CHAPTER FOUR Copyright 2011. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. All rights reserved. May not be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher, except fair uses permitted under U.S. or applicable copyright law. EXAMPLES OF CONSONANTS AND VOWELS OF ENGLISH IN WORDS 4.1 Consonants /p/ It is usually spelt as p, pp. pin, pail, loop, peak, deep, leap, pen, pupil, dupe, paper, dipped, stopped, piper, slapped, kept, shop, popped, spelt, clipper, peep, people, Paul, lampoon, deeper, ship etc. It may however be spelt as gh as in hiccough /hikݞp/. It may also be silent as in psalm, receipt, cupboard, pneumonia, coup, etc. /b/ Spelt as b, bb. book, bull, barn, snub, nibble, bobbed, black, baby, boy, bill, border, blade, big, brother, Ben, belt, dub, club, marble, bitter, cupboard, cobweb, debit, garb, ban, gamble, barb, curb, blow, ball, bad, dabble, tremble, bulb, boot, etc. It is silent in bomb, debt, limb, tomb, comb, doubt, subtle, plumber, lamb, climb, climber, etc. Obviously, the pattern here shows that the /b/ is silent when it occurs after /m/ or before /t/ as shown in the examples above. Nonetheless, as it is usual with the English language, patterns are not usually laws, they are just that, patterns. Take note of the patterns prevalent in the other sounds as discussed below. /t/ Spelt as t, tt. take, part, bitter, litter, cat, boat, letter, enter, late, put, pot, stop, split, stem, after, stay, pat, step, pester, potter, totter, taunt, stint, draft, craft, scent, cleft, time, bet, take, tidy, bite, beat, taste, teeth, type, bright, brilliant, ten, tender, sent, etc. It realises the past tense morpheme after voiceless stems: pushed, cooked, looked, passed, cashed, preached, kicked, leaped, etc Spelt as th in Thomas, Thames, Thompson, Anthony, etc. EBSCO Publishing : eBook Collection (EBSCOhost) - printed on 2/18/2022 8:37 PM via UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL ABIERTA Y A DISTANCIA - UNAD AN: 523847 ; Daniel, Iyabode Omolara.; Introductory Phonetics and Phonology of English Account: ns145102.main.ehost 30 Chapter Four /t/ is silent in thistle, whistle, wrestle, wrestler, pestle, hustle, nestle, bustle, bristle, depot, soften, listen, jostle, castle, fasten, hasten, wrestling, christen, Christendom, etc. /d/ Spelt as d, dd in date, day, bud, bad, did, garden, burden, dog, lender, old, blade, blood, cadre, cuddle, border, shoulder, shudder, said, trader, bread, Dad, Daddy, lead, brand, decide, robbed, bathed, sudden, laden, middle, meddle, etc. It realises past tense morpheme after voiced stems: clubbed, robbed, drowned, moved, plied, shied, killed, married, fried, wiled, etc. /k/ Spelt as k in keep, look, park, kite, like, peak, Mike, bike, beaker, market, park, kick, kill, etc. Spelt as c in cat, car, cap, card, cold, biscuit, picnic, picture, placard, placate, record, muscular, etc. Spelt as cc: accord, accuse, account, accomplish, accompany, buccaneer /bݞkԥɎniԥ/, etc. As ch in Michael, stomach, chemist, orchestra, orchid, chemical, etc. As ck in pack, duck, dock, suck, lock, locker, kick, pick, lick, luck, sucker, pickle, etc. As qu /kw/ in quick, quiet, quarter, squad, squat, squeeze, square, frequent, request, bequeath, quiz, quite, etc. But as qu, que /k/ in bouquet, clique, masque, pique /pik/, piqué /pikei/, plaque, technique, queue, critique, antique, etc But silent in knife, know, knew, knuckle, knit, knob, knowledge, knoll, knell, knight, knickers, knave, etc /J/ Spelt as g, gg in go, game, giggle, goggle, gate, gear, struggle, single, tingle, dangle, dog, leg, etc. As gh in ghost, ghoul /Ju:l/, dinghy /diƾJi/, ghetto, ɑspaɎghetti, etc. As gu in guess, guest, guard, guide, etc. As gue in vogue, morgue, fatigue, intrigue, plague, colleague, etc. Silent in gnat, gnaw, reign, diaphragm, sign, reign, gnash, coign /kܧin/, gnarl, gnome /nԥum/, feign, gnu, foreign, foreigner, sovereign, brougham /bruԥm/, paradigm, /pærԥdܤim/, etc. EBSCOhost - printed on 2/18/2022 8:37 PM via UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL ABIERTA Y A DISTANCIA - UNAD. All use subject to