Consonant Classification in English
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Questions and Answers

Which of the following are considered plosive consonants in English?

  • /tʃ/, /dʒ/
  • /p/, /t/, /k/, /b/, /d/, /g/ (correct)
  • /m/, /n/, /ŋ/
  • /f/, /v/, /θ/, /ð/, /s/, /z/, /ʃ/, /ʒ/, /h/

What are the phases of articulation for plosive consonants?

  • Compression, Release, Hold
  • Stricture, Release, Closure
  • Closing, Compression, Release, Post-release (correct)
  • Opening, Closing, Release

Plosive consonants like /p/, /t/, /k/ are always aspirated in initial position.

False (B)

Vowels preceding plosive consonants like /p/, /t/, /k/ are longer than those preceding /b/, /d/, /g/.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the sudden release of air that occurs during the articulation of a plosive consonant?

<p>plosion</p> Signup and view all the answers

The plosive consonants /p/, /t/, /k/, /b/, /d/, /g/, /ʔ/ are classified as ___ consonants.

<p>oral</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of the preceding letter "s" on the aspiration of plosive consonants like /p/, /t/, /k/ in initial position?

<p>They are not aspirated.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used to describe the phenomenon where vowels preceding plosive consonants /p/, /t/, /k/ are shorter than those preceding /b/, /d/, /g/?

<p>Pre-fortis clipping</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of plosive consonants?

<p>Continuous airflow (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary distinction between the plosive consonants /p/, /t/, /k/ and /b/, /d/, /g/ in terms of voice?

<p>/p/, /t/, /k/ are voiceless, while /b/, /d/, /g/ are voiced (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Consonant acoustic characteristics

Noises produced by voice (voiced) or without voice (voiceless).

Consonant articulatory characteristics

Contact of articulators, creating complete or partial block to airflow.

Place of articulation

Location in the mouth where airflow modification occurs.

Bilabial consonants

Consonant sounds made with both lips touching.

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Labiodental consonants

Consonant sounds made with the lower lip and upper teeth.

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Dental consonants

Consonant sounds made with the tongue and teeth.

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Alveolar consonants

Consonant sounds made with tongue touching the alveolar ridge.

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Acoustic impression

How a sound is perceived by the ear (e.g., plosive, fricative).

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Plosives

Consonant sounds with complete closure and sudden release of air.

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Fricatives

Consonant sounds produced by air forcing through a narrow channel.

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Affricates

Consonant sounds combining a plosive and a fricative.

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Nasal consonants

Consonant sounds produced with airflow through the nose.

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Lateral consonants

Consonant sounds produced with airflow escaping beside the tongue.

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Approximants

Consonant sounds produced by narrowing the vocal tract without complete closure.

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Semi-vowels

Sounds that function as consonants and vowels.

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Voiceless (fortis)

Consonants produced without vocal cord vibration.

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Voiced (lenis)

Consonants produced with vocal cord vibration.

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Plosive articulation phases

Closing, compression, release, and post-release phases.

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Glottal plosive

A plosive sound made with closure in the glottis.

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Study Notes

Consonant Classification

  • Consonants have acoustic and articulatory characteristics.
  • Twenty-four English consonants are categorized based on several criteria.

Place of Articulation

  • Bilabial: /p, b, m/
  • Labiodental: /f, v/
  • Dental: /θ, ð/
  • Alveolar: /t, d, s, z, l, n, r/
  • Palato-alveolar: /ʃ, ʒ, tʃ, dʒ/
  • Palatal: /j/
  • Velar: /k, g, ŋ/
  • Glottal: /h/
  • Labio-velar: /w/

Manner of Articulation

  • Occlusives (stops): Complete closure, then release of air; /p, t, k, b, d, g, m, n, ŋ, l, r, w, j/.
    • Nasals: /m, n, ŋ/ – air escapes through the nose.
    • Laterals: /l/ – air escapes along the sides of the tongue.
    • Approximants: /r/ – close approximation of articulators.
    • Semi-vowels: /w, j/ – consonant-like sounds also used in vowels.
  • Constrictives (fricatives): Narrowing of the vocal tract; /f, v, θ, ð, s, z, ʃ, ʒ, h/.
  • Semi-occlusives (affricates): Closure, then narrowing, then release; /tʃ, dʒ/.

Acoustic Impression

  • Plosives: /p, t, k, b, d, g, m, n, ŋ, l, r, w, j/
  • Fricatives: /f, v, θ, ð, s, z, ʃ, ʒ, h/
  • Affricates: /tʃ, dʒ/

Position of the Velum

  • Oral: /p, t, k, b, d, g, l, r, w, j, f, v, θ, ð, s, z, ʃ, ʒ, h, tʃ, dʒ/ - Air escapes through the mouth.
  • Nasal: /m, n, ŋ/ - Air escapes through the nose.

Voicing (Tenseness)

  • Voiceless (fortis): /p/, /t/, /k/, /f/, /θ/, /s/, /ʃ/, /tʃ/, /h/. Vocal cords do not vibrate.
  • Voiced (lenis): /b/, /d/, /g/, /v/, /ð/, /z/, /ʒ/, /dʒ/, /m/, /n/, /ŋ/, /l/, /r/, /w/, /j/. Vocal cords vibrate.

Plosives (Stops)

  • Plosive consonants: /p, t, k, b, d, g/;
  • Have six phases:
    1. Closing phase – articulators move for closure
    2. Compression phase-air compressed behind the closure
    3. Release phase-closure opens; air escapes; plosion
    4. Pos-release phase – after the release

Plosives in Initial and Final Positions

  • Initial position:

    • /p, t, k/ are aspirated in initial position (pen, cat, ten).
    • /p, t, k/ not aspirated when preceded by “s” (scat, spin).
    • /b, d, g/ have little voicing in initial position.
    • /p, t, k/ followed by /l, r, w, j/ cause devoicing (play, tray, quick).

  • Final position:

    • Vowels preceding plosives are shorter (pre-fortis clipping): (beat – bead).
    • /b, d, g/ have very little voicing.

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Description

Explore the classification of English consonants based on their acoustic and articulatory characteristics. This quiz examines consonants categorized by their place and manner of articulation, helping to enhance your understanding of phonetics in the English language.

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