the science that deals with the general study of the language, like its grammar, morphology or phonology.
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Define "phonetics"
Study of sounds and how these are produced, transmitted and perceived. It deals with the concrete, measurable and physical properties of speech sounds.
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What are the three branches of phonetics? What do they focus on?
Articulatory: how sounds are produced. Acoustic: how sounds are transmitted from the mouth to the ear. Auditory: speech perception or the hearing process.
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Define "phonology".
It focuses on a more abstract level (sounds in context) and deals with the system, rules and patterns of the sounds from a particular language.
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Define "articulators".
Set of muscles and organs inside the vocal tract that shape the air flow to produce speech sounds.
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Define "trachea" or "windipipe".
It's a tube that connects the lungs to the larynx and pharynx allowing the passage of air.
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Define "larynx".
It's a casing located in the neck and attached to the trachea. AKA Adam's apple. Inside this box there're the vocal folds.
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Define "vocal folds" or "vocal cords".
Two flats of muscle similar to a pair of lips that can be brought together or separated through muscular action.
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Define "glottis".
The opening between the vocal folds.
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Describe "epiglottis".
It is attached to the lower part of the root of the tongue. It prevents food and liquid from entering the windpipe and lungs, so it moves backwards.
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Define "esophagus".
It's a muscular tube that connects the throat to the stomach. It runs behind the windpipe.
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Define "pharynx".
It's a tube that begins just above the larynx and is divided into 2 sections: one that leads two the oral cavity, and the other one that connects the nasal one.
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Define "soft palate" or "velum".
It's the articulator that allows the air to pass through the nose or the mouth.
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Define "uvula".
It's a piece of flesh that hands down at the back of the mouth. It prevents food and liquid from entering the nasal cavity.
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Define "hard palate".
AKA "roof of the mouth". It's a smoothy bony curved surface.
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Define "alveolar ridge".
It's between the front upper teeth and the hard palate. Its surface is civered wuth little ridges that the tongue is constantly touching.
