Prepared by Lisa Barrett University of Phoenix April 5, 2008

What is Phonics? “Phonics refers to associating letters or letter groups with the sounds they represent” (“Phonics Rules,” 2008, para. 1). Mastery of phonics is an essential instrument for reading and pronouncing words. (Photobucket, 2008)

There are many phonics rules in English. Knowing the phonics rules can help you: - identify words - improve reading comprehension - strengthen conversation skills Keep in mind there are some words that don’t follow the rules. Watch out for the exceptions.

The C Rule followed by e, i, or y usually has the soft sound of “s.” Examples: Central, Celestial, Cedar, Cemetery City, Circa, Cigar, Cinema, Circle Cycle, Cylinder, Cynic, Cyst (Photobucket, 2008). Language exerts hidden power, like the moon on the tides. - Rita Mae Brown (Quoteland, 2008, para. 1).

followed by e, i, or y usually has the soft sound of “j.” Examples: Gem, Gentleman, Genuine Gist, Gigolo, Ginseng Gym, Gypsy It's a strange world of language in which skating on thin ice can get you into hot water. – Franklin P. Jones (Quoteland, 2008). (Photobucket, 2008) The G Rule

Consonant Digraphs A Consonant Digraph represents two consonants joined together to form one sound (Doyle, 2008). They count as one letter and are never separated (Doyle, 2008). Examples: (ch) cheat, hatchet, (sh) sheet, (th) think, without (ph) phone, graph (wh) what (Photobucket, 2008)

Short Vowels When a syllable ends in a consonant and only has one vowel, that vowel is short. Examples: fat, bed, fish, spot, luck Uttering a word is like striking a note on the keyboard of the imagination. - Ludwig Wittgenstein (Quoteland, 2008). (Photobucket, 2008)

Silent Vowel Rule When a syllable has 2 vowels together, the first vowel is usually long (Doyle, 2008). The second is silent (Doyle, 2008). Examples: pain, boat, rescue, say, grow To help you remember, click on the rapper for an entertaining video > (Click your browser’s back button to return to the presentation).

- Controlled Vowels When a vowel is followed by an “R,” that vowel is “R-Controlled” (Doyle, 2008). R-controlled vowels are not long, nor short. They usually sound the same, like “er.” Examples: term, fir, sir, sugar, order

What is a Diphthong “A Diphthong is a phonetic sequence, consisting of a vowel and a glide” (SIL, 2008). In a Diphthong, vowels blend together to form a single sound (Doyle, 2008). DiphthongExamples OiOil OyBoy OuMouse OwBow AuClause AwPaw OoMoon

13 Silent Letter Rules 1. E final is usually silent; as in brave, crime, abide, become. 2. E is often silent before d; as in bribed, changed, hedged; cradled, handled, struggled. 3. E is often silent before l; as in drivel, grovel, hazel, shovel. 4. E is often silent before n; as in garden, hidden, kitten, lighten, spoken, taken. 5. I is sometimes silent before l; as in evil, weevil. 6. I is sometimes silent before n; as in basin, cousin. 7. O is sometimes silent before n; as in bacon, deacon, mason, pardon, reason, weapon. 8. B is silent after m and before t; as in comb, climb, dumb, jamb, lamb, tomb; debt, doubt; subtle. 9. C is silent in czar, and muscle, and before k and t and s; as in back, crack, lock; indict, victuals, scene, scythe, scepter. 10. D is silent in Wednesday, and before g in the same syllable; as in badge, dodge. 11. G is silent before m and n, and sometimes before l; as in phlegm, diaphragm; gnat, feign, consign; intaglio, seraglio. 12. H is silent in heir, herb, honest; and after g or r; at the end of a word and preceded by a vocal; and sometimes after t; as in ghastly, gherkin, ghostly; rheum, rhyme, myrrh; ah, oh, halleluiah; isthmus. 13. K is always silent before n; as in knee, knee, knife, knob, known (Sanders, 2005)

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References Doyle, D. (2008). Phonics, syllable, and accent rules. Glendale Community College. Retrieved April 4, 2008, from “Phonics Rules.” (2008). Howtostudy.com. Retrieved April 4, 2008, from study.com/phonics-rules.htmhttp:// study.com/phonics-rules.htm Photobucket.com (2008). Clipart/photos. Retrieved April 4, 2008, from Quoteland.com. (2008). Retrieved April 4, 2008, from Sanders, E. (2005). Phonics. Retrieved April 4, 2008, from SIL International. (2008). What is a diphthong. Retrieved April 5, 2008, from