Phonetics: Diacritics 1.2

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This exercise is designed to give you more practice with identifying diacritics.
These symbols add phonetic values or features to sound segments that distinguish similar sounds one from another.

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Question 1

The diacritic [ʷ] in the Nupe word [ēgʷó] ‘grass’ symbolizes which feature? (Example taken from Hyman 1970)

A	retroflex or retroflexion Hint: The diacritic [ʷ] in Nupe word [ēgʷó] ‘grass’ symbolizes the feature of labialization. The diacritic for a retroflex consonant or retroflexion is [̢].
B	labialization or rounding
C	devoicing/partial devoicing Hint: The diacritic [ʷ] in Nupe word [ēgʷó] ‘grass’ symbolizes the feature of labialization. The diacritic for partial or full devoicing is is [ ˳].

Question 2

The diacritic [ ̥] in the Japanese word [ɕi̥kaku̥] 'square' symbolizes which feature?

A	aspirated Hint: The diacritic [̥] the Japanese word [ɕi̥kaku̥] 'square' symbolizes the feature of full/partial devoicing. The diacritic for aspiration is [ʰ].
B	fully/partially devoiced
C	creaky voice Hint: The diacritic [̥] the Japanese word [ɕi̥kaku̥] 'square' symbolizes the feature of full/partial devoicing. The diacritic for creaky voice is [ ̰].

Question 3

The diacritic [ⁿ] in [sædⁿ] ‘sadden’ symbolizes which feature?

A	velarization Hint: The diacritic [ⁿ] symbolizes the feature of nasal release, which occurs when the velum lowers during the release stage of an alveolar stop such that the airflow in forced into the nasal cavity. The diacritic for velarization is [ˠ].
B	nasal release
C	partial release Hint: The diacritic [ⁿ] symbolizes the feature of nasal release, which occurs when the velum lowers during the release stage of an alveolar stop such that the airflow in forced into the nasal cavity. The diacritic for partial release is [̚].

Question 4

The diacritic [ʼ] in the Lakota word /pʼo/ 'foggy' symbolizes which feature?

A	aspiration Hint: The diacritic [ʼ] as seen in the example of the word for ‘foggy’ in Lakota /pʼo/ symbolizes the feature of ejectiveness. The diacritic for aspiration is [ʰ].
B	ejectiveness
C	dental Hint: The diacritic [ʼ] as seen in the example of the word for ‘foggy’ in Lakota /pʼo/ symbolizes the feature of ejectiveness. The diacritic for "dental" is [ ̪].

Question 5

The diacritic [̢ ] in the Russian word [ʐaba] ‘frog’ symbolizes which feature?

A	dental Hint: The diacritic [̢ ] in the Russian word [ʐaba] ‘frog’ symbolizes a retroflex consonant. The diacritic for "dental" is [ ̪].
B	palatalization Hint: The diacritic [̢ ] in the Russian word [ʐaba] ‘frog’ symbolizes a retroflex consonant or retroflexion. The diacritic for palatalization is [ʲ].
C	retroflex or retroflexion

Question 6

The diacritic [ˠ] in the Irish word [bˠwiː] 'yellow' symbolizes which feature?

A	retroflex or retroflexion Hint: The diacritic [ˠ] in the Irish word [bˠwiː] 'yellow' symbolizes symbolizes the feature of velarization, which occurs when the back of the tongue is raised toward the velum (soft palate) during articulation of the consonant in question. The symbol for a retroflex consonant or retroflexion is [ ̢].
B	velarization
C	palatalization Hint: The diacritic [ˠ] in the Irish word [bˠwiː] 'yellow' symbolizes symbolizes the feature of velarization, which occurs when the back of the tongue is raised toward the velum (soft palate) during articulation of the consonant in question. The symbol for palatalization is [ʲ].

Question 7

The diacritic [^h] in [k^hin] ‘keen’ symbolizes which feature ?

A	ejectiveness Hint: The diacritic [ʰ] symbolizes the feature of aspiration, which is when a puff of air is released during articulation. The diacritic for ejectiveness is [ʼ].
B	aspiration
C	partial release Hint: The diacritic [ʰ] symbolizes the feature of aspiration, which is when a puff of air is released during articulation. The diacritic for partial release is [̚].

Question 8

The diacritic [^ʲ] in Romanian word /uˈrekʲ/ 'ears' symbolizes which feature?

A	labialization or rounding Hint: The diacritic [ʲ] in the example of the Romanian word /uˈrekʲ/ 'ears' symbolizes the feature of palatalization. The diacritic for labialization or rounding is [ʷ].
B	velarization Hint: The diacritic [ʲ] in the example of the Romanian word /uˈrekʲ/ 'ears' symbolizes the feature of palatalization. The diacritic for velarization is [ˠ].
C	palatalization

Question 9

The diacritic [̪ ] as seen in [sæt̪θɹu] 'sat through' symbolizes which feature?

A	dental
B	full/partial devoicing Hint: The diacritic [̪ ], as seen in [sæt̪θɹu] as in 'sat through', symbolizes the feature "dental", which is when a consonant is articulated with the front of the tongue against the teeth. The diacritic for full/partial devoicing is [ ̥]
C	nasal release Hint: The diacritic [̪ ], as seen in [sæt̪θɹu] as in 'sat through', symbolizes the feature "dental", which is when a consonant is articulated with the front of the tongue against the teeth. The diacritic for nasal release is [ⁿ].

Question 10

The diacritic [ˤ] in the Ubykh word /tʼaapˁʼ/ 'to explode, to burst' symbolizes which feature?

A	pharyngealization
B	ejectiveness Hint: The diacritic [ˤ] in the Ubykh word /tʼaapˁʼ/ 'to explode, to burst' symbolizes the feature of pharyngealization. The diacritic for ejectiveness is [ʼ].
C	full/partial devoicing Hint: The diacritic [ˤ] in the Ubykh word /tʼaapˁʼ/ 'to explode, to burst' symbolizes the feature of pharyngealization. The diacritic for full/partial devoicing is [ ̥]

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Phonetics: Diacritics 1.2

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