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 bands.

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

Question 1 Explanation:

Excellent! The final sound in the word 'bands' is /z/, a voiced alveolar fricative. /bændz/

Question 2

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/ Hint: /s/ is a voiceless alveolar fricative.

Question 2 Explanation:

Excellent! /s/ is a voiceless alveolar fricative.

Question 3

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

A	/t∫/ (IPA), /č/ (NA)
B	/∫/ (IPA), /š/ (NA) Hint: /∫/ (IPA), /š/ (NA) is a voiceless alveo-palatal fricative. These symbols represent the final sound in the word wish. The final sound in the word 'match' is /t͡ʃ/, a voiceless post-alveolar affricate. /mæt͡ʃ/
C	/t/ Hint: /t/ is a voiceless alveolar stop. The final sound in the word 'match' is /t͡ʃ/, a voiceless post-alveolar affricate. /mæt͡ʃ/

Question 3 Explanation:

Excellent! The final sound in the word 'match' is /t͡ʃ/, a voiceless post-alveolar affricate. /mæt͡ʃ/

Question 4

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

A	/ð/ Hint: /ð/ is a voiced interdental fricative. This symbol represents the final sound in the word bathe. The final sound in the word 'bath' is /θ/, a voiceless interdental fricative. /bæθ/
B	/h/ Hint: /h/ is a voiceless glottal fricative. The final sound in the word 'bath' is /θ/, a voiceless interdental fricative. /bæθ/
C	/θ/

Question 4 Explanation:

Excellent! The final sound in the word 'bath' is /θ/, a voiceless interdental fricative. /bæθ/

Question 5

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

A	/h/ Hint: /h/ is a voiceless glottal fricative. The final sound in the word 'enough' is /f/, a voiceless labiodental fricative. /inʌf/
B	/f/
C	/g/ Hint: /g/ is a voiced velar oral stop. The final sound in the word 'enough' is /f/, a voiceless labiodental fricative. /inʌf/

Question 5 Explanation:

Excellent! The final sound in the word 'enough' is /f/, a voiceless labiodental fricative. /inʌf/

Question 6

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

A	/g/ Hint: /g/ is a voiced velar stop. The first sound in the word 'gymnastics' is a voiced post-alveolar affricate. /dʒ/ /dʒɪmnæstɪks/
B	/dʒ/ (IPA), /ǰ/ (NA)
C	/j/ (IPA), /y/ (NA) Hint: /j/ (IPA), /y/ (NA) is a palatal glide. The first sound in the word 'gymnastics' is a voiced post-alveolar affricate. /dʒ/ /dʒɪmnæstɪks/

Question 6 Explanation:

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

Question 7

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

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

Question 7 Explanation:

Excellent! /n/ is an alveolar nasal stop.

Question 8

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

A	/l/ Hint: /l/ is a lateral liquid.
B	/j/ Hint: /j/ is a palatal glide.
C	/i/ Hint: /i/ represents a tense front high unrounded vowel.

Question 8 Explanation:

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

Question 9

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

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

Question 9 Explanation:

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

Question 10

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. The final sound in the word 'autumn' is /m/, a bilabial nasal stop. /ɔɾəm/
C	/ŋ/ Hint: /ŋ/ is a velar nasal stop. This symbol represents the final or last sound in the word sing. The final sound in the word 'autumn' is /m/, a bilabial nasal stop. /ɔɾəm/

Question 10 Explanation:

Excellent! The final sound in the word 'autumn' is /m/, a bilabial nasal stop. /ɔɾəm/

Question 11

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

A	/n/ Hint: /n/ is an alveolar nasal stop. The final sound in the word 'loving' is /ŋ/, a velar nasal. /lʌvɪŋ/
B	/g/ Hint: /g/ is a voiced velar stop. The final sound in the word 'loving' is /ŋ/, a velar nasal. /lʌvɪŋ/
C	/ŋ/

Question 11 Explanation:

