LanGoPod Episode 2: Conventional wisdom

LanGoPod is a podcast that helps you learn languages more effectively by understanding linguistic principles. 💬

In this second episode of LanGoPod, we discuss phonetic alphabets and how they can be useful tool for language learners.

A phonetic alphabet is a convention of symbols that are associated with a series of phonetic features.  In this episode we look at the consonants and vowels in English. Vowels are described in terms of front/back tongue position, jaw height, and lip roundedness. Consonants are described in terms of their place(s) of articulation, “manner”, and voicing or other special features (glottal states). We can determine the phonemic status of a vowel by building minimal sets. What’s the biggest minimal set you can build? 

We conclude the podcast with some cross-linguistic lessons and some wordplay from our forthcoming book of Konglish puns!