Phonetics: Phonemic Symbols 1.2

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This exercise is designed to help you strengthen your skills at becoming familiar with phonemic symbols that represent the sounds of Standard English. Answer each of the following questions to the best of your ability. Remember, do not let the orthography mislead you. Listen to the sounds you are actually articulating as you pronounce these words.

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Question 1

Chose the symbol that represents the final sound in the word rage.

A	/g/ Hint: The final sound in the word 'rage' is the voiced post-alveolar affricate /ʤ/ (IPA or / ǰ / (NA). /g/ is the final sound in the word ‘flag’.
B	/j/ (IPA) or /y/ (NA) Hint: The final sound in the word 'rage' is the voiced post-alveolar affricate /ʤ/