Phonetics: Counting Sounds 1.1

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Phonetics: Counting Sounds 1.1

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

In counting the number of sounds in any given word, remember that the focus is on the actual sounds you hear, not the visual form, or spelling, which can be misleading.

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Question 1

How many sound segments are in the word knights?

A	6 Hint: There are 4 sounds in the word 'knights'. /naɪts/ Remember that the 'digraph kn' represents 1 sound and that 'gh' are silent.
B	5 Hint: There are 4 sounds in the word 'knights'. /naɪts/ Remember that the 'digraph kn' represents 1 sound and that 'gh' are silent.
C	4

Question 1 Explanation:

Excellent! There are 4 sounds in the word 'knights'. /naɪts/

Question 2

How many sound segments are in the word honor?

A	4
B	3 Hint: The word honor has 4 sounds: /anəɹ/. Note that /əɹ/ may be considered one sound by some, in which the correct response is '3' sounds: /anɚ/.
C	5 Hint: The word honor has 4 sounds: /anəɹ/. Note that /əɹ/ may be considered one sound by some, in which the correct response is '3' sounds: /anɚ/.

Question 2 Explanation:

The word honor has 4 sounds: /anəɹ/.
Note that /əɹ/ may be considered one sound by some, in which the correct response is '3' sounds:/anɚ/.

Question 3

How many sound segments are in the word thieves?

A	5 Hint: There are 4 sounds in the word 'thieves'. /θivz/ The digraph 'th' represents 1 sound, as does 'ie'. The final 'e' is silent.
B	6 Hint: There are 4 sounds in the word 'thieves'. /θivz/ The digraph 'th' represents 1 sound, as does 'ie'. The final 'e' is silent.
C	4

Question 3 Explanation:

Excellent! There are 4 sounds in the word 'thieves'. /θivz/ The digraph 'th' represents 1 sound, as does 'ie'. The final 'e' is silent.

Question 4

How many sound segments are in the word wrong?

A	5 Hint: There are 3 sounds in the word 'wrong'. /ɹɔŋ/ The 'w' is silent. Furthermore, although 'ng' looks like two separate sounds, the 'g' is also silent.
B	3
C	4 Hint: There are 3 sounds in the word 'wrong'. /ɹɔŋ/ The 'w' is silent. Furthermore, although 'ng' looks like two separate sounds, the 'g' is also silent.

Question 4 Explanation:

Excellent! There are 3 sounds in the word wrong: /ɹɔŋ/.
Note that in most dialects of English, the final g in this word is not actually pronounced.

Question 5

How many sound segments are in the word clothes?

A	4 Hint: There are 5 sounds in 'clothes'. /k/, /l/, /oʊ/, /ð/, /z/. The digraph 'th' represents 1 sound and the 'e' is silent.
B	6 Hint: There are 5 sounds in 'clothes'. /k/, /l/, /oʊ/, /ð/, /z/. The digraph 'th' represents 1 sound and the 'e' is silent.
C	5 Hint:

Question 5 Explanation:

Excellent! There are 5 sounds in 'clothes'. /kloʊðz/

Question 6

How many sound segments are in the word maligned?

A	6 Hint:
B	8 Hint: The word 'maligned' is composed of 6 sounds. /məlaɪnd/ The sounds 'g' and 'e' are silent.
C	7 Hint: The word 'maligned' is composed of 6 sounds. /məlaɪnd/ The sounds 'g' and 'e' are silent.

Question 6 Explanation:

Excellent! The word 'maligned' is composed of 6 sounds. /məlaɪnd/ The sounds 'g' and 'e' are silent.

Question 7

How many sound segments are in the word faxed?

A	6 Hint: There are 5 sounds in the word 'faxed'. /fækst/ The grapheme 'x' represents 2 sounds, /k/ and /s/. Furthermore, 'e' is silent.
B	5
C	7 Hint: There are 5 sounds in the word 'faxed'. /fækst/ The grapheme 'x' represents 2 sounds, /k/ and /s/. Furthermore, 'e' is silent.

Question 7 Explanation:

Excellent! There are 5 sounds in the word 'faxed'. /fækst/ The grapheme 'x' represents 2 sounds, /k/ and /s/. Furthermore, 'e' is silent.

Question 8

How many sound segments are in the word cellphone?

A	7 Hint: There are 6 sounds in the word cellphone'. /sɛlfoʊn/ Remember that the double 'l' and the digraph 'ph' are each considered one sound. The final 'e' is silent.
B	5 Hint: There are 6 sounds in the word cellphone'. /sɛlfoʊn/ Remember that the double 'l' and the digraph 'ph' are each considered one sound. The final 'e' is silent.
C	6

Question 8 Explanation:

Excellent! There are 6 sounds in the word cellphone'. /sɛlfoʊn/ Remember that the double 'l' and the digraph 'ph' are each considered one sound. The final 'e' is silent.

Question 9

How many sounds are in the word three?

A	3 Hint: There are 3 sounds in the word 'three'. /θɹi/ The digraphs 'th' and 'ee' each represent 1 sound.
B	4 Hint: There are 3 sounds in the word 'three'. /θɹi/ The digraphs 'th' and 'ee' each represent 1 sound.
C	2

Question 9 Explanation:

Excellent! There are 3 sounds in the word 'three'. /θɹi/ The digraphs 'th' and 'ee' each represent 1 sound.

Question 10

How many sounds are in the word squeaked?

A	7 Hint: There are 6 sounds are in the word 'squeaked'. /skwikt/ The graphemes 'qu' represent /k/ and /w/, 'ea' stand for 1 sound, and the second 'e' is silent.
B	6
C	8 Hint: There are 6 sounds are in the word 'squeaked'. /skwikt/ The graphemes 'qu' represent /k/ and /w/, 'ea' stand for 1 sound, and the second 'e' is silent.

Question 10 Explanation:

Excellent! There are 6 sounds are in the word 'squeaked'. /skwikt/ The graphemes 'qu' represent /k/ and /w/, 'ea' stand for 1 sound, and the second 'e' is silent.

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Phonetics: Counting Sounds 1.1

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