Phonetics: Phonemic Symbols 1.1

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This exercise is designed to help you become familiar with phonemic symbols that represent the sounds of Standard English. Answer each of the following questions to the best of your ability.

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Question 1

Chose the symbol that represents the final sound of the word swoons.

A	/z/
B	/s/ Hint: /s/ is a voiceless alveolar fricative. Don't let spelling mislead you!
C	/ʒ/ (IPA), /ž/ (NA) Hint: /ʒ/ (IPA), /ž/ (NA) is a voiced alveo-palatal fricative. These symbols represent the final sound in the word beige.

Question 1 Explanation:

Excellent! /z/ is a voiced alveolar fricative.

Question 2

Chose the symbol that represents the initial (first) sound of the word gymnastics.

A	/g/ Hint: /g/ is a voiced velar stop.
B	/dʒ/ (IPA), /ǰ/ (NA)
C	/j/ (IPA), /y/ (NA) Hint: /j/ (IPA), /y/ (NA) is a palatal glide.

Question 2 Explanation:

Excellent! /dʒ/ (IPA), /ǰ/ (NA) is a voiced alveolar-palatal affricate.

Question 3

Chose the symbol that represents the initial (first) sound of the word pharmacy.

A	/p/ Hint: /p/ is a voiceless bilabial stop.
B	/h/ Hint: /h/ is a voiceless glottal fricative.
C	/f/

Question 3 Explanation:

Excellent! /f/ is a voiceless labio-dental fricative.

Question 4

Chose the symbol that represents the initial (first) sound of the word Christopher.

A	/t∫/ (IPA), /č/ (NA) Hint: /t∫/ (IPA), /č/ (NA) is a voiceless alveo-palatal affricate. These symbols are used to represent the first sound in the word chip.
B	/c/ Hint: /c/ is a voiceless palatal stop, which is not found as a phoneme in English.
C	/k/

Question 4 Explanation:

Excellent! /k/ is a voiceless velar stop.

Question 5

Chose the symbol that represents the initial (first) sound of the children.

A	/t∫/ (IPA), /č/ (NA)
B	/c/ Hint: /c/ is a voiceless palatal stop, which does not exist as a phoneme in English.
C	/t/ Hint: /t/ is a voiceless alveolar stop.

Question 5 Explanation:

Excellent! /t∫/ (IPA), /č/ (NA) is a voiceless alveo-palatal affricate.

Question 6

Chose the symbol that represents the final sound of the word badge.

A	/dʒ/ (IPA), /ǰ/ (NA)
B	/ʒ/ (IPA), /ž/ (NA) Hint: /ʒ/ (IPA), /ž/ (NA) is a voiced alveo-papatal fricative; this symbol represents the final sound in the word beige.
C	/g/ Hint: /g/ is a voiced velar stop.

Question 6 Explanation:

Excellent! /dʒ/ (IPA), /ǰ/ (NA) is a voiced alveo-palatal affricate.

Question 7

Chose the symbol that represents the initial (first) sound of the word pneumonia.

A	/m/ Hint: /m/ is a bilabial nasal stop.
B	/p/ Hint: /p/ is a voiceless bilabial stop. The p in the word pneumonia is silent.
C	/n/

Question 7 Explanation:

Excellent! /n/ is an alveolar nasal stop.

Question 8

Chose the symbol that represents the final sound of the word poked.

A	/t/
B	/d/ Hint: /d/ is a voiced alveolar stop. Don't let spelling mislead you!
C	/k/ Hint: /k/ is a voiceless velar stop.

Question 8 Explanation:

Excellent! /t/ is a voiceless alveolar stop.

Question 9

Chose the symbol that represents the final sound of the word bath.

A	/θ/
B	/ð/ Hint: /ð/ is a voiced dental fricative. This symbol represents the final sound in the word bathe.
C	/h/ Hint: /h/ is a voiceless glottal fricative.

Question 9 Explanation:

Excellent! /θ/ is a voiceless dental fricative.

Question 10

Chose the symbol that represents the final sound of the word bands.

