1

1

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

The Consonants of English

The Consonants of English

2

2

The definition of

The definition of

“

“

consonant

consonant

”

”

In

In

articulatory

articulatory

phonetics

phonetics

, a

, a

consonant

consonant

is a

is a

sound

sound

in

in

spoken

spoken

language

language

that is characterized by a

that is characterized by a

closure

closure

or

or

stricture

stricture

of the

of the

vocal tract

vocal tract

sufficient to cause audible

sufficient to cause audible

turbulence. The word

turbulence. The word

consonant

consonant

comes from

comes from

Latin

Latin

and

and

means "sounding with" or "sounding together," the idea

means "sounding with" or "sounding together," the idea

being that consonants don't sound on their own, but occur

being that consonants don't sound on their own, but occur

only with a nearby

only with a nearby

vowel

vowel

, which is the case in Latin.

, which is the case in Latin.

This conception of consonants, however, does not reflect

This conception of consonants, however, does not reflect

the modern linguistic understanding which defines

the modern linguistic understanding which defines

consonants in terms of vocal tract constriction.

consonants in terms of vocal tract constriction.

3

3

Place of Articulation

Place of Articulation

Manners of

Manners of

Articulation

Articulation

Bilabial

Bilabial

Labiodental

Labiodental

Dental

Dental

Alveolar

Alveolar

Palatal

Palatal

Velar

Velar

/k/

/k/

/g/

/g/

Fricatives

Fricatives

Voiceless

Voiceless

Voiced

Voiced

/f/

/f/

/v/

/v/

/

/

P

P

/

/

/

/

D

D

/

/

/s/

/s/

/z/

/z/

/

/

S

S

/

/

/

/

Z

Z

/

/

/h/

/h/

Affricate

Affricate

Voiceless

Voiceless

Voiced

Voiced

/t

/t

S

S

/

/

/d

/d

Z

Z

/

/

Nasal

Nasal

-

-

voiced

voiced

/m/

/m/

/n/

/n/

/

/

N

N

/

/

Liquid

Liquid

-

-

voiced

voiced

/l/

/l/

/r/

/r/

[

[

…

…

]

]

/hw/

/hw/

/w/

/w/

/j/

/j/

/t/

/t/

/d/

/d/

Glotal

Glotal

Stop

Stop

Voiceless

Voiceless

Voiced

Voiced

/p/

/p/

/b/

/b/

Glide/Approximant

Glide/Approximant

Voiceless

Voiceless

Voiced

Voiced

/hw/

/hw/

/w/

/w/

3. An overview of the English consonant

3. An overview of the English consonant

4

4

3.1

3.1

Stop Consonants

Stop Consonants

3.1.1

3.1.1

Aspiration

Aspiration

Aspiration

Aspiration

is a period of

is a period of

voicelessness

voicelessness

after the stop articulation

after the stop articulation

and before the start of the voicing for the vowel. If you put a

and before the start of the voicing for the vowel. If you put a

sheet

sheet

of thin paper in front of your lips while saying

of thin paper in front of your lips while saying

“

“

pie,

pie,

”

”

you can feel the

you can feel the

burst of air that comes out during the period of

burst of air that comes out during the period of

voicelessness

voicelessness

after

after

the release of the stop.

the release of the stop.

In a narrow transcription, aspiration may be indicated by a smal

In a narrow transcription, aspiration may be indicated by a smal

l

l

raised

raised

h

h

, [

, [

H

H

]. Accordingly, these words may be transcribed as [ p

]. Accordingly, these words may be transcribed as [ p

H

H

a

a

I

I

,

,

t

t

H

H

a

a

I

I

, k

, k

H

H

a

a

I

I

]. You may not be able to feel the burst of air in

]. You may not be able to feel the burst of air in

“

“

tie,

tie,

kye

kye

”

”

because these stop closures are made well inside the mouth cavit

because these stop closures are made well inside the mouth cavit

y.

y.

5

5

3.1.2

3.1.2

Vowel onset and aspiration

Vowel onset and aspiration

Try the following set of sounds and examine the VOT:

Try the following set of sounds and examine the VOT:

tie sty die

tie sty die

pie spy buy

pie spy buy

kye

kye

sky guy

sky guy

6

6

What may happen if /s/ is clustered with /t/, /k/, and /p/? Figu

What may happen if /s/ is clustered with /t/, /k/, and /p/? Figu

re

re

3.1 shows that two things are to happen for any stop consonant

3.1 shows that two things are to happen for any stop consonant

before vowels.

before vowels.

1.

1.

If the stop consonant is voiceless, there will be a period of

If the stop consonant is voiceless, there will be a period of

“

“

aspiration

aspiration

”

”

before the VOT (vowel onset time).

before the VOT (vowel onset time).

2.

2.

