What Phonetics is? Differences in the articulation bases of the English and Russian languages

Phonetics is a branch of linguistics that studies the sound matter, its aspect and functions. Phonetics formulates the rules of pronunciation for separate sounds and sound combinations.

Differences in the articulation bases of the English and Russian languages

1. The English consonants are articulated with the apical position of the tip of the tongue [t, d]. The Russian consonants are dorsal: the tip of the tongue is lowered /т, д/.
2. The Russian consonants are palatalized (tall - vs. - только; shall - vs. - щель)
3. English sounds [p, t, k] are aspirated Russian sounds have no aspiration.
4. In Russian we don’t have the following sounds: /w, θ, ð, ʤ , r, ŋ, h/.
5. English has “flat - type” position of the lips, the lips are not protruded, they are more tense, the corners of the lips are raised, which resembles a smile.
6. Differences between long and short vowels in English: sheep [∫i:p] ship [∫Ip]
7. In English there are 20 vowel sounds, in Russian - 6

Glossary

apical ['æpık∂l] - апикальный (кончик языка вверху за верхними зубами)

dorsal ['dɔːsl] - дорсальный (кончик языка за нижними зубами)

palatalization [pæl∂t∂laı'zeı∫n] - палатализация (смягчение согласных)

aspiration [æspı'reı∫n] - аспирация (придыхание)

protrude [pr∂'tru:d] - вытягивать (губы)

vowel ['vαu∂l] - гласный

consonant ['kɒns∂n∂nt] - согласный