Velar "k" vs. English "k"?

[Nadja Adolf]

Thanks.

Another question:

In the dialect of Arabic that I am studying (Cairene),
the qaaf is pronounced with the tongue low, and the
throat closed enough to make it a bit explosive - but
the kaaf is essentially an English k without
aspiration as in the word "likewise" as described in
Volume 1 of the text "Alif-Baa."

Are these the same sounds, these pharyngeals I think
they call them?

--- Tom Larsen <larsent at pdx.edu> wrote:
>
> Unfortunately it's not only the phonetic symbols
> that change over time
> but also the terminology used to describe them.  In
> Boas' time the
> "English k" was sometimes called a "palatal" sound
> (though perhaps not
> by Boas in this case).  Now days "palatal" is used
> to descibe sounds
> that are farther forward than the English k (i.e.,
> sounds where the
> tongue touches, or at least approaches, the "hard
> palate"), while the
> English k now is usual is described as a "velar"
> sound (the back part of
> the tongue touches, or at least approaches the
> "velum", aka the "soft
> palate").  This is the terminaology that George Yule
> is using.  In Boas'
> time sounds that were farther back than the English
> k were called
> "velar", whereas now days such sounds are usually
> called "uvular" (the
> very back part of the tongue touches, or at least
> approaches, the
> "uvula", that funny thing that hangs down back in
> your throat). Some
> people call these latter sounds "postvelar" rather
> than "uvular".  Boas'
> q is similar in sound to the Arabic letter whose
> name is sometimes
> transliterated as "qaaf".  Boas' k is similar to the
> Arabic letter whose
> name is sometimes transliterated as "kaaf".
>
> Tom
>
> Nadja Adolf wrote:
>
> >I'm having a little trouble understanding some of
> Boas
> >definitions.
> >
> >In Boas Chinook Texts pronunciation guide he
> describes
> >the use of certain characters:
> >
> >q velar k
> >k English k
> >
> >The problem I am having with this is that George
> Yule
> >describes the k sound used in English - in cook,
> kick,
> >kid, and cat as an "unvoiced velar."
> >
> >He also describes the "voiced velar" in English -
> the
> >English g as seen in go, give, and bag.
> >
> >What did Boas mean by "velar k" and "English k".
> >
> >Also, Boas lists "obscure vowels." I can't find a
> >definition for this. Does anyone have one?
> >
> >Thank you.
> >
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>


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