This week's Applying Linguistics topic focuses on the IPA and how we can apply it to the way we speak.

This week's Applying Linguistics topic focuses on the IPA and how we can apply it to the way we speak.You must think critically about the material in the assigned readings how it relates to the topics below. Follow the instructions and create a post responding to the questions. Your post will be graded on the analysis, critical thinking, organization, and accuracy.ALSO, be sure to read your classmates' posts and respond to one of them. Your response should be original, thoughtful, and accurate. (This contributes 5 points to your Applying Linguistics grade).

Choose 3 words whose pronunciations vary depending on person or dialect (it’s ok to think about pronunciations that “annoy” you). Transcribe these words for your own pronunciation and for one alternate pronunciation you have observed.
Which sounds differ in the competing pronunciations? What is the articulatory difference between the differing sounds? Answer these questions for each of the 3 words, and be sure to use appropriate descriptions (place of articulation, tongue height, etc).
Can you use any of the phonological rules discussed in File 3.2 to explain any of your alternate pronunciations?

Example:

The three words are: “hill” “pen” and “push”

Many people pronounce “hill” with a small cap I, as in, pill, kill, and Phil. However, sometimes, if I’m not careful, I will pronounce this word with a lower case i, as in, heel, wheel, and meal. The difference between the two pronunciations is the vowel. Small cap I is a front, high, and lax vowel. Whereas, lower case i is a front, high, and tense vowel. Although both are considered high vowels, small cap I is slightly lower than lower case i. Therefore, when one pronounces hill with a small cap I, the tongue position is slightly lower than the person who uses lower case i.

“Pen” is typically pronounced with epsilon, as in, bed, fed, led, and said. However, some dialects, including southern, may pronounce this word with a small cap I as in, pin, fin, win, and sin. The difference again is with the vowel. Epsilon is a front, mid, and lax vowel. Whereas small cap I is a front, high, and lax vowel. Therefore the biggest difference between the two is tongue height. When one pronounces “pin” the tongue is higher than when one pronounces “pen”.

Lastly, “push” is commonly pronounced with upsilon, as in, cushy, could, foot, and boogie. However in some dialects, including some areas of Ohio, may pronounce this word as “poosh” with a lower case u, as in, moon, toon, boot, and dune. The difference between the pronunciations is with the vowel. Upsilon is a back, high, rounded and lax vowel. Lower case u is a back, high, rounded and tense vowel. Upon first glance, the only difference is that one is lax and one is tense. However, lower case u is slightly higher than upsilon. Therefore, when one pronounces “push” the tongue is slightly lower than when one pronounces “poosh”

In the instance of the word “hill” coming out as “heel” at times, may be due to assimilation. For example, “I saw him ((“heem”)) down the hill ((“heel”)). Or my favorite, “steel meal” rather than “steel mill”.

Running head: LINGUISTICS 1 Linguistics:Name:Institution: LINGUISTICS 2 The three words are: cloth, cure and lead:Many people pronounce cloth with a small cap O, as in, cough, long, and gone. At...