What is language?

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L 1

UNIT 1:

LANGUAGE, PHONOLOGY & PHONETICS

Language is an arbitrary sound system used for communication (Wardaugh, 1990).

What are the subsystems of language?

Language has three subsystems: phonology, grammar and lexis. All three sub systems are
related with semantics. The relationship among the three subsystems can be seen in the
following diagram:

Figure 1: Relationship of Three Language Subsystems

The subsystem of phonology covers the sounds which are related with articulatory,
acoustic and auditory. The three types of phonology is studied in phonetics. While the study of
sound function is analyzed in phonemics. The subsystem of grammar covers words, morphem
and word formation, which are studied in morphology. While the structure of words, such as
phrase, clause, sentence and text are studies in syntax. The subsystem of lexis covers
vocabulary/ lexis, which is studied in lexicology. All the three subsystems (phonology, grammar
and lexis) which are related with semantic aspects are studied in semantics.

What is Phonology?

The word “phonology” is derived from Greek. “Phone” means “Sound” and “Logos” means
“Study”. In short, phonology is a branch of linguistics which study and describe sounds, from
the process of creating sound and its change.

What is studied in Phonology?

Phonetics is all about studying the sounds people make when they talk.
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What is the object study of Phonology?
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The object study of Phonology covers phonetics and phonemics. The diagram below
describe the relationship of language, phonology and phonetics:

Figure 2: Relationship of Language, Phonology and Phonetics

What is Phonetics?

Istilah fonetik berasal dari bahasa Inggris phonetics artinya ‘ilmu yang mengkaji bunyi-
bunyi tanpa memperhatikan fungsinya untuk membedakan arti (Verhaar,1982:12;
Marsono, 1989:1). Menurut Sudaryanto (1974:1), fonetik mengkaji bunyi bahasa dari
sudut ucapan (parole).

What are the types of Phonetics?

There are three types of Phonetics: articulatory phonetics, acoustics phonetics and
auditory phonetics. Articulatory phonetics is also called organic or fisiologic phonetics.
Figure below describes types of phonetics:

Acoustic Phonetics

This is the study of the sound waves made by the human vocal organs for
communication and how the sounds are transmitted. The sound travels through from the
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speaker’s mouth through the air to the hearer’s ear, through the form of vibrations in the
air. Phoneticians can use equipment like Oscillograms and Spectrograms in order to
analyse the frequency and duration of the sound waves produced.

Auditory Phonetics

This is how we perceive and hear sounds and how the ear, brain and auditory nerve
perceives the sounds. This branch deals with the physiological processes involved in the
reception of speech.

Articulatory Phonetics

Articulatory phonetics is interested in the movement of various parts of the vocal tract
during speech. The vocal tract is the passages above the larynx where air passes in the
production of speech. In simpler terms, it is understanding which part of the mouth
moves when we make a sound.

Acoustic Phonetics is the study of the physical properties of sounds. Auditory Phonetics is the

study of the way listeners perceive sounds. Articulatory Phonetics  is the study of how the
vocal tracts produce the sounds.

What is studied in Articulatory Phonetics?

Articulatory phonetics studies and describes mechanism of sound organs which can
produce sounds. (Gleason, 1955). So, this articulary phonetics describes how sounds are
produced and articulated. All aspects of of articulary phonetics are in linguistics field.

What is studied in Acoustics Phonetics?

Fonetik akustis yaitu fonetik yang mengkaji dan mendeskripsikan bunyi bahasa berdasar
pada aspek-aspek fisiknya sebagai getaran udara. Bunyi bahasa dikaji frekuensi
getarannya, amplitudo, intensitas, beserta timbrenya. Fonetik ini erat hubungannya
dengan fisika, atau merupakan ilmu antar disiplin antara linguistik dan fisika. Fonetik
akustis berfungsi secara praktis seperti dalam pembuatan telepon, rekaman piringan
hitam, cassette recorder.

What is studied in Auditory Phonetics?

Fonetik auditoris yaitu fonetik yang mengkaji dan mendeskripsikan cara mekanisme
pendengaran penerimaan bunyi-bunyi bahasa sebagai getaran udara. Fonetik ini
sebagian besar termasuk pada bidang neurologi (kedokteran), atau merupakan ilmu
antardisiplin antara linguistik dan kedokteran.