Linguistics 1 (2022–2023) Transcription keys

Below are the phonemic transcriptions of the sentences from the additional exercises in week
5 and 6. Note that there is no single correct transcription for any of the sentences. When words
are combined, some are realized as stressed (typically lexical words, such as nouns, verbs, and
adjectives) while others are unstressed (typically function words, such as auxiliaries, pronouns,
determiners, prepositions, and conjunctions). Unstressed syllables typically have reduced
vowels (schwa, /ɪ/ or /ʊ/), but the amount of vowel reduction is variable. Unstressed function
words often occur as weak or contracted forms.
We haven’t paid much attention to stress and connected speech phenomena (such as weak
and contracted forms) in this course, but it is good to become acquainted with them, because
we will study them in the second year. In the transcriptions below, stress is indicated with the
symbol ‘ˈ’, which directly precedes a stressed syllable.
The transcriptions in the mid-term exam are limited to phonemic transcriptions of individual
words and short phrases.

Week 5

a. The song is ended but the memory lingers on.

SSBE: /ðə ˈsɒŋ ɪz1,2 ˈɛndɪd3 bət ðə ˈmɛməri4 ˈlɪŋɡəz5 ˈɒn6/

1
In connected speech the contracted form /ˈsɒŋz/ is natural; the line in the song lacks
this for rhythmic reasons (see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_BAqgDiVIA)
2
/ˈsɑŋ/ (GA)
3
/ˈɛndəd/
4
/ˈmɛmri/
5
/ˈlɪŋɡɚz/ (GA); /z/ because the preceding sound is voiced (compare jumps /ˈʤʌmps/,
with /s/)
6
/ˈɑn/ (GA); note that in this context the preposition is stressed

b. I’m putting all my eggs in one basket.

SSBE: /aɪm1 ˈpʊtɪŋ ˈɔl2 maɪ ˈɛɡz3 ɪn ˈwʌn4 ˈbɑskɪt5/

1
another contracted form (this time also reflected in orthography)
2
/ˈɑl/ (GA)
3
/z/ because the preceding sound is voiced (compare flapjacks /ˈflæpʤæks/, with /s/)
4
a tricky word; it begins with a consonant and has /ʌ/, not /ɒ/
5
/ˈbæskɪt/ (GA)
c. Isn’t this a lovely day?

SSBE: /ˈɪzn̩t1 ðɪs ə ˈlʌvli2 ˈdeɪ/

1
a contracted form with a syllabic nasal (/t/ is likely to be absent: /ˈɪzn̩ ðɪs/)
2
the first syllable of lovely has the same tricky vowel as one

Week 6

a. Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much.

SSBE: /ˈɔlweɪz1 fəˈɡɪv2 jə3 r4 ˈɛnəmiz | ˈnʌθɪŋ əˈnɔɪz ðəm5 səʊ ˈmʌʧ/
1
/ˈɑlweɪz/ (GA)
2
/fɚˈɡɪv/ (GA)
3
/jʊə/, /jɔ/
4
linking-r (the next word begins with a vowel)
5
a weak form (them is almost never /ðɛm/ in connected speech)

b. Anyone who lives within their means suffers from a lack of imagination.

SSBE: /ˈɛniwʌn1 hʊ2 ˈlɪvz wɪðɪn ðɛə3 ˈminz ˈsʌfəz4 frəm5 ə ˈlæk əv6 ɪmæʤəˈneɪʃn̩7/
1
tricky; <a> almost never represents /ɛ/ except in any and many
2
or /hu/
3
/ðɛr/ (GA)
4
/ˈsʌfɚz/ (GA)
5
a weak form (from is almost never /frʌm/ in connected speech)
6
of never has /f/; it’s usually /əv/ before vowels and /ə/ before consonants, e.g. cup of
tea /ˈkʌp ə ˈti/
7
only main stress is indicated (the second syllable has secondary stress)

c. We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.

SSBE: /wə r1 ˈɔl ɪn ðə ˈɡʌtə2 bət ˈsʌm əv əs ə3,4 ˈlʊkɪŋ5 ət ðə ˈstɑz5/

1
a contracted form
2
/ˈɡʌtɚ/ (GA)
3
a sequence of unstressed syllables (of us are); they all have schwa
4
/ɚ/ (GA)
5
a tricky vowel; note Luke /luk/ vs. look /lʊk/
6
/ˈstɑrz/ (GA); /z/ because the preceding sound is voiced