Phonetics: Counting Sounds 1.2

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Phonetics: Counting Sounds 1.2

This exercise will help you differentiate spelling (graphemes) from sound segments (phonemes).

In counting the number of sounds you perceive as you say these words to yourself, remember that linguists always study natural speech; that is, the way a speaker actually articulates speech sounds in real speech. The words in this exercise are surrounded by slashes ( / / ) indicating a broad transcription, which in most cases is closer to what a speaker believes he/she is articulating; however, it is also important to become more and more aware of the actual articulation that is taking place.

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Question 1

How many sound segments are in the word though?

A	3 Hint: The word though has two sounds segments: /ðoʊ/. The digraphs 'th' and 'ou' each represents one sound. The 'gh' is silent.
B	2
C	1 Hint: The word though has two sounds segments: /ðoʊ/. The digraphs 'th' and 'ou' each represents one sound. The 'gh' is silent.

Question 1 Explanation:

Excellent! The word though has two sounds segments: /ðoʊ/. The digraphs 'th' and 'ou' each represents one sound. The 'gh' is silent.

Question 2

How many sound segments are in the word own?

A	1 Hint: The word own has two sound segments: /oʊn/. Remember that diphthongs such as /oʊ/ count as one sound segment.
B	2
C	3 Hint: The word own has two sound segments: /oʊn/. Remember that diphthongs such as /oʊ/ count as one sound segment.

Question 2 Explanation:

Excellent! The word own has two sound segments: /oʊn/.

Question 3

How many sound segments are in the word shears?

A	4
B	5 Hint: The word shears has four sound segments: /ʃiɹz/ (IPA) or /šiɹz/ (NA). The digraph 'sh' represents one sound, as well as 'ea'.
C	6 Hint: The word shears has four sound segments: /ʃiɹz/ (IPA) or /šiɹz/ (NA). The digraph 'sh' represents one sound, as well as 'ea'.

Question 3 Explanation:

Excellent~ ! The word shears has four sound segments: /ʃiɹz/ (IPA) or /šiɹz/ (NA). The digraph 'sh' represents one sound, as well as 'ea'.

Question 4

How many sound segments are in the word ghetto?

A	4
B	5 Hint: Even though there are six graphemes in the spelling of the word ghetto, there are only four sound segments: /ɡɛtoʊ/ or /ɡɛɾoʊ/. The digraph 'gh' represents one sound, as well as 'tt'.
C	6 Hint: Even though there are six graphemes in the spelling of the word ghetto, there are only four sound segments: /ɡɛtoʊ/ or /ɡɛɾoʊ/. The digraph 'gh' represents one sound, as well as 'tt'.

Question 4 Explanation:

Even though there are six graphemes in the spelling of the word ghetto, there are only four sound segments: /ɡɛtoʊ/ or /ɡɛɾoʊ/. The digraph 'gh' represents one sound, as well as 'tt'.

Question 5

How many sound segments are in the word budge?

A	4 Hint: The word budge has three sound segments: /bʌdʒ/ (IPA) or /bʌǰ/ (NA). The digraph 'dg' represents one sound. The 'e' is silent.
B	3
C	2 Hint: The word budge has three sound segments: /bʌdʒ/ (IPA) or /bʌǰ/ (NA). The digraph 'dg' represents one sound. The 'e' is silent.

Question 5 Explanation:

Excellent! The word budge has three sound segments: /bʌdʒ/ (IPA) or /bʌǰ/ (NA). The digraph 'dg' represents one sound. The 'e' is silent.

Question 6

How many sound segments are in the word charted?

A	7 Hint: The word charted has six sound segments, even though it is written with seven letters: /tʃaɹtəd/ (IPA) or /čaɹtəd/ (NA). The digraph 'ch' represents one sound.
B	6
C	5 Hint: The word charted has six sound segments, even though it is written with seven letters: /tʃaɹtəd/ (IPA) or /čaɹtəd/ (NA). The digraph 'ch' represents one sound.

Question 6 Explanation:

Excellent! The word charted has six sound segments, even though it is written with seven letters: /tʃaɹtəd/ (IPA) or /čaɹtəd/ (NA). The digraph 'ch' represents one sound.

Question 7

How many sound segments are in the word sigh?

A	2
B	3 Hint: The word sigh has two sound segments: /saɪ/ (IPA) or /say/ (NA). Remember that diphthongs are considered one sound. The 'gh' are silent. The igh represents one sound segment.
C	4 Hint: The word sigh has two sound segments: /saɪ/ (IPA) or /say/ (NA). Remember that diphthongs are considered one sound. The 'gh' are silent. The igh represents one sound segment.

Question 7 Explanation:

Excellent! The word sigh has two sound segments: /saɪ/ (IPA) or /say/ (NA).
Remember that diphthongs are considered one sound. The 'gh' are silent.

Question 8

How many sound segments are in the word thickness?

A	6
B	5 Hint: The word thickness has six sound segments: /θɪknəs/. The digraphs 'th', 'ck' and 'ss' each represent one sound.
C	7 Hint: The word thickness has six sound segments: /θɪknəs/. The digraphs 'th', 'ck' and 'ss' each represent one sound.

Question 8 Explanation:

The word thickness has six sound segments: /θɪknəs/. The digraphs 'th', 'ck' and 'ss' each represent one sound.

Question 9

How many sound segments are in the word wince?

A	4 Hint: The word wince has five sound segments: /wɪnts/. The 'e' is silent. Also, speakers of Standard English insert a /t/ between the /n/ and the /s/ in natural speech.
B	5
C	6 Hint: The word wince has five sound segments: /wɪnts/. The 'e' is silent. Also, speakers of Standard English insert a /t/ between the /n/ and the /s/ in natural speech.

Question 9 Explanation:

The word wince has five sound segments: /wɪnts/.
The 'e' is silent. Also, speakers of Standard English insert a /t/ between the /n/ and the /s/ in natural speech.

Question 10

How many sound segments are in the word elephant?

A	8 Hint: Even though there are eight letters in the word elephant, there are only seven sound segments: /ɛləfənt/. The digraph 'ph' represents one sound. The ph in this word represents the single segment /f/.
B	7
C	6 Hint: Even though there are eight letters in the word elephant, there are only seven sound segments: /ɛləfənt/. The digraph 'ph' represents one sound. The ph in this word represents the single segment /f/.

Question 10 Explanation:

Excellent! Even though there are eight letters in the word elephant, there are only seven sound segments: /ɛləfənt/.
The digraph 'ph' represents one sound.

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