Excellent! /The final sound in the word 'loving' is /ŋ/, a velar nasal. /lʌvɪŋ/

Question 12

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

A	/s/ Hint: /s/ is a voiceless alveolar fricative. The final sound in the word 'swoons' is /z/, a voiced alveolar fricative. /swunz/
B	/z/
C	/ʒ/ (IPA), /ž/ (NA) Hint: /ʒ/ (IPA), /ž/ (NA) is a voiced post-alveolar fricative. These symbols represent the final sound in the word beige. The final sound in the word 'swoons' is /z/, a voiced alveolar fricative. /swunz/

Question 12 Explanation:

Excellent! The final sound in the word 'swoons' is /z/, a voiced alveolar fricative. /swunz/

Question 13

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

A	/k/ Hint: /k/ is a voiceless velar stop. The first sound in the word 'school' is /s/. /skul/
B	/s/
C	/t∫/ (IPA), /č/ (NA) Hint: /t∫/ (IPA), /č/ (NA) is a voiceless alveo-palatal affricate. The first sound in the word 'school' is /s/. /skul/

Question 13 Explanation:

Excellent! /s/ is a voiceless alveolar fricative.

Question 14

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

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

Question 14 Explanation:

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

Question 15

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

A	/∫/ (IPA), /š/ (NA) Hint: /∫/ (IPA), /š/ (NA) is a voiceless alveo-palatal fricative. These symbols represent the final sound in the word fish. The final sound in the word 'church' is /t͡ʃ/, a voiceless post-alveolar affricate.
B	/k/ Hint: /k/ is a voiceless velar stop. The final sound in the word 'church' is /t͡ʃ/, a voiceless post-alveolar affricate.
C	/t∫/ (IPA), /č/ (NA)

Question 15 Explanation:

Excellent! The final sound in the word 'church' is /t͡ʃ/, a voiceless post-alveolar affricate.

Question 16

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

A	/d͡ʒ/ (IPA), /ǰ/ (NA)
B	/ʒ/ (IPA), /ž/ (NA) Hint: /ʒ/ (IPA), /ž/ (NA) is a voiced post alveolar fricative; this symbol represents the final sound in the word beige. The final sound of the word 'badge' is /d͡ʒ/, a voiced postalveolar affricate. /bæd͡ʒ/
C	/g/ Hint: /g/ is a voiced velar stop. The final sound of the word 'badge' is /d͡ʒ/, a voiced postalveolar affricate. /bæd͡ʒ/

Question 16 Explanation:

Excellent! The final sound of the word 'badge' is /d͡ʒ/, a voiced postalveolar affricate. /bæd͡ʒ/

Question 17

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

A	/d/ Hint: /d/ is a voiced alveolar stop. The final sound in the word 'poked' is /t/, a voiceless alveolar oral stop. /poʊkt/
B	/t/
C	/k/ Hint: /k/ is a voiceless velar stop. The final sound in the word 'poked' is /t/, a voiceless alveolar oral stop. /poʊkt/

Question 17 Explanation:

Excellent! The final sound in the word 'poked' is /t/, a voiceless alveolar oral stop. /poʊkt/

Question 18

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

A	/f/
B	/p/ Hint: /p/ is a voiceless bilabial stop. The first sound in the word 'pharmacy' is /f/. /faɹməsi/
C	/h/ Hint: /h/ is a voiceless glottal fricative. The first sound in the word 'pharmacy' is /f/. /faɹməsi/

Question 18 Explanation:

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

Question 19

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

A	/t∫/ (IPA), /č/ (NA) Hint: /t∫/ (IPA), /č/ (NA) is a voiceless post alveolar affricate. These symbols are used to represent the first sound in the word chip. The first sound in the word 'chorus' is /k/, a voiceless velar oral stop. /kɔɹəs/
B	/k/
C	/c/ Hint: /c/ is a voiceless palatal stop, which is not a sound in English. The first sound in the word 'chorus' is /k/. /kɔɹəs/

Question 19 Explanation:

Excellent! The first sound in the word 'chorus' is /k/, a voiceless velar stop. /kɔɹəs/

Question 20

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

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

Question 20 Explanation:

Excellent! /ð/ is a voiced dental fricative.

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