If the stop consonant is voiced, there will not be a period of

If the stop consonant is voiced, there will not be a period of

“

“

aspiration

aspiration

”

”

before the VOT.

before the VOT.

3.

3.

Figure 3.1 shows that the

Figure 3.1 shows that the

“

“

aspiration

aspiration

”

”

simply does not exist.

simply does not exist.

7

7

3.1.3

3.1.3

Identify the following terms

Identify the following terms

1. Noise burst:

1. Noise burst:

2. Vowel onset:

2. Vowel onset:

3. Closure:

3. Closure:

8

8

3.1.4

3.1.4

the ending consonants

the ending consonants

9

9

3.1.5

3.1.5

The length difference of vowels (How the

The length difference of vowels (How the

ending consonants affect the vowel)

ending consonants affect the vowel)

1.

1.

a. advocate

a. advocate

b.

b.

action

action

c.

c.

acknowledge

acknowledge

2.

2.

a.

a.

bead

bead

b. beak

b. beak

c. because

c. because

3.

3.

a.

a.

figment

figment

b.

b.

fixture

fixture

c.

c.

fixation

fixation

10

10

3.1.6

3.1.6

The diacritic [

The diacritic [

|

|

]: no audible release

]: no audible release

1.

1.

advocate

advocate

action

action

[

[

:Qk|Sn`

:Qk|Sn`

]

]

2.

2.

“

“

It

It

’

’

s a big day.

s a big day.

”

”

11

11

3.1.7

3.1.7

The glottal [

The glottal [

/

/

] sound

] sound

1.

1.

[

[

:/√/√

:/√/√

]

]

2.

2.

rap, rat, rack

rap, rat, rack

3.

3.

beaten, kitten, fatten

beaten, kitten, fatten

12

12

3.1.8

3.1.8

The nasal

The nasal

plosion

plosion

1.

1.

What is

What is

“

“

homorganic

homorganic

”

”

?

?

2.

2.

hidden [

hidden [

:hIdn`

:hIdn`

]

]

3.

3.

beaten, kitten, fatten [

beaten, kitten, fatten [

:fQ/n`

:fQ/n`

]

]

13

13

3.1.9

3.1.9

The [

The [

R

R

] sound

] sound

1.

1.

What is

What is

“

“

lateral

lateral

plosion

plosion

”

”

?

?

2.

2.

little [

little [

:lIRl`

:lIRl`

]

]

3.

3.

city [

city [

:sIRi

:sIRi

]

]

14

14

3.2

3.2

Fricatives

Fricatives

1.

1.

What is

What is

“

“

fricative

fricative

”

”

?

?

2.

2.

What

What

’

’

s the difference between

s the difference between

“

“

rice

rice

”

”

&

&

“

“

rise

rise

”

”

?

?

3.

3.

What is

What is

“

“

obstruents

obstruents

”

”

?

?

Obstruents

Obstruents

is referred to as a natural class of

is referred to as a natural class of

sounds consisting of stops, fricatives, and affricates.

sounds consisting of stops, fricatives, and affricates.

15

15

3.3

3.3

Affricates

Affricates

1.

1.

What is

What is

“

“

affricate

affricate

”

”

?

?

An affricate is a sequence of stop followed by a

An affricate is a sequence of stop followed by a

homorganic fricative.

homorganic fricative.

2.

2.

What are the affricates in English?

What are the affricates in English?

3.

3.

Are /

Are /

ts

ts

/, /

/, /

tP

tP

/ affricates? Why?

/ affricates? Why?

16

16

3.4

3.4

Nasals

Nasals

1.

1.

Compare the following sounds

Compare the following sounds

sin

sin

sing

sing

sink

sink

2.

2.

Try to read

Try to read

Jack and me

Jack and me

Jack and Kate

Jack and Kate

17

17

3.5

3.5

Approximants

Approximants

1.

1.

What are approximants?

What are approximants?

2.

2.

What are the sound qualities of these approximants?

What are the sound qualities of these approximants?

3.

3.

What are the functions of these approximants?

What are the functions of these approximants?

18

18

3.6

3.6

Rules for English consonant allophones

Rules for English consonant allophones

(1)

(1)

Consonants are longer when at the end of a phrase.

Consonants are longer when at the end of a phrase.

Examples

Examples

bib, did, don, nod

bib, did, don, nod

19

19

3.6

3.6

Rules for English consonant allophones

Rules for English consonant allophones

(2)

(2)

Voiceless stops /p, t, k/ are aspirated when they are

Voiceless stops /p, t, k/ are aspirated when they are

syllable initial.

syllable initial.

Examples

Examples

pip,

pip,

test,

test,

kick

kick

[p

[p

HIp

HIp

,

,

t

t

HEst

HEst

,

,

k

k

HIk

HIk

].

].

