Consonants

A consonant is defined as a speech sound which is articulated with

some kind of stricture, or closure, of the air stream.

Consonants are classified according to four features:

1. the state of the glottis: in vibration (voiced) or open (voiceless);

2. the state of the velum: lowered (nasal) or raised (oral);

3. the place of articulation: the location where the stricture or place of

maximum interference occurs and what articulators are involved; and

4. the manner of articulation: the amount of stricture, whether it is

complete, partial (called “close approximation”), or relatively open

(“open approximation”).

Oral or nasal consonants

Oral: the air escapes through the mouth.

Nasal: the air escapes through the nose.

Almost all consonants are oral, only 3 are nasal: /m, n, [ŋ].

Voiceless and voiced consonants

Voiceless: no vibration of the vocal cords.

Voiced: vibration of the vocal cords.

Voiceless consonant phonemes are: /p/ as in pea; /t/ asin tea; /k/ as in coffee; /f/ as in fat; /θ/ as in thin; /s/as in see; /ʃ/ as in she; /h/ as in he.

Voiced consonant phonemes are: /b/ as in ball; /d/ as indog; /ʤ/ as in joke; /g/ as in good; /v/ as in van; /ð/as in that; /z/ as in zoo; /m/ as in mouth; /n/ as in no;/ŋ/ as in thing; /l/ as in love; /r/ as in right; /w/ as inwhy; /j/ as in you.

Places of articulation

They indicate the place where obstruction is made for the pronunciation of the consonants.

The tongue, lips, teeth, and various regions of the mouth constitute places of articulation in the oral cavity.

Bilabial, Labiodental, Dental or Interdental, Alveolar, Palato-alveolar, Palatal, Velar, Glottal.

http://emedia.leeward.hawaii.edu/hurley/Ling102web/mod3_speaking/3mod3.5.2_place.htm

Manner of articulation

It refers to the way the articulators are set so that the resonance effect is possible.

Stop or plosive

Fricative

Affricate

Nasal

Lateral

Glide

Liquid

Approximant (in English lateral, glide and liquid sounds are approximants, as they

don’t involve friction in any part of the vocal tract.

https://www.mimicmethod.com/manner-of-articulation.html

Consonantsbilabials labiodentals dental alveolars palato-

alveolarpalatals velars glottals

Plosives p b t d k gFricatives f v θ ð s z ʃ ʒ hAfricates tʃ dʒ

Nasals m n ŋLiquids lFrictionlessapproximantsGlides

w r j

Allophones In natural speech production sounds occur in groups in fast

succession so individual sounds are influenced by the soundsaround the.

If /t/ occurs before a vowel it is aspirated more than if itoccurs before a /r/. Ex. Say: table and train.

In some varieties of English (American English, Cockney) [t]can have up to 6 different realisations, these are calledphonetic variants or allophones.

In transcription they are represented by diacritic symbolsadded to the phonemic ones.

They do not involve any change of meaning but differences inaccents.

9

Write the following words near the correct symbol according to the underlined letters

glasses dog hot drive letter

pen red music book car

president football study teacher name work

/p/ /b/ /t/ /d/ /k/

/g/ /f/ /v/ /s/ /z/

/h/ /l/ /r/ /m/ /n/ /w/

Write the following words near the correct symbol according to the underlined letters

Glasses /g/ dog /d/ hot /h/ drive /v/

letter /l/ pen /p/ red /r/ music /m/

book /b/ /k/ car /k/ president /z/ football /f/

study /s/ teacher /t/ name/n/ work /w/

Ex 11E Pre- Int

Tick if the symbols match the sounds of the letters underlined

a. Why /h/

b. who /h/

c. Photograph /ph/

d. Cinema /s/

e. Scissors /sk/

f. Laugh /gh/

g. Knife /n/

h. Verb /v/

i. question /kw/

j. Class /k/

k. Rose /s/

l. Writing /wr/

a. Whyb. who /h/

c. Photographd. Cinema /s/

e. Scissorsf. Laughg. Knife /n/

h. Verb /v/

i. question /kw/

j. Class /k/

k. Rosel. Writing

a. Why /w/

b. whoc. Photograph /f/

d. Cinemae. Scissors /s/

f. Laugh /f/

g. Knifeh. Verbi. questionj. Classk. Rose /z/

l. Writing /r/

Tick if the symbols match the sounds of the letters underlined

Bilabiali Apico-dentali Apico-alveolari Dorso-velari

Plosive inglesi p b t d k g

Plosive italiane p b t d k g

Bilabiali: le labbra si serrano o accostano l’una contro l’altra

Apico-dentali: l’apice della lingua si oppone ai denti superiori sotto le gengive

Apico-alveolari: l’apice della lingua si oppone alle gengive (alveoli) dei denti superiori

Dorso-velari: il dorso della lingua si oppone al palato molle o velopendulo.