https://www.ebsco.com/terms-of-use Examples of Consonants and Vowels of English in Words 31 /m/ Spelt as m, mm in man, name, lame, member, memo, summer, simmer, slim, slimmer, dimmer, hamlet, comfort, empty, harm, symbol, glimmer, farmer, firmer, fume, loom, mountain, mummy, drummer, mat, ram, me, many, member, dilemma, mouth, film, sham, Sam, etc. As mb in comb, bomb, tomb, lamb, womb, thumb, limb, numb, plumb, dumb, etc. in word final position; and medially in bomber, plumber. As lm in palm, calm, psalm, etc. As mn in autumn, hymn, damn, column, condemn, solemn, etc. /n/ Spelt as n, nn as in new, minor, monitor, near, name, cane, bane, money, funny, sunny, bonny, Dan, nice, nerve, nuisance, manna, neither, no, nip, nimble, nickname, noise, main, Shane, lane, meaning, learn, kin, mine, night, morning, lean, cunning, sundry, shun, burning, hymnal, etc. As kn in know, knew, kneel, knell, knock, knave, knoll, knickers, knead, knight, knob, knot, knuckle, knowledge, knife, knit, etc. As gn in gnat, gnaw, gnarl, sign, gnome, gnash, gnu, reign, coign, cognac /kܧnjæk/, feign, chignon /ݕinjܧѺ/, foreign, foreigner, sovereign, etc. As pn in pneumonia, pneumatic, etc. But silent in condemn, column, damn, hymn, autumn, solemn, etc. /ƾ/ Spelt ng as in sing, singer, longing /lܧƾiƾ/, thing, limping, dancing, giving, living, lung, rang, hang, clang, bang, angst, bring, tong /tܧƾ/, throng, tongue, gang, gangway, etc. As n + /k/ in sink, think, brink, rank, monks, anchor, banquet /bæƾkwit/, sanctity, monkey, conquer, wrinkle, etc. As n + /J/ in king, finger, hanger, hunger, angry, anger, single, angle, Anglican, Anglophone, anguish, anglicize, etc. 9 It should be observed that the sound does not occur in the initial position in words. Moreover, it appears that the sound tends to replace /n/ when it occurs in the position of pre-velar plosives as noted above. This is another example of patterning of sound occurrence as observed above. This is an example of phonological operations. Make sure you are taking note of such patterns as you are going through this book. This is what scholarship entails. EBSCOhost - printed on 2/18/2022 8:37 PM via UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL ABIERTA Y A DISTANCIA - UNAD. All use subject to https://www.ebsco.com/terms-of-use 32 Chapter Four /ݹ/ Spelt as ch in chain, lunch, cheap, couch, crouch, munch, mulch, challenge, merchant, reproach, approach, march, blanch /blܤ:ݹ/, teach, leech, peach, rich, much, chick, chin, chirp, China, child, wench, orchard /Ɏݹܧԥd/, etc. As tch in catch, watch, butcher, itch, scratch, blotch, batch, kitchen, bitch, match, matches, ditch, wretch, satchel, pitch, clutch, Dutch, wretched, batch, crutch, etc. As t when followed by ure, eous, une, ue, ua, as in nature, culture, nurture, denture, juncture, feature, capture, lecture, posture, righteous, adventure, fortune, virtue, venture, obituary, virtual, punctual, virtuous, etc. and their derived variants. As t + ion or ian when the t is preceded by s as in question /kwesݹԥn/, questionnaire, Christian /krߌsݹԥn/, etc. /ݶ/ Spelt as j in judge, jug, joke, joy, jerk, Jane, jam, James, June, July, join, jet, jeep, jostle, jade, reject, project, eject, sojourn, etc. As g, ge in gem, orgy, urgent, margin, fragile, huge, agenda, gin, general, digest, danger, gigantic, ginger, merger, manager, gender, angel, gentle, plunge, magic, hinge, cringe, lounge, bulge, etc. As dg in judge, ledger, dodge, lodge, cudgel, midget, badge, budget, wedge, bridge, porridge, hedge, grudge, etc. As gg in suggest, etc. As dj in adjacent, adjust, adjourn, adjudge, adjudicate, adjoin, adjective, adjunct, adjure, adjutant, etc. As de in grandeur /grænݶԥ/, etc. As di in soldier /sԥulݶԥ/, etc. As du in verdure /vԥ:ݶԥ/, etc. /f/ Spelt as f as in scarf, baft, after, favour, far, farm, safe, rift, fire, fuel, five, café, daft, follow, fill, fellow, serf, shelf, left, funnel, fever, file, rifle, golf, beef, cafeteria, etc. As ff in affair, stuff, offering, suffer, baffle, muffle, muffler, office, coffin, coffee, ruffian, raffia, buffalo, etc. As gh in