20

20

3.6

3.6

Rules for English consonant allophones

Rules for English consonant allophones

(3)

(3)

Obstruents

Obstruents

—

—

stops and fricatives

stops and fricatives

—

—

classified as voiced

classified as voiced

(that is, /b, d, g, v,

(that is, /b, d, g, v,

D

D

, z,

, z,

Z

Z

/) are voiced through only a

/) are voiced through only a

small part of the articulation when they occur at the

small part of the articulation when they occur at the

end of an utterance or before a voiceless sound.

end of an utterance or before a voiceless sound.

Examples

Examples

Listen to the /v/ in "Try to improve." and

Listen to the /v/ in "Try to improve." and

to the /d/ in

to the /d/ in

“

“

Add two."

Add two."

21

21

3.6

3.6

Rules for English consonant allophones

Rules for English consonant allophones

(4)

(4)

So

So

-

-

called voiced stops and affricates /b, d, g, d

called voiced stops and affricates /b, d, g, d

Z

Z

/ are

/ are

voiceless when syllable initial

voiceless when syllable initial

, except when immediately

, except when immediately

preceded by a voiced sound.

preceded by a voiced sound.

Examples

Examples

As in

As in

a

a

day

day

Cf. thi

Cf. thi

s

s

day

day

22

22

3.6

3.6

Rules for English consonant allophones

Rules for English consonant allophones

(5)

(5)

Voiceless stops /p, t, k/ are

Voiceless stops /p, t, k/ are

unaspirated

unaspirated

if immediately

if immediately

preceded by an /s/.

preceded by an /s/.

Examples

Examples

spew, stew, skew

spew, stew, skew

23

23

3.6

3.6

Rules for English consonant allophones

Rules for English consonant allophones

(6)

(6)

Voiceless

Voiceless

obstruents

obstruents

(stops and affricates) /p, t, k, t

(stops and affricates) /p, t, k, t

S

S

/

/

are longer than the corresponding voiced

are longer than the corresponding voiced

obstruents

obstruents

/b,

/b,

d, g, d

d, g, d

Z

Z

/ when at the end of a syllable.

/ when at the end of a syllable.

Examples

Examples

cap, cab

cap, cab

back, bag

back, bag

24

24

3.6

3.6

Rules for English consonant allophones

Rules for English consonant allophones

(7)

(7)

The approximants /w, r, j,

The approximants /w, r, j,

l

l

/ are at least partially

/ are at least partially

voiceless when they occur after initial /p, t, k/.

voiceless when they occur after initial /p, t, k/.

Examples

Examples

play,

play,

twin,

twin,

cue

cue

[p

[p

l8eI

l8eI

,

,

t

t

w8In

w8In

,

,

kj8u

kj8u

].

].

25

25

3.6

3.6

Rules for English consonant allophones

Rules for English consonant allophones

(8)

(8)

Stops are unexploded when they occur before another

Stops are unexploded when they occur before another

stop in words such as

stop in words such as

Examples

Examples

apt

apt

rubbed

rubbed

[

[

Qp|t

Qp|t

]

]

[

[

r√b|d

r√b|d

]

]

26

26

3.6

3.6

Rules for English consonant allophones

Rules for English consonant allophones

(9)

(9)

In many accents of English, syllable final /p, t, k/ are

In many accents of English, syllable final /p, t, k/ are

accompanied by a glottal stop.

accompanied by a glottal stop.

Examples

Examples

tip,

tip,

pit,

pit,

kick

kick

[

[

tI/p

tI/p

,

,

pI/t

pI/t

,

,

kI/k

kI/k

]

]

27

27

3.6

3.6

Rules for English consonant allophones

Rules for English consonant allophones

(10)

(10)

In many accents of English, /t/ is replaced by a glottal

In many accents of English, /t/ is replaced by a glottal

stop when it occurs before an alveolar nasal in the

stop when it occurs before an alveolar nasal in the

same word.

same word.

Examples

Examples

beaten

beaten

[

[

»bi/n1

»bi/n1

]

]

28

28

3.6

3.6

Rules for English consonant allophones

Rules for English consonant allophones

(11)

(11)

Nasals are syllabic at the end of a word when

Nasals are syllabic at the end of a word when

immediately after an

immediately after an

obstruent

obstruent

.

.

Examples

Examples

leaden,

leaden,

chasm

chasm

['

['

lEdn1

lEdn1

,

,

'k

'k

Qzm1

Qzm1

]

]

29

29

3.6

3.6

Rules for English consonant allophones

Rules for English consonant allophones

(12)

(12)

The lateral /l/ is syllabic at the end of a word when

The lateral /l/ is syllabic at the end of a word when

immediately after a consonant.

immediately after a consonant.

Examples

Examples

paddle,

paddle,

whistle

whistle

['p

['p

Qdl1

Qdl1

,

,

'

'

wIsl1

wIsl1

]

]

30

30

3.6

3.6

Rules for English consonant allophones

Rules for English consonant allophones

(12a)

(12a)

The liquids /l, r/ are syllabic at the end of a word when

The liquids /l, r/ are syllabic at the end of a word when

immediately after a consonant.

immediately after a consonant.