Occlusive - plosives

Le consonanti plosive o occlusive (plosive o stops)presentano un’ostruzione completa, ossia un bloccototale del flusso d’aria, seguita da un rilascio rapido.

Si hanno tre coppie di occlusive /p b/, /t d/, e /k g/. In inglese le occlusive sorde /p t k/ hanno un allofono

aspirato quando si trovano in posizione iniziale e sonoseguite da vocale come pin ma non in play, appear, spino stop.

L’aspirazione si avverte soprattutto nella pronuncia della[p] meno in [t] e [k]. In nessun caso è un tratto distintivopertinente, capace di distinzioni significative.

Allofono: pronuncia variante di un suono o fono standard,rappresenta una diversa realizzazione dello stesso suonoin differenti contesti fonetici.

Occlusive - plosives

sounds /b/ and /p/

The mouth is in the same position for both sounds,however in the sound /b/ there is voice from thethroat.

In /p/, there is no voice from the throat. Instead there is a small explosion of air when the lips open.

The consonant sound /b/ /p/

vest best vestcups cubs cupscovered cupboard covered

vest best vestcups cubs cupscovered cupboard covered

Buy bird bread

Rubber about able

Job web globe

vest best vestcups cubs cupscovered cupboard covered

Buy bird bread

Rubber about able

Job web globe

Bernie brought a big breakfast back to bed

full pull fullcubs cups cubscoffee copy coffee

full pull fullcubs cups cubscoffee copy coffee

Park please priceopen apple springtape help jump

Pat put purple paint in the pool

full pull fullcubs cups cubscoffee copy coffee

Park please priceopen apple springtape help jump

Spelling

Frequently Notes

/b/ B (job)

BB (rubber)

B sometimes is silent (comb)

/p/ P (open)

PP (apple)

PH is pronounced /f/ (phone)

P is sometimes silent (psychology)

First read this conversation to the end, listen and then write the letter ‘b’ or ‘p’ in each gap.

Where are the __ears.__ears?!!! Did you say __ears?No, ___ears, you know, fruit!Oh, I see, ___ ears with a P! They’re in the ___ackWhat, in the ___ack of the truck?No, in the ___ack, you know, with a P!Oh, I see, ___ack with a P! Would you like one?No I’ll have a ___each, please.A ____?

Exercise 1

Where are the pears.Bears?!!! Did you say bears?No, pears, you know, fruit!Oh, I see, pears with a P! They’re in the packWhat, in the back of the truck?NO, in the pack, you know, with a P!Oh, I see, pack with a P! Would you like one?No, I’ll have a peach, please.A beach?!!!

Key

In one word in each group, the ‘b’ or ‘p’ is not pronounced.

Example: double doubt Dublin

1. lamb label lab

2. crab robbed climb

3. cup cupboard copy

4. photo potato paper

5. recipe repeat receipt

6. possibly psychology special

7. Cambridge combine combing

Exercise 2 (listening 4)

In one word in each group, the ‘b’ or ‘p’ is not pronounced.

Example: double doubt Dublin

1. lamb label lab

2. crab robbed climb

3. cup cupboard copy

4. photo potato paper

5. recipe repeat receipt

6. possibly psychology special

7. Cambridge combine combing

Exercise 2 - KEY

The consonant sounds /d/ /t/

Listen to the sound /d/ and /t/

In the sound /d/ there is voice from the throat.

In /t/ there is no voice from the throat. Instead there is a small explosion of air out of the mouth when the tongue moves away from the ridge behind the teeth.

Listening 5town down townthey day theypage paid pagewrote road wrote

town down townthey day theypage paid pagewrote road wrote

dog dead dreamaddress advice suddenthird food mind

town down townthey day theypage paid pagewrote road wrote

dog dead dreamaddress advice suddenthird food mind

David’s daughter didn’t dance but David’s dad did

Listening 6die tie diehard heart hardthree tree threeeach eat each

06

die tie diehard heart hardthree tree threeeach eat each

talk Thomas train twelvebutter until hatednight worked west

06

Betty bought a bit of butterdie tie diehard heart hardthree tree threeeach eat each

talk Thomas train twelvebutter until hatednight worked west

06

Spelling

Frequently Sometimes Rarely notes

/t/ T (tie),

TT (butter)

(E)D past tense ending

TH (Thomas) T can be silent (listen)

/d/ D (dog),

DD (address)

In many accents, including American accents, the letter T is

pronounced like /d/ when it is between two vowel sounds e.g.

writer.

Which of the following words does not have the sound

/t/?

