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

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

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

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

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

6. 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

7. 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

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

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

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

11. /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”.

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

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

14. /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!

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

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

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

18. /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/ )

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

20. 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.

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

22. /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)/

23. /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/

24. /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/

25. /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/

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

27. 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.

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

29. /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/

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

31. Thank you for listening!