enough, trough, cough, tough, rough, laugh, etc. As ph in physical, physics, physiology, physiotherapy, photo, sphere, triumph, camphor, nymph, hemophilia, morph, morpheme, morphology, phase, phrase, orphan, graph, gopher, prophet, prophesy, etc. EBSCOhost - printed on 2/18/2022 8:37 PM via UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL ABIERTA Y A DISTANCIA - UNAD. All use subject to https://www.ebsco.com/terms-of-use Examples of Consonants and Vowels of English in Words 33 /v/ Spelt as v in very, village, love, brave, liver, silver, cover, canvas, ever, lever, clever, driver, dove, voice, vain, level, valid, vivacious, victory, verdict, give, mauve, crave, shave, larva, serve, servant, vintage, village, vogue, vendor, vault, villa, vain, viva, vis-à-vis, valedictory, advisory, etc. As f in of, etc. As ph in nephew, etc. /s/ Spelt as s in sun, escape, cluster, famous destroy, sample, sip, least, sin, safe, case, distance, monster, history, mystery, master, coast, kits, pits, ships, sheets, some, must, frost, jumps, plus, gasps, eighths, rests, disagree, this, etc. As ss in kiss, miss, loss, puss, pass, ass, glass, class, dress, bless, dross, hiss, cross, moss, boss, lass, less, lesson, dissident, dissertation, dissect, dissipation, associate, assent, press, professor, vessel, etc. As se in cease, loose, goose, mouse, house (noun), case, dose, curse, etc As st, ste in whistle, pestle, thistle, castle, bustle, rustle, wrestle, hasten, fasten, listen, christen, Christendom, etc. As c, ce in concern, pencil, lice, license, nice, niece, piece, ice, fierce, farce, place, mace, race, deceive, scarce, patience, pretence, lace, decide, fence, dice, mice, facade, etc. As sc in science, scion /sܤiԥn/, scissors /sizԥz/, scintillate, scimitar /simitԥ/, scepter, scent, scene /si:n/, scenery /sinԥri/, disciple, plebiscite /Ɏplebisit/, adolescence, discipline, muscle /mݞsl/, etc. As part of x [k + s] in axe, excite, box, expend, expel, expect, experiment, experience, explain, expert, exhibition, exodus, vixen /viksn/, pixy, pixie /piksi/, galaxy, doxology, etc. As z, zz in pizza /pitsԥ/, pizzicato /pitsikܤ:tԥu/, pretzel /pretsl/, blitz /blܼts/, etc. /z/ Spelt as z, zz in zoo, zone, buzz, gauze, zero, doze, blaze, gaze, maze, cozy lazy, zinc, ooze, dazed, dizzy, buzzword, etc As s, se in cousin, please, praise, house (verb), easy, pose, clause, roses, is, these, bees, was, does, cows, pleads, bosom, pleasant, resist, resolve, dissolve, resound, resort, resilience, disease, thousand, husband, teachers, ears, etc. As ss in scissors, etc. EBSCOhost - printed on 2/18/2022 8:37 PM via UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL ABIERTA Y A DISTANCIA - UNAD. All use subject to https://www.ebsco.com/terms-of-use 34 Chapter Four As part of x [J + z] in exact, exeunt, exorbitant, exhaust, exist, exert, exhibit, exhilarate, luxuriant, etc. ¾ In the example of x, you will notice that it gets realised as either /s/ or /z/ depending mostly on whether it is followed by a voiceless or voiced element when pronounced. Find more examples on your own. /ݕ/ Spelt as sh in sheet, sharp, shoot, ship, shore, shun, pushed, cushion, leash, bush, lush, bishop, crush, varnish, vanquish, cash, bash, brush, shepherd, etc. As ch in chiffon, chignon, Chevron, chemise, chauffeur, chauvinism, chateau, chalet, chandelier, champagne, sachet, machine, chaise, chamois, charlatan, charade, parachute, etc. As sch in schedule, schnapps, schnitzel, schist, schwa, etc. As c in ocean, racial, special, appreciate, associate, vicious, facial, social, commercial, precious, gracious, delicious, precocious, audacious, atrocious, etc. As s in version, pension, tension, Asia, mansion, sure, etc. As ss in possession, passion, pressure, mission, professional, assure, etc. As t, in caution, cautious, ratio, mention, nation, notion, potion, portion, detention, patient, fiction, fictitious, collection, correction, election, operation, nutritious, pretentious, function, etc. As sc in luscious, conscious, conscience, etc. As x in luxury /Ɏlݞkݕԥri/, etc. As che in douche, ruche, moustache, cloche /klݕܧ/, etc. /ݤ/ Spelt as s, si in vision, leisure, usual, treasure, measure, confusion, occasion, decision, pleasure, visual, allusion, invasion, revision, delusion, division, dissuasion, visualize, etc. As u in luxuriant, luxuriate, luxurious /lԥJɎݤuԥriԥs/, etc As z in seizure, etc. As ge in plage /plܤ:ݤ/, garage, massage, arranged, beige, camouflage, rouge, genre, prestige, protégé, entourage, mirage, collage, courgette /kuԥɎݤet/, bourgeois /Ɏbuԥݤwܤ/, gigolo /ݤiJԥlԥu/, gamboges /JæmɎbu:ݤ/, etc. EBSCOhost - printed on 2/18/2022 8:37 PM via UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL ABIERTA Y A DISTANCIA - UNAD. All use subject to https://www.ebsco.com/terms-of-use Examples of Consonants and Vowels of English in Words 35 /ș/ Spelt as th always as in think, thing, bath, earth, brothel, teeth, throat, mouth (noun), ethic, method, thousand, cloth, wealth, north, faith, wrath, breath, lethal, oath, atheist, anthem, worth, death, path, fourth, fifth, three, throw, thwart, length, thumb, thought, thesis, thimble, theme, through, both, pith, loath, broth, etc. /ð/ Spelt as th, usually, as in then, those, there, them, the, though, mother, brother, father, leather, worthy, gather, together, rather, with, either, southern, rhythm, other, northern, smooth, mouth (verb), bother, blather, blether, without, withal, within, withstand, withhold, wither, withdraw, etc. But the in tithe, bathe, clothe, teethe, breathe, lathe, seethe, writhe, blithe, blithesome, blithering, etc. /h/ Spelt h as in how, here, hear, hide, hook, hole, hot, harp, hello, hi, high, hair, hoe, hate, horse, hem, hen, harm, hat, heap, heal, help, heat, hit, hard, hell, hedge, hemp, hull, hall, behave, beheld, behind, spearhead, anyhow, abhor, adhere, ahead, perhaps, hazard, hammer, hamper, handle, helper, Helen, Henry, upholstery, upheaval, etc. As wh in who, whose, whom, whore, whoop, whoever, whole, wholesome, wholesale, etc. But silent in hour /ܤuԥ/, honour /ܧnԥ/, heir /eԥ/, heiress /eԥres/, honest /ܧnest/, exhilarate /iJɎzܼlԥreit/, vehicle /Ɏvi:ܼkl/, exhibit /iJɎzܼbit/, vehement /Ɏviԥmԥnt/, shepherd /Ɏݕepԥd/, ghetto /Jetԥu/, ghost, exhume /iJɎzju:m/, exhort /iJɎzܧ:t/, exhaust /iJɎzܧ:st/, exhaustive /iJɎzܧ:stiv/, annihilate /ԥɎnܤiԥleit/, piranha /piɎrܤ:njԥ/, silhouette /ɑsiluɎet/, etc. /l/ Spelt l, ll as in feel, fill, fell, clusters, let, leg, leap, lick, leak, lip, foolish, pulley, look, ugly, sailor, yellow, silky, silly, bachelor, light, lorry, alloy, allow, hello, heal, meal, hill, hall, select, failure, miller, millet, gimlet, million, milk, island, blow, gladiator, loud, lewd, leer, sale, seller, cellar, lake, live, love, life, faithful, fuller, flimsy, apply, gambling, playlet, fuller, feeling, delight, deliberate, dullard, lady, plumber, seller, xylophone, killer, college, collate, poll, politics, election, fuel, laugh, fall, etc. But silent in psalm, balm, calm, palm, EBSCOhost - printed on 2/18/2022 8:37 PM via UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL ABIERTA Y A DISTANCIA - UNAD. All use subject to https://www.ebsco.com/terms-of-use 36 Chapter Four /r/ Spelt as r, rr as in red, rye, rum, run, rule, reverse, rude, rubber, rid, rib, bread, bred, ready, worry, lorry, hurry, dream, train, brain, brilliant, borrow, arrow, reap, brewery, weary, arrive, diary, mirror, furrow, very, ferry, fury, dowry, dreary, rate, rather, marrow, tomorrow, morose, great, bright, prairie, brother, breathe, crazy, eraser, carrier, trial, terrible, racy, Mary, crate, pray, crown, etc. As wr as in writer, wreath, writhe, wry, wrap, wrestle, wretch, write, wrapper, wring, wrinkle, wriggle, wrath, wrist, playwright, wrong, etc. As rh as in Rhoda, rhyme, rhythm, rhetoric, rheumatism, Rhine, rhinoceros, rhizome, rhododendron, rhombus, rhubarb, etc. /j/ Spelt as y as in yes, yam, yacht, you, yawn, yearn, year, yoke, yield, young, youth, your, yellow, yeast, yelp, yesterday, yolk, yoghurt, yet, yard, etc. As i in spaniel, Daniel, senior, onion, opinion, pinion, etc. As e, u, ew, eu, ea, ui, ue, as in