Phonetics and Phonology Quiz

What is the primary focus of phonetics?

• The meaning of words

• The physical sounds of speech

• The structure of sentences

• The spelling of words

Phonology studies:

• The history of language sounds

• The organization of sounds in a language

• The creation of written language

• The influence of accents

Phonetics examines how speech sounds are ________, ________, and perceived.

• produced, transmitted

• spoken, written

• heard, understood

• memorized, spoken

Which of the following is a characteristic of vowels?

• They are produced with a significant obstruction in the vocal tract.

• They are always voiceless.

• They are produced with an open vocal tract.

• They always involve a burst of air.

Consonants involve the ________ of airflow in some way, while vowels are produced with an open vocal tract.

• elimination

• obstruction

• redirection

• enhancement

Which of the following is a voiced sound?

• /p/

• /b/

• /t/

• /k/

Voiced sounds occur when the ________ vibrates during sound production.

• tongue

• lips

• vocal cords

• teeth

Which of the following is an example of a fricative sound?

• /m/

• /s/

• /t/

• /g/

Affricates are sounds that combine a ________ and a fricative.

• vowel

• nasal

• stop

• glide

Which of the following is a nasal sound?

• /n/

• /s/

• /d/

• /z/