Ex. Asked castle letter first

1. Eight Thames whistle walked

2. Thomas needed time liked

3. Listen winter eaten after

4. Ended wished left dropped

5. Whiter greater soften written

Which of the following words does not

have the sound /t/?

Which of the following words does not have the sound

/t/?

Ex. Asked castle letter first

1. Eight Thames whistle walked

2. Thomas needed time liked

3. Listen winter eaten after

4. Ended wished left dropped

5. Whiter greater softenwritten

Which of the following words does not

have the sound /t/? KEY

Pronunciation of -ed/d/ After vowels and voiced consonants (except /d/)

/b/, /v/, /z/, /ʤ/, /ð/, /g/, /m/, /n/, /ŋ/, /l/

tried, lived, used, closed, enjoyed, listened,

/t/ After unvoiced consonants (except /t/)

/Ɵ/, /p/, /f/, /s/, /ʃ/, /ʧ/, /k/

helped, laughed, missed, washed, watched, looked,.

/id/ After /d/ and /t/

ended, started, added, depended, wanted

The consonant sounds /g/ /k/

Listen to the sound /g/ and /k/

In the sound /g/ there is voice from the throat.

In /k/ there is no voice from the throat. When yousay this sound, you can feel the air on your handwhen you put it in front of your mouth.

gap cap gap

dogs docks dogs

missed mixed missed

water quarter water

07

Listening 7

gap cap gap

dogs docks dogs

missed mixed missed

water quarter water

keep club quick

school soccer taxi

milk comic ache

07

gap cap gap

dogs docks dogs

missed mixed missed

water quarter water

keep club quick

school soccer taxi

milk comic ache

07

Kate gate Kateback bag backwood good woodLoch* log loch

08

Kate gate Kateback bag backwood good woodLoch* log loch

ghost guess green

bigger ago angry

dog egg league

08

Grandma gave the guests eggs and frog’s legs

Kate gate Kateback bag backwood good woodLoch* log loch

ghost guess green

bigger ago angry

dog egg league

08

Spelling

Frequently Sometimes Notes

/g/ G (go)

GG (bigger)

GH (ghost)

GU (guest)

G can be silent (sign, foreign)

The vowel sound is a bit longer before /g/ than before /k/ in pairs like bag and back

Beginning Middle End Notes

/k/

C (can)

K (king)

CC (soccer)

CK (locker)

K (milk)

CK (black)

C (comic)

CH (ache)

QU spells the sound /kw/, e.g. quick

X spells the sound /ks/, e.g. six

In some words beginning with K, the K is silent e.g. know, knife.

Fortis vs Lenis

Le consonanti plosive sorde /p/, /t/ e /k/ sono dette anche forti (fortis)

Le consonanti plosive sonore /b/, /d/ e /g/ sono dette anche deboli (lenis)

Questo influenza la vocale (più lunga con le deboli)

Le consonanti spiranti o fricative (fricatives)comportano una restrizione molto marcatadel passaggio, attraverso il quale, tuttavia,l’aria può uscire con continuità emettendo unfruscio.

Le spiranti presenti in entrambe le lingue sono /f v

s z ʃ/.

In inglese vi sono anche /Ɵ ð ʒ h/.

Spiranti o fricative - fricatives

Labio-dentali

Inter-

dentali

Apico-

Dentali

Apico-

Alveolari

Palato-

Alveolari

Glottidali

Spiranti

Inglesi

f v θ ð s z ʃ ʒ h

Spiranti

Italiane

f v s z ʃ

Spiranti o fricative - fricatives

/f/ /v/

/f/Photo /fəʊtəʊ/ fly /flaɪ/ freeze /fri:z/ offer /ɒfəʳ/

Selfish /selfɪʃ/ gift /gɪft/ knife /naɪf/ stuff /stʌf/

Laugh /lɑ:f/

/v/Visa /vi:zə/ vote /vəʊt/ Voice /vɔɪs/ river /rɪvəʳ/

Wives /waɪvs/ loved /lʌvd/ wave /weɪv/ twelve /twelv/

Of /əv/

Spelling

Frequently Sometimes Notes

/f/ F (fell)

FF (offer)

PH (photo)

GH (laugh)

The vowel is shorter before the /f/ than /v/, for example in leaf and leave. If you have difficulty making the difference, exaggerate the length of the vowel in leave

/v/ V (never) F (of)

Listening 11the sound /θ/

sick thick sickboat both boatfree three free

Martha Smith’s an author and an athlete.

the sound /Ɵ/

sick thick sickboat both boatfree three free

Listening 12 the sound /ð/

breed breathe breedden then denvan than van

My father and mother live together with my other brother

the sound /ð/

breed breathe breedden then denvan than van

Exercise 2 listening 13 Listen and circle the word you hear.

1. Youth or use?

There’s no youth/use talking about that.