tune, ewe, pew, muse, new, few, feud, beauty, duty, European, queue, cure, music, opulent, askew, enthusiasm, stew, secure, accuse, huge, pure, duel, fuel, refuse, human, university, usual, universal, Uranus, uranium, union, etc. /w/ Spelt as w in wet, wear, will, womb, woman, wake, wove, wood, wind, win, swept, swindle, weed, ward, well, water, with, word, swell, swear, wear, ware, beware, weather, winner, bewail, railway, twisted, twine, twinkle, twice, wash, watch, worthy, sway, wide, etc. As wh in which, where, why, when, wheel, whale, what, while, whim, whine, whorl, white, whiz, whet, whittle, whither, etc. As u after q, g as in quick, queen, language, anguish, acquit, acquire, acquaintance, acquiesce, quiet, quite, quell, squabble, squad, square, quid, quiz, squat, squeeze, languish, distinguish, equip, equate, equator, liquid, quote, qualify, quality, question, equity, linguistics, linguist, etc. But note its occurrence in the following words: one /wݞn/, once, choir, suite /swi:t/, etc. It is silent in wrestle, wrist, wrapper, whole, who, whore, wretch, wrist, wry, wrap, etc. EBSCOhost - printed on 2/18/2022 8:37 PM via UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL ABIERTA Y A DISTANCIA - UNAD. All use subject to https://www.ebsco.com/terms-of-use Examples of Consonants and Vowels of English in Words 37 4.2 Vowels /i:/ Spellings include: e – as in be, me, he, she, we, complete, these, recede, precede, replete, placebo, febrile, feline, scene, Eden, vehicle, venal, etc. ea – as in beat, leaf, sea, heal, reason, grease, beans, sheaf, dream, leaf, meat, leave, repeat, repeal, yeast, seat, season, meal, scream, stream, seal, cream, leap, bleat, read, dean, clean, deal, please, demean, crease, lean, mean, seal, appeal, etc. ee – as in tree, three, queen, weep, seed, wee, coffee, week, sweep, feed, free, keel, jeep, feet, green, umpteenth, seen, bleed, sheet, feel, wheel, meet, canteen, cheek, decree, devotee, been, keen, preen, etc. ei, ey – receive, seize, deceive, key, etc. ie – belief, believe, piece, chief, thief, siege, priest, brief, grief, relief, niece, piece, field, frieze, yield, diesel, etc. i – police, machine, prestige, etc. ui – suite, etc. And also in quay, people. /ܼ/ i – sit, lit, kit, dip, lip, kiss, with, kill, hill, bill, pill, chicks, bid, big, filth, live, sin, bins, whip, milk, silk, dim, brick, thick, big, kid, sip, fish, in, spit, fifty, lurid, city, wicked, ticket, frantic, picnic, pidgin, lintel, contrition, timber, etc. ey – honey, hockey, hackney, donkey, volley, valley, etc. y – cyst, city, merry, rhythm, privy, lorry, symbol, carry, literary, litany, literacy, photography, quality, pity, body, candy, lady, expiry, binary, lynch, lymph, lynx, lyrics, daily, dairy, onyx /ܧnܼks/, cylinder, syllabus, hymn, cynic, cymbal, syndicate, paralysis, bury, busy etc. e – pretty, bullet, needed, seeded, clothed, wicked, carpet, wicket, locket, careless, ticket, women, business, houses, except, elect, eject, elapse, endure, equip, explain, expose, exɎport , English, etc. ie – sieve, ladies, bodied, cities, duties, lorries, bodies, etc. a – village, private, etc. Other spellings include: build, equip, busy, minute, Sunday (and other days of the week), etc. EBSCOhost - printed on 2/18/2022 8:37 PM via UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL ABIERTA Y A DISTANCIA - UNAD. All use subject to https://www.ebsco.com/terms-of-use 38 Chapter Four /e/ e – bet, get, lend, left, then, send, bed, red, sense, merry, wretch, belt, led, medal, wet, wed, whether, better, shelter, better, crest, left, met, led, rent, when, best, crest, vest, dense, vend, mend, svelte, entrance, sentence, gesture, mentor, render, ledger, pressure, tension, pension, mention, trench, tremor, etc. ea – read, lead, head, weather, leather, dead, head, deaf, breath, bread, dread, breast, wealth, death, heaven, stealth, heavy, health, healthy, ready, realm, measure, treasure, pleasure, etc. ie – friend, friendly, friendship, etc. a – any, many, ate, etc. ai – said /sed/, again /ΩɎgen/, etc. Other spellings are: bury /berܼ/, says /sez/, leisure /leݤԥ/, etc. /æ/ a – cat, mat, bad, land, marry, fan, lad, rack, lag, panic, battle, pack, paddle, cattle, pact, sat, ant, swam, hand, lamp, lamb, trash, cash, fact, back, mass, tan, relax, finance, reɎality, flatter, diaphragm, finance /fܤinæns/ etc. ai – plait, plaid, etc. Other spellings include: reveille /riɎvæli/, timbre /Ɏtæbr/, etc. /ܤ:/ a – pass, father, class, glass, last, ask, tomato, branch, camouflage, lather, after, bath, dance, moustache, path, staff, etc. ar – card, bard, cart, march, large, star, car, part, park, bark, tart, etc ear – heart, hearth, hearken, etc. er – clerk, sergeant, etc. al – calm, palm, psalm, half, calf, etc. au – laugh, aunt, etc. /ݞ/ u – cut, shut, must, punch, judge, study, public, puss, glut, sung, hurry, bud, gun, bulb, jug, uncle, husband, much, sun, cunning, dull, bulge, pulse, result, such, supple, summary /sݞmrܼ/, summarily /sݞmrlܼ/, summarise /sݞmrܤiz/, buccaneer etc. o – son, glove, money, front, come, among, some, done, wonder, colour, mother, brother, love, won, one, nothing, Monday, one, month, monkey, oven, onion, cover, coven, front, covenant, etc. oo – blood, flood, etc. EBSCOhost - printed on 2/18/2022 8:37 PM via UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL ABIERTA Y A DISTANCIA - UNAD. All use subject to https://www.ebsco.com/terms-of-use Examples of Consonants and Vowels of English in Words 39 ou – double, southern, cousin, country, young, enough, tough, couple, flourish, etc. /ܧ/ o – clock, mock, dock, dog, cot, hot, long, rotten, frost, froth, God, florid, wonder, compost, bottom, shop, top, sorry, gone, conscience, composition, borrow, bother, holiday, lock, etc. a – what, was, watch, wash, wasp, wallow, wallet, wan, wand, want, swat, swath, swap, wattle, wrath, wallow, quality, swan, swamp, swallow, etc. ou, ow – cough, trough, knowledge, etc. au – because, laurel, quarrel, Austria, Australia, cauliflower, etc. Other spellings are forehead /fܧrܼd/, yacht /jܧt/, suave /swܧv/, etc. /ܧ:/ ar, or – war, or, horse, horn, born, sort, corn, quart, etc ou – bought, thought, ought, sought, etc. our – court, four, mourn, source, etc. ore – before, fore, core, more, bore, lore, pore, etc. a – water, swam, etc oar, oor – oar, roar, soar, board, door, floor, etc. au, augh – fault, cause, daughter, sauce, author, etc. aw – dawn, yawn, jaw, awe, lawn, saw, etc. al, all – call, fall, waltz, hall, all, ball, false, wall, bald, etc. Other spelling is sword /sܧ:d/. /u/ u – put, push, bush, cushion, full, sugar, bull, etc. oo – fool, look, book, good, wool, wood, foot, stood, cook, etc. o – woman, wolf, bosom /Ɏbuzԥm/, etc. ou – would, should, courier, could, etc. /u:/ u – rude, June, crucial, enthusiasm, huge, use, etc. oo – food, soon, spoon, loom, loose, boom, tooth, cool, moon, too, soot, etc. o – tomb, do, lose, who, etc. ou – group, soup, wound, through, couth, etc. ew – dew, new, flew, blew, askew, few, shrew, Matthew, etc. ue, ui, oe, eu, au, – fuel, neuter, shoe, queue, juice, sluice, blue, argue, hue, nuisance, beauty, suit, fruit etc. EBSCOhost - printed on 2/18/2022 8:37 PM via UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL ABIERTA Y A DISTANCIA - UNAD. All use subject to https://www.ebsco.com/terms-of-use 40 Chapter Four But oup as in coup. /ԥ:/ er, err – her, serve, err, nerve, term, berth, serviette, herd, hermit, hernia, herb, etc. ur, urr – curt, turn, church, burn, fur, curd, Thursday, nurse, purse, purr, fur, burst, curse, surge, hurt, churn, etc. ir, yr – bird, shirt, girl, third, first, myrtle, myrrh, thirst, birth, etc. w + or – word, world, work, worse, worst, worm, worthy, world, etc. ear – heard, earth, search, hearse, etc. our – scourge, journey, courtesy, etc. But o in colonel as in /kԥ:nl/. /ԥ/ Most English vowels, when they are unaccented, usually take this form. The other forms for vowels in unstressed syllables are /i, u/ in reduced forms. Examples of words with /ԥ/ as vowels of unstressed syllables are: father, above, amateur, doctor, after, safer, writer, decorum, teacher, user, astute, lecturer, divider, colour, pattern, figure, finger, letter, daughter, slaughter, butcher, lover, the, measure, treasure, pivot /pܼvԥt/, etc. /ܤi/ i – time, kite, bite, white, light, price, side, life, climb, write, site, kind, sign, lilac, feline, island, sulphide, minute, missile, supine, etc. ie – die, cried, lie, pie, tried, etc. y, ye – by, cry, try, fry, shy, my, fly, ply, dry, style, stylistics, stylus, paralyse, dye, bye, etc. ei – height, neither, etc. ai – aisle, etc. But also spelt as eye, buy. /ei/ a – ape, date, mane, blame, vale, cane, sane, lace, base, fame, came, haze, hazel, regale, relate, plane, brake, waste, pane, shame, name, crane, upgrade, trader, wafer, scabies, dame, etc. ay – day, May, ray, say, bay, sway, stay, pay, lay, hay, clay, astray, tray, essay, delay, gray, slay, crayon, display, playing, etc. ai – wail, waist, train, rail, rain, jail, brain, mains, trail, lain, aim, braid, braille, wraith, maim, upbraid, traitor, trailer, plaice, plain, gain, slain, etc. EBSCOhost - printed on 2/18/2022 8:37 PM via UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL ABIERTA Y A DISTANCIA - UNAD. All use subject to https://www.ebsco.com/terms-of-use Examples of Consonants and Vowels of English in Words 41 ei, ey – eight, weight, freight, veil, rein, weigh, beige, vein, they, whey, prey, etc. ea – break, steak, great, etc. But gauge /Jeiݶ/, gaol /ݶeil/, bouquet /bukei/. /ܧi/ oi – boil, coil, soil, loin, voile, coin, void, voice, foil, point, toil, join, noise, foible, etc. oy – boy, joy, coy, toy, oyster, voyage, etc. /ܤu/ ou – house, douse, foul, mouse, louse, sound, council, shout, rout, lout, ground, flour, found, mountain, loud, lousy, south, etc. ow – frown, flower, cow, gown, fowl, crown, crowd, allow, town, bow, etc. /ԥu/ o – old, so, fold, cold, sold, mold, no, go, most, bone, rope, told, colt, host, bold, hold, folk, both, home, phone, zero, etc. oe – toe, foe, hoe, doe, etc. ow – know, bow, crow, slow, blow, brow, tomorrow, borrow, grow, etc. oa – boat, gloat, bloat, broach, loath, load, toast, oath, road, oak, foal, soap, etc. ou – soul, mould, though, shoulder, dough, etc. But sew, mauve, brooch, beau, etc. /eԥ/ ar, are – scare, dare, care, rare, fare, share, mare, aware, bare, declare, square, scarce, etc. air – air, fair, pair, chair, lair, stair, repair, hair, etc. ear – bear, pear, wear, tear (verb), swear, etc. Also heir, their, Mary, there, where, they’re, aorist, aerobics, etc. /iԥ/ ere – here, etc. ear, eer – hear, ear, tear (liquid), deer, seer, veer, bear, cheer, gear, fear, near, shear, weary, mere, jeer, theatre, clear, sheer, dreary, peer, dear, etc. eir, ier – fierce, pierce, weird, etc. ia, ea – material, brilliant, idea, real, criteria, malaria, etc. e – zero, hero, heroine, etc. EBSCOhost - printed on 2/18/2022 8:37 PM via UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL ABIERTA Y A DISTANCIA - UNAD. All use subject to https://www.ebsco.com/terms-of-use 42 Chapter Four /uԥ/ oor – poor, moor, etc. our – tour, dour, gourd, etc. ure – pure, endure, sure, secure, lure, cure, etc. ur – curious, spurious, security, during, etc. u, ue, ua, - usual, cruel, lurid, fluent, actual, manual, mutual, etc. Also incongruous, European, fewer, vacuum, truer, etc. 4.2.1 Triphthongs We need to mention the possibility of the occurrence of triphthongs. Arnold and Gimson (1973) classify these sorts of vowels as triphthongs. Triphthongs had been previously classified as glides that involve the movement from one point in the mouth, by the tongue, to two other places; thus resulting in the articulation of three vowels at the same time. However, as we have earlier observed, we will not be too focused on this sort of articulatory occurrence. Our view is that the so-called triphthongs are not forming a syllabic nuclear unit. Instead, it is a combination of a diphthong along with the schwa sound /ԥ/ in most places where the triphthongs have seemingly occurred. We thus see the schwa /ԥ/ following the diphthong as the nucleus of another syllabic unit. This should become obvious when the pattern of the examples given below is critically examined. On his part, Ekpe (2010) strongly argues for the existence of triphthongs