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 initial (first) sound of the word yellow.

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

Question 1 Explanation:

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

Question 2

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

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

Question 2 Explanation:

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

Question 3

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

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

Question 3 Explanation:

Excellent! /m/ is a bilabial nasal stop.

Question 4

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

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

Question 4 Explanation:

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

Question 5

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

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

Question 5 Explanation:

Excellent! /t/ is a voiceless alveolar stop.

Question 6

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

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

Question 6 Explanation:

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

Question 7

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

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

Question 7 Explanation:

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

Question 8

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

A	/z/
B	/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.
C	/s/ Hint: /s/ is a voiceless alveolar fricative. Don't let spelling mislead you!

Question 8 Explanation:

Excellent! /z/ is a voiced alveolar fricative.

Question 9

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

A	/c/ Hint: /c/ is a voiceless palatal stop, which is not found as a phoneme in English.
B	/k/
C	/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.

Question 9 Explanation:

Excellent! /k/ is a voiceless velar stop.

Question 10

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

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

Question 10 Explanation:

Excellent! /θ/ is a voiceless dental fricative.

Question 11

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

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

Question 11 Explanation:

Excellent! /z/ is a voiced alveolar fricative.

Question 12

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

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

Question 12 Explanation:

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

Question 13

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 13 Explanation:

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

Question 14

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

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

Question 14 Explanation:

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

Question 15

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

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

Question 15 Explanation:

Excellent! /ŋ/ is a velar nasal stop.

Question 16

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

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

Question 16 Explanation:

Excellent! /s/ is a voiceless alveolar fricative.

Question 17

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 17 Explanation:

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

Question 18

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

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

Question 18 Explanation:

Excellent! /n/ is an alveolar nasal stop.

Question 19

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

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

Question 19 Explanation:

Excellent! /s/ is a voiceless alveolar fricative.

Question 20

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

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

Question 20 Explanation:

Excellent! /ð/ is a voiced dental fricative.

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Phonetics: Phonemic Symbols 1.1

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