Examples

Examples

sabre

sabre

,

,

razor,

razor,

hammer,

hammer,

tailor

tailor

['se

['se

Ibr1

Ibr1

,

,

'r

'r

eIzr1

eIzr1

,

,

'h

'h

Qmr1

Qmr1

,

,

'

'

te

te

Ilr1

Ilr1

]

]

31

31

3.6

3.6

Rules for English consonant allophones

Rules for English consonant allophones

(13)

(13)

Alveolar stops become voiced taps when they occur

Alveolar stops become voiced taps when they occur

between two vowels, the second of which is unstressed.

between two vowels, the second of which is unstressed.

Examples

Examples

winter, winner

winter, winner

Panting, panning

Panting, panning

32

32

3.6

3.6

Rules for English consonant allophones

Rules for English consonant allophones

(13a)

(13a)

Alveolar stops and alveolar nasal plus stop sequences

Alveolar stops and alveolar nasal plus stop sequences

become voiced taps when they occur between two

become voiced taps when they occur between two

vowels, the second of which is unstressed.

vowels, the second of which is unstressed.

Examples

Examples

auntie

auntie

Dante

Dante

33

33

3.6

3.6

Rules for English consonant allophones

Rules for English consonant allophones

(14)

(14)

Alveolar consonants become dentals before dental

Alveolar consonants become dentals before dental

consonants.

consonants.

Note that this rule applies to all alveolar consonants, not

Note that this rule applies to all alveolar consonants, not

just stops, and it often applies across word boundaries.

just stops, and it often applies across word boundaries.

Examples

Examples

eighth,

eighth,

tenth,

tenth,

wealth

wealth

[e

[e

It5T

It5T

,

,

t

t

En5T

En5T

,

,

w

w

El5T

El5T

].

].

at this

at this

[

[

Qt5 DIs

Qt5 DIs

]

]

34

34

3.6

3.6

Rules for English consonant allophones

Rules for English consonant allophones

(15)

(15)

Alveolar stops are reduced or omitted when between

Alveolar stops are reduced or omitted when between

two consonants.

two consonants.

Examples

Examples

most people

most people

['

['

moUs

moUs

'p

'p

ipl1

ipl1

] or ['

] or ['

moUst

moUst

'p

'p

ipl1

ipl1

]

]

best game

best game

35

35

3.6

3.6

Rules for English consonant allophones

Rules for English consonant allophones

(16)

(16)

A homorganic voiceless stop may be inserted after a

A homorganic voiceless stop may be inserted after a

nasal before a voiceless fricative followed by an

nasal before a voiceless fricative followed by an

unstressed vowel in the same word.

unstressed vowel in the same word.

Examples

Examples

something

something

youngster

youngster

['

['

s√m

s√m

p

p

TIN

TIN

]

]

['j

['j

√N

√N

k

k

st´’

st´’

]

]

concert

concert

agency

agency

36

36

3.6

3.6

Rules for English consonant allophones

Rules for English consonant allophones

(17)

(17)

A consonant is shortened when it is before an identical

A consonant is shortened when it is before an identical

consonant.

consonant.

Examples

Examples

big game, top post

big game, top post

stray tissue, straight issue, straight tissue

stray tissue, straight issue, straight tissue

37

37

3.6

3.6

Rules for English consonant allophones

Rules for English consonant allophones

(18)

(18)

Velar stops become more front as the following vowel in

Velar stops become more front as the following vowel in

the same syllable becomes more front.

the same syllable becomes more front.

Examples

Examples

/k/ in "cap, kept, kit, key"

/k/ in "cap, kept, kit, key"

[

[

k

k

Q

Q

p

p

,

,

k

k

E

E

pt

pt

,

,

k

k

I

I

t

t

, k

, k

i

i

]

]

/

/

g

g

/ in "gap, get, give, geese"

/ in "gap, get, give, geese"

[

[

gQ

gQ

p,

p,

gE

gE

t,

t,

gIv

gIv

,

,

gis

gis

].

].

38

38

3.6

3.6

Rules for English consonant allophones

Rules for English consonant allophones

(19)

(19)

The lateral /l/ is

The lateral /l/ is

velarized

velarized

when after a vowel or before

when after a vowel or before

a consonant at the end of a word.

a consonant at the end of a word.

Examples

Examples

life

life

file

file

clap

clap

talc

talc

[

[

laIf

laIf

] [

] [

faI…

faI…

]

]

[k

[k

lQp

lQp

] [

] [

tQ…k

tQ…k

feeling

feeling

feel

feel

[

[

filIN

filIN

]

]

[

[

fi…

fi…

]

]