1. The Role and Functions of Phonetics in Linguistics
What percentage of linguistic descriptions involve phonetic elements?
Approximately 70% of linguistic descriptions involve phonetic transcriptions, pronunciation guides, or phonological explanations.
How many articulatory positions have been documented in the world’s languages?
Around 78 different articulatory positions have been documented.
How much air pressure do the lungs produce during normal speech?
About 5–10 cm H₂O.
How many vowel sounds does English have?
English has approximately 20 distinct vowel sounds.
What are the three main functions of phonetics?
The main functions are descriptive function, explanatory function, and practical function.
What is the average fundamental frequency (F0) for adult male speakers?
About 120 Hz.
At what speed do sound waves travel in air at 20°C?
Approximately 343 m/s.
How many oral and nasal vowels does French have?
French has 16 oral vowels and 4 nasal vowels.
What historical sound change is explained by phonetics?
The Great Vowel Shift in English, 1400–1700.
How many distinct phonemes can humans differentiate in their native language?
Humans can differentiate 40–50 distinct phonemes in their native language.
How many different consonant sounds can infants distinguish in the first 6 months?
Over 600 different consonant sounds.
How many consonant phonemes are in English?
About 24 consonant phonemes.
What percentage of second-language learners face difficulties due to phonetics?
Over 80% of second-language learners face difficulties primarily due to phonetic differences.
How large is the British National Corpus?
It contains 100 million words of data.
What percentage of children need assistance with pronunciation disorders?
Around 7–10% of children.
What historical sound shift took place in Germanic languages?
They underwent Grimm’s Law.
Why is phonetics indispensable?
Phonetics is indispensable for linguistic theory, language teaching, speech therapy, and technology.
What are the three main branches of phonetics?
They are articulatory phonetics, acoustic phonetics, and auditory (perceptual) phonetics.
Which internal branches of linguistics are linked to phonetics?
Phonology, stylistics, and lexicology.
Where does stress usually fall in Uzbek?
Stress falls mostly on the final syllable.