A	/z/
B	/s/ Hint: /s/ is a voiceless alveolar fricative; this symbol represents the final sound in the word pass.
C	/d/ Hint: /d/ is a voiced alveolar stop.

Question 10 Explanation:

Excellent! /z/ is a voiced alveolar fricative.

Question 11

Chose the symbol that represents the final or last sound of the word autumn.

A	/m/
B	/n/ Hint: /n/ is an alveolar nasal stop.
C	/ŋ/ Hint: /ŋ/ is a velar nasal stop. This symbol represents the final or last sound in the word sing.

Question 11 Explanation:

Excellent! /m/ is a bilabial nasal stop.

Question 12

Chose the symbol that represents the initial (first) sound of the word school.

A	/k/ Hint: /k/ is a voiceless velar stop.
B	/s/
C	/t∫/ (IPA), /č/ (NA) Hint: /t∫/ (IPA), /č/ (NA) is a voiceless alveo-palatal affricate.

Question 12 Explanation:

Excellent! /s/ is a voiceless alveolar fricative.

Question 13

Chose the symbol that represents the initial (first) sound of the word civic.

A	/k/ Hint: /k/ is a voiceless velar stop.
B	/t∫/ (IPA), /č/ (NA) Hint: /t∫/ (IPA), /č/ (NA) is a voiceless alveo-palatal affricate.
C	/s/

Question 13 Explanation:

Excellent! /s/ is a voiceless alveolar fricative.

Question 14

Chose the symbol that represents the initial (first) sound of the word though.

A	/θ/ Hint: /θ/ is a voiceless dental fricative.
B	/ð/
C	/t/ Hint: /t/ is a voiceless alveolar stop.

Question 14 Explanation:

Excellent! /ð/ is a voiced dental fricative.

Question 15

Chose the symbol that represents the final sound of the word loving.

A	/ŋ/
B	/n/ Hint: /n/ is an alveolar nasal stop.
C	/g/ Hint: /g/ is a voiced velar stop. Most dialects of English do not have a final /g/ in the word loving.

Question 15 Explanation:

Excellent! /ŋ/ is a velar nasal stop.

Question 16

Chose the symbol that represents the final sound of the word church.

A	/k/ Hint: /k/ is a voiceless velar stop.
B	/∫/ (IPA), /š/ (NA) Hint: /∫/ (IPA), /š/ (NA) is a voiceless alveo-palatal fricative. These symbols represent the final sound in the word fish.
C	/t∫/ (IPA), /č/ (NA)

Question 16 Explanation:

Excellent! /t∫/ (IPA), /č/ (NA) is a voiceless alveo-palatal affricate.

Question 17

Chose the symbol that represents the final sound of the word enough.

A	/w/ Hint: /w/ is a bilabial glide.
B	/h/ Hint: /h/ is a voiceless glottal fricative.
C	/f/

Question 17 Explanation:

Excellent! /f/ is a voiceless labio-dental fricative.

Question 18

Chose the symbol that represents the initial (first) sound of the word Thomas.

A	/θ/ Hint: /θ/ is a voiceless dental fricative.
B	/t/
C	/ð/ Hint: /ð/ is a voiced dental fricative.

Question 18 Explanation:

Excellent! The /t/ in Thomas is a voiceless alveolar stop.

Question 19

Chose the symbol that represents the initial (first) sound of the word yellow.

A	/y/
B	/j/
C	/l/ Hint: /l/ is a lateral liquid.

Question 19 Explanation:

/j/ (IPA) and /y/ (NA) are both symbols for a palatal glide.

Question 20

Chose the symbol that represents the final sound of the word match.

A	/t/ Hint: /t/ is a voiceless alveolar stop.
B	/∫/ (IPA), /š/ (NA) Hint: /∫/ (IPA), /š/ (NA) is a voiceless alveo-palatal fricative. These symbols represent the final sound in the word wish.
C	/t∫/ (IPA), /č/ (NA)

Question 20 Explanation:

Excellent! /t∫/ (IPA), /č/ (NA) is a voiceless alveo-palatal affricate.

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Phonetics: Phonemic Symbols 1.1

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