this result is achieved.

Present day assimilation can be subdivided into partial and complete. Complete assimilation is characterized by complete similarity of the two sounds (e.g. cupboard). When one or more features of the sounds in a sequence are affected, we have partial assimi1ation. It can be subdivided into progressive, regressive, reciprocal.

Assimilation is progressive whenthe first of the two sounds affected by assimilation makes the second sound similar to itself (e.g. desks, pens).

Assimilation is regressive when either the speech organs are prepared beforehand for the articulation of a sound or sounds that follow (e.g. in the).

Assimilation is reciprocal when both sounds are equally affected by assimilation (e.g. twice)

Assimilation may affect the work of different articulating organs: the tongue, the lips, the soft palate, and the vocal cords. It may also affect the place of articulation, the manner of articulation.

Regressive assimilation is more common in languages than progressive assimilation; evidently it is more usual that the speech organs should be prepared beforehand for any articulation that follows. In Russian, regressive assimilation is the prevailing type; cases of progressive assimilation are very rare. In English, the regressive type of assimilation is also more common. However, the progressive type is also frequently used.

The articulation of vowels may be adapted to that of other vowels or of consonants; the articulation of consonants may be affected by vowel articulation.

It is useful to distinguish between "obligatory" assimilations and "non-obligatory" assimilations.

Obligatory assimilation occurs in the speech of all the persons who speak the certain language, no matter what style of speech is used. Obligatory assimilations are included in the articulation basis, and, consequently, have to be mastered in acquiring the pronunciation of the spoken language.

Non-obligatory assimilations are those which appear in careless spoken speech and they shouldn’t be encouraged. Public speakers, teachers, lecturers, esp. should avoid them because such assimilations render the speech unintelligible.

It is advisable to avoid the regressive adaptation of [s] to [ò] or [Z]:

e.g. this shop [`Di`ò:op], does she [`dVZ ò:], this year ['Diò'jɜ:].

In some cases the sequences [t+j] or [d+j] result in affricates and [tò], [ʤ] are pronounced instead: shut your eyes ['òVtò'raiz]; did you [diʤ u:].

Regressive assimilations affecting the activity of the lips are very common in careless speech, [n] is reduced to [m], [d] to [b], [nt] followed by a labial consonant is labialized. The following pronunciations are frequent in slovenly speech: ten minutes ['tem 'minits], London Bridge ['lVnd@m 'briʤ], I'll soon bring them [ail 'su:m 'briN D@m].

Another case of regressive assimilation is the introduction of [i] before [j], and [u] before [w]: What are you doing? is pronounced: ['wot i ju 'duiN]; Go away may be pronounced ['gou u'wei].

These and similar cases of non-obligatory assimilations should on no account be imitated by foreign learners of English.

The modifications are observed both within words and word boundaries. There are the following types of modification: assimilation, accommodation, reduction, elision, and inserting. The adaptive modification of a consonant by a neighbouring consonant in a speech chain is assimilation. Accommodation is used to denote the interchanges of VC or CV types. Reduction is actually qualitative or quantitative weakening of vowels in unstressed positions. Elision is a complete loss of sounds, both vowels and consonants. Inserting is a process of sound addition.

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