in English. One nonetheless doubts if he has enough information on the occurrence of this type of vowel sound to make the defence he put up in his work. A close look at the occurrence of triphthongs will reveal such a position is quite debatable. Nonetheless, practical data is usually the best deciding factor in scholarship. This is why we have presented some examples in the next paragraph to you as the reader to decide which position should best be taken. Below are some examples given by Arnold and Gimson (1973); it is intended that you as a reader be allowed to make your own judgement on the issue. /ܤiԥ/ wired, pliers, trial, dire, lion, hire, ire, pious, riot, quiet, fire, admire, tiring, empire, diamond, violent, desirable, violence, etc. EBSCOhost - printed on 2/18/2022 8:37 PM via UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL ABIERTA Y A DISTANCIA - UNAD. All use subject to https://www.ebsco.com/terms-of-use Examples of Consonants and Vowels of English in Words 43 /ܤuԥ/ cower, coward, towel, dowry, flower, empower, power, shower, sour, hour, devour, bower, allowance, liar, etc. As a scholar of English linguistics, you should look for other examples to ascertain the veracity of this claim. This is scholarship. If this pattern is consistent with your finding, you may contact the author to share your thoughts; but if not, you should still bring your evidence to the contrary to our attention. Of all the examples given above in all the previous sections, you need to look for more and practise on your own. However, we need to warn that the best way you can practise and master the pronunciation of English, or any language for that matter, is by listening to yourself as you try to pronounce the sounds. However, in the case of the L2 learner, you can try to also get good models to learn from. Your teacher should be your best model if s/he had been careful to master the proper pronunciations to be a good model. You may, however, also make attempts to get tapes or compact disks or order from phoneticians. You may also attempt to get involved in class projects that have to do with your coming together as groups to pronounce the sounds and have them recorded in electronic formats, then play them back and listen to them to make judgements. You can then compare these to the native speakers’ pronunciations, especially on the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Service. Other good models are the electronic media broadcasters in English in your country. For a learner of English in Nigeria, the national television, Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) broadcasters, and broadcasters from other stations like Channels television, the Silverbird group, African Independent Television (AIT) speak English quite well enough to provide good speech models. South Africa’s e television, South Africa Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), and America’s Cable News Network (CNN), etc. have broadcasters that provide good native speaker speech models, which are accessible in Nigeria. If your institution has a good language laboratory, make the best use of it to improve on your pronunciation practice. EBSCOhost - printed on 2/18/2022 8:37 PM via UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL ABIERTA Y A DISTANCIA - UNAD. All use subject to https://www.ebsco.com/terms-of-use 44 Chapter Four Practice Exercises A. Write out the vowel sounds in these words: (a) came (b) go (c) book (d) leap (e) dig (f) hear (g) shirt (h) said (i) son (j) half B. Write out the consonantal sounds in each of these words: (a) bay (b) ship (c) cow (d) rye (e) axe (f) wear (g) who (h) lure (i) you (j) maim C. Transcribe the following words phonetically: (a) matter (b) dare (c) usual (d) bed (e) pass (f) calm (g) aunt (h) bird (i) people (j) yam (k) debt D. Transcribe the following words orthographically as you listen to them on the tape. EBSCOhost - printed on 2/18/2022 8:37 PM via UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL ABIERTA Y A DISTANCIA - UNAD. All use subject to https://www.ebsco.com/terms-of-use
