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Linguistics An Essential Introduction (Version 1.5)

Chapter 5 Phonetics

Having discussed the meaning side of the linguistic sign in detail, let us now turn to the form side and its physical realizations β€” the way we transmit linguistic signals from one person to another. This chapter explores this physical reality by looking at the body parts used for language, how they move to create a linguistic signal, and how linguists categorize, describe, and notate these physical properties so they can record and access information about a language.
When you’ve completed this chapter, you’ll be able to:
  • identify the locations and functions of parts of the human anatomy relevant to the articulation of spoken and signed languages,
  • provide articulatory descriptions of phones, and
  • identify the meanings of many common symbols from the International Phonetic Alphabet.