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Segmental and Suprasegmental Features

Segmental features refer to individual speech sounds like consonants and vowels, which are characterized by place and manner of articulation. Suprasegmental features involve pitch, stress, intonation, rhythm, and speech rate. Pitch affects intonation patterns and emotion. Stress emphasizes certain syllables and affects meaning. Intonation conveys sentence type and attitude through rises and falls in pitch. Rhythm and speech rate contribute to the natural flow of speech.

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98 views

Segmental and Suprasegmental Features

Segmental features refer to individual speech sounds like consonants and vowels, which are characterized by place and manner of articulation. Suprasegmental features involve pitch, stress, intonation, rhythm, and speech rate. Pitch affects intonation patterns and emotion. Stress emphasizes certain syllables and affects meaning. Intonation conveys sentence type and attitude through rises and falls in pitch. Rhythm and speech rate contribute to the natural flow of speech.

Uploaded by

Swarupa Kanna
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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SEGMENTAL AND SUPRASEGMENTAL FEATURES

Segmental Features:
1. Consonants and Vowels: Segmental features deal with individual speech sounds,
which can be categorized into two main groups: consonants and vowels.
2. Consonants: Consonants are produced by obstructing or constricting the airflow in
the vocal tract. They are characterized by several features, including place of
articulation (where in the vocal tract the airflow is obstructed), manner of articulation
(how the airflow is obstructed), and voicing (whether the vocal cords vibrate during
sound production).
3. Vowels: Vowels are produced with relatively unrestricted airflow and are
characterized by factors such as height (the position of the tongue), backness (the
location of the highest point of the tongue), and lip rounding.
4. Phonemes: In phonology, these individual speech sounds are further classified into
phonemes, which are the smallest distinctive units of sound in a language. Changing a
phoneme can alter the meaning of a word (minimal pairs).
5. Allophones: Variations of phonemes based on context are called allophones. These
are not used to differentiate meaning but can affect the way phonemes are pronounced
in different contexts.
Suprasegmental Features:
1. Pitch: Suprasegmental features are aspects of speech that extend beyond individual
sounds. Pitch is one such feature and refers to the perceived highness or lowness of a
person's voice. It plays a crucial role in intonation patterns, questions, and emotions
conveyed in speech.
2. Stress: Stress refers to the relative emphasis or prominence placed on certain
syllables or words within an utterance. It can change the meaning of a word and is
essential for understanding the rhythm and structure of a language.
3. Intonation: Intonation patterns involve the rise and fall of pitch in speech. They
convey information about sentence type (declarative, interrogative, imperative) and
can indicate the speaker's emotional state or attitude.
4. Rhythm and Tempo: The overall pace and rhythm of speech, including the duration
of sounds and pauses between them, are also suprasegmental features. These elements
contribute to the natural flow of spoken language.
5. Speech Rate: The speed at which someone speaks can affect the meaning and
interpretation of speech. Rapid speech may indicate excitement or urgency, while
slow speech may convey thoughtfulness or hesitation.

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