Introduction to phonetics and English phonology: Consonants, part 1 Uttalslära Introduction to phonetics and English phonology: Consonants, part 1

Consonants Produced by obstructing the airstream through the oral cavity. Can be voiced or voiceless

Mute consonants Some words are spelled with one or more consonants that are not pronounced. thumb /θʌm/ Christmas /'krısməs/ sigh /saı/

Two ways of describing consonants The place in the mouth The manner of articulation

Types of consonants • Fricatives • Plosives (stops) • Nasals • Affricates • Semi-vowels

The consonants of English 1 Voiceless Voiced Fricatives /f/ fan /v/ van /s/ so /z/ zoo /ʃ/ shore /ʒ/ vision /θ/ thin /ð/ then /h/ hat Plosives /p/ pet /b/ bag /k/ kite /g/ bag /t/ take /d/ dog Nasals /m/ men /n/ men /ŋ/ sing

The consonants of English 2 Voiceless Voiced Affricates /tʃ/ church /dʒ/ judge Semi-vowels /w/ well /j/ yes Lateral /l/ long Frictionless continuant /r/ rose

Fricatives The flow of air is partially blocked, to create friction. English has nine fricatives; four voiced and five voiceless.

/f/ as in fan Spelling: f, ph, gh Phil /fıl/ cough /kɒf || kɔ:f/ enough /ı'nʌf/

/v/ as in van Note the contrast between /v/ and /w/! very well /verı wel/ Also note: of /ɒv||ʌv/

/v/ as in van Most native English-speakers have problems counting how many times the letter “f” occurs in the sentence Finished files are the result of years of scientific study. That is because “of” is pronounced with /v/, and many people don’t notice the letter “f” in the word “of”.

/s/ as in so Spellings: c, ss, sc, s-, sometimes -s cease /si:s/ advice /əd'vaıs/ miss /mıs/ sing /sıŋ/

/z/ as in zoo Spellings: z, sometimes s seize /si:z/ keys /ki:z/ has /hæz/ is /iz/

/s/ versus /z/ decision /dıˈsıʒən/ position /pəˈzıʃən/ hiss /hıs/ his /hız/ sink /siŋk/ zinc /ziŋk/ niece /ni:s/ knees /ni:z/ Slightly longer vowel sound before a voiced consonant!

/ʃ/ as in shore Spellings: sh, -ti-, -ci-, -si-, sometimes ch machine /mə'ʃi:n/ Asia /'eıʃə/ ancient /'eınʃənt/ Charlotte /'ʃɑ:(r)lət/

/ʒ/ as in pleasure Spellings: -su-, -sion (preceded by a vowel), -ge treasure /'treʒə/ television /'teləvıʒən/ prestige /prə'sti:ʒ/

/θ/ as in thin Spelling: th faith /feıθ/ Thursday /'θɜ:(r)zdeı/ thin /θın/ cathedral /kə'θi:drəl/

/ð/ as in then Spelling: th Important to know when to use /ð/ and when to use /θ/! then /ðen/ brother /'brʌðə(r)/ breathe /bri:ð/ (but: breath /breθ/ )

/h/ as in hat “h” is mute in some words vehicle /vi:ıkl/ shepherd /'ʃepəd/ Birmingham /'bɜ:(r)mıŋəm/ heir /eə(r)/

Plosives Also known as stops. The flow of air is completely blocked and then released all at once. English has six plosives; three voiced and three voiceless.

/p/ as in pin “p” is mute in words with pn- and ps- psalm /sɑ:m/ pneumonia /nju:'məʊnıə/

/b/ as in bin “b” is mute in most words with -mb thumb /θʌm/ climb /klaım/ “b” is also mute in subtle /sʌtl/ doubt /daʊt/ Not mute in timber /'tımbə(r)/

/t/ as in tin Pronunciation: the tip of the tongue not touching the teeth “t” is mute in some words with -st- listen /'lısən/ castle /'kɑ:s(ə)l || 'kæs(ə)l/ Christmas /'krısməs/

/d/ as in din Pronunciation: the tip of the tongue not touching the teeth “d” is mute in a few words handkerchief /'hæŋkərtʃɪf/ Wednesday /'wenzdeı/

/k/ as in king Spellings: k, c, qu king /'kıŋ/ cane /keın/ liquid /'lıkwıd/ quay /ki:/ “k” is mute in words with kn- knight /naıt/ knit /nıt/

/g/ as in big “g” is mute in words with gn- or -gn gnat /nat/ reign /reın/ sign /saın/

Nasals When producing a nasal, we let the air flow through the nose instead of the mouth. English has three nasals, all of them voiced.

/m/ as in me Examples: summer /'sʌmə(r)/

/n/ as in not Pronunciation: the tip of the tongue not touching the teeth “n” is mute in words with -mn condemn /kən'dem/ hymn /hım/ damn /dæm/

/ŋ/ as in king “ng” is sometimes pronounced /ŋ/ and sometimes /ŋg/ herring /'herıŋ/ singing /'sıŋıŋ/ angry /'æŋgrı/ hunger /'hʌŋgə(r)/

Thank you for listening!