Phonemic symbols are visual representations of the speech sounds (phonemes) that we produce as we speak. Although there are multiple alphabets of phonemic symbols, the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) is the most widely used in the fields of linguistics and speech-language pathology. Below is a chart of consonant phonemic symbols from the IPA. (From … [Read more...]
The Basics About Acoustic Phonetics
Acoustic phonetics is the study of the acoustic (physical) properties of sounds, which are determined by measuring pitch (formants and frequencies), loudness (amplitude), and quality (timbre). Sounds are measured in terms of sound waves, which are composed of harmonics, frequencies, and formants that show air pressure patterns created during phonation. The physical process of speech production can … [Read more...]
Testimony LL
"Linguisticsnetwork has been a terrific resource for me, helping carve difficult concepts down to manageable size. The exercises and tutorials have aided me in my Phonetics & Phonology and Psycholinguistics courses, and numerous classmates have talked about how much of an aid the glossary was through the Intro course. It is incredibly helpful to have all the information we need -- at the level … [Read more...]
Testimony- AL
LinguisticsNetwork is an amazing resource for all students pursuing any linguistically related field. Whether you are strictly linguistically focused or following the communication sciences route, the website is a critical resource. In the beginning stages of either major, we are all required to accumulate a linguistic background. Each course has a specific section on the website to further your … [Read more...]
An Introduction to Linguistics
What is Linguistics? Have you ever wondered why speakers of English are permitted to say White House but not House White, or why Southerners in the US say “pah” for pie? And even more strangely, consider the fact that in English the plural form of the singular noun monkey is monkeys, and yet the plural form of child is children. Why don’t we say monkren or childs? Why do French speakers pronounce … [Read more...]
An Intro to Language Families
Language Families Language families are groups of languages said to be "genetically" related on the basis of having a common ancestor, or protolanguage. Such languages share several features and vocabulary items, although these similarities are hardly apparent when comparing two languages as seemingly distinct as say, English and Hindi (both of the Indo-European family). As speakers move apart, … [Read more...]