2. Thought or taught?

I don’t know what she thought/taught.

3. Free or three?

Free/three refills with each packet!

4. Closed or clothed?

They weren’t fully closed/clothed.

5. Breeding or Breathing?

They’ve stopped breeding/breathing.

6. These are or visa?

These are/Visa problems we can deal with later.

Exercise 2 - KEYListen and circle the word you hear.

1. There’s no use /ju:z/ talking about that.

2. I don’t know what she taught /tɔ:t/.

3. Free /fri:/ refills with each packet!

4. They weren’t fully clothed /kləʊðd/.

5. They’ve stopped breeding /bri:dɪŋ/.

6. These are or visa?

These are /ði:za:/ problems we can deal with later.

Spelling

Frequently notes

/θ/ TH (three) In a few names of places and people, TH is pronounced as /t/ (Thailand, Thomas)

/ð/ TH (then)

The definite article is pronounced /ðə/ before consonants ex. the dog but is

pronounced /ði/ before a vowels ex. the apple

/θ/ /ð/ - suoni di <thing> <this> /θɪŋ/ /ðɪs/

/ʃ/ /ʒ/ - suoni di <ship> < measure> /ʃɪp/ /meʒəʳ/

- il suono /ʒ/è raro in posizione iniziale

/ʧ/ /ʤ/ - suoni di <choose> <judge> /ʧu:z/ /ʤʌʤ/

Transcribe the following words in spelling

a. /bæd/ b. /wɪskɪ/

c. /dɒg/ d. /kʌp/

e. /sed/ f. /sku:l/

h. /stɔ:/ i. /lɑ:f/

j. /ki:/

Transcribe the following words in spelling

a. /bæd/ b. /wɪskɪ/

c. /dɒg/ d. /kʌp/

e. /sed/ f. /sku:l/

h. /stɔ:/ i. /lɑ:f/

j. /ki:/

a. bad b. whisky

c. dog d. cup

e. said f. school

h. store i. laugh

j. key

The consonant sounds /s/ /z/

When you say the alphabet, the letters C and S arepronounced /si:/ and /es/. Notice that both have theconsonant sound /s/. But <S> is also often pronounced as theconsonant sound /z/.

Listen to the sound /s/ and /z/

In the sound /s/ there is no voice from the throat. It soundslike the noise of a snake.

In the sound /z/ there is voice from the throat. It sounds likethe noise of a bee.

Exercise 1

Listen to the sentences. Look at the words in italics. Underline the words in italics which contain the sound /s/

1. I’m not going to advise you. You never take my advice.

2. Your tooth is loose. You’ll lose it if you’re not careful.

3. The shop’s very close to home, and it doesn’t close till late.

4. I can’t excuse people who drop litter. There’s no excusefor it.

Exercise 1 - KEY

Listen to the sentences. Look at the words in red. Underline the words in red which contain the sound /s/

I’m not going to advise you. You never take my advice.

1. Your tooth is loose. You’ll lose it if you’re not careful.

2. The shop’s very close to home, and it doesn’t close till late.

3. I can’t excuse people who drop litter. There’s no excusefor it.

noun/adjective= /s/ verb = /z/Ex. use /ju:s/ use /ju:z/

Spelling

frequently sometimes Notes

/s/ S (sad)

SS (class)

C (place)

SC (science) X can spell /ks/ mix

S is not always pronounced /s/ (sugar, rise, plays)

/z/ Z (zero) ZZ (buzz)

SS(scissors)

S

X spells /gz/ (exacts)

-SE at the end of a word is usually pronounced /z/ (rise)

/ʃ/

should /ʃʊd/ shirt /ʃɜ:t/ sugar /ʃʊɡər/

fashion /fæʃn/ nation /neɪʃn/ ocean /əʊʃn/

wish /wɪʃ/ push /pʊʃ/ English /ɪŋɡlɪʃ/

/ʒ/

television /telɪvɪʒn/ casual /kæʒjuəl/

pleasure /pleʒə*/ erosion /ɪrəʊʒn/

leisure /leʒə*/ occasion /əkeɪʒn/

usual /ju:ʒuəl/

Spelling

beginning Middle End

/ʃ/ SH (shoe)

S (sugar)

SH (fashion)

SS (Russia)

TI (nation)

C (ocean)

SH (finish)

/ʒ/ S (television)

Transcribe these words in spelling

1. /ɪŋɡlɪʃ/

2. /pa:tɪ/

3. /wɒʃ/

4. /θɪŋz/

5. /kemɪst/

Transcribe these words in spelling - KEY

1. /ɪŋɡlɪʃ/

2. /pa:tɪ/

3. /wɒʃ/

4. /θɪŋz/

5. /kemɪst/

English

Party

Wash

Things

Chemist