Phonetics, phonology and prosodics: how speech sounds and effects are…

The idea

This statement introduces phonetics, phonology and prosodics as methods for analysing spoken language. Phonetics concerns how speech sounds are physically articulated, transmitted and received; phonology concerns how sounds function as a system in a language, including phonemes and patterns; prosodics concerns features such as pitch, stress, tempo, volume and intonation that create effects in speech. You learn to describe how sounds are produced, using terms like plosive, fricative, alveolar or bilabial, and to analyse how these choices and prosodic features create meanings and effects. For example, in a political speech, a speaker may use rising intonation to invite agreement or increased volume and stress to emphasise a key point. Assessment requires accurate identification and explanation of how these features contribute to interaction and meaning.

What earns the marks

• Identify and describe how speech sounds are articulated, using appropriate phonetic terminology such as place and manner of articulation.
• Explain how phonological features, including phonemes and sound patterns, function in spoken language.
• Analyse prosodic features such as intonation, stress, tempo, pitch and volume, and explain their effects.
• Relate phonetic, phonological and prosodic choices to meaning, interaction and context in spoken texts.
• Use accurate transcription or notation where appropriate to support analysis of speech sounds.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Confusing phonetics (physical production of sounds) with phonology (sound systems) or prosodics (features like pitch and stress).

  Put it right: Define each term clearly and apply it to the right level of analysis.

• Describing a sound or prosodic feature without explaining its effect or function in context.

  Put it right: Link the feature to meaning, interaction or the speaker's intentions.

• Using imprecise terms such as 'tone of voice' without specifying prosodic features like pitch movement or stress.

  Put it right: Name the specific prosodic feature and describe its pattern.

Exam tips

• Use the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) accurately when identifying individual sounds, but only where it supports your point.
• When analysing prosody, comment on patterns across an utterance rather than isolated features.
• Link every phonetic, phonological or prosodic observation to how it shapes meaning or interaction.