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Questions and Answers
What is the characteristic of [h] that leads to its classification as a glottal fricative?
What is the characteristic of [h] that leads to its classification as a glottal fricative?
Which of the following is an example of a bilabial consonant?
Which of the following is an example of a bilabial consonant?
What is the main characteristic of sonorants?
What is the main characteristic of sonorants?
What is the characteristic of occlusive consonants?
What is the characteristic of occlusive consonants?
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What is the term for consonants produced with a complete obstruction that is slowly released and becomes incomplete?
What is the term for consonants produced with a complete obstruction that is slowly released and becomes incomplete?
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What is the primary basis for distinguishing between consonants and vowels in the English language?
What is the primary basis for distinguishing between consonants and vowels in the English language?
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Which of the following consonants is characterized by the complete blockage of airflow at the alveolar ridge?
Which of the following consonants is characterized by the complete blockage of airflow at the alveolar ridge?
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What is the term for the consonant sound produced when the tongue tip approaches or touches the upper teeth?
What is the term for the consonant sound produced when the tongue tip approaches or touches the upper teeth?
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In which type of consonant does the tongue tip curl backward in the mouth?
In which type of consonant does the tongue tip curl backward in the mouth?
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What is the term for the consonant sound produced when the body of the tongue approaches or touches the hard palate?
What is the term for the consonant sound produced when the body of the tongue approaches or touches the hard palate?
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Study Notes
English Phonemes
- There are 44 phonemes in the English language.
- These phonemes are divided into 19 consonants, 7 digraphs, 5 'r-controlled' sounds, 5 long vowels, 5 short vowels, 2 'oo' sounds, and 2 diphthongs.
Classification of English Consonants
- Consonants have voice and noise combined and are characterized by close articulation.
- There are 8 main classes of consonants based on their place of articulation:
Bilabial Consonants
- The lower and upper lips approach or touch each other.
- Examples: [p], [b], and [m] are bilabial stops.
Labiodental Consonants
- The lower lip approaches or touches the upper teeth.
- Examples: [f] and [v] are labiodental fricatives.
Dental Consonants
- The tip or blade of the tongue approaches or touches the upper teeth.
- Examples: [θ] and [ð] are dental fricatives.
Alveolar Consonants
- The tongue tip approaches or touches the alveolar ridge.
- Examples: [t], [d], and [n] are alveolar stops, [s] and [z] are alveolar fricatives, and [l] is an alveolar lateral approximant.
Retroflex Consonants
- The tongue tip is curled backward in the mouth.
- Example: [ɹ] is a retroflex approximant.
Palatal Consonants
- The body of the tongue approaches or touches the hard palate.
- Example: [j] is a palatal approximant.
Velar Consonants
- The body of the tongue approaches or touches the soft palate (velum).
- Examples: [k], [ɡ], and [ŋ] are velar stops.
Glottal Consonants
- The glottis is the opening between the vocal folds.
- Example: [h] is a glottal fricative.
Principles of Classification
- According to the degree of noise: noise and sonorants (always voiced).
- According to the work of the vocal cords: voiced (vocal cords vibrate) and voiceless (vocal cords don't vibrate).
- According to the force of articulation: weak/lenis (all voiced) and strong/fortis (all voiceless).
- According to the position of the soft palate: oral (soft palate raised) and nasal (soft palate lowered).
- According to the manner of articulation: occlusive (plosives), constrictive (fricatives), and occlusive-constrictive (affricates).
- According to the active organs of speech: labial, dental, alveolar, retroflex, palatal, velar, and glottal.
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Description
Learn about the 44 phonemes of the English language, including consonants, vowels, and their classification. Understand the characteristics of consonants and how they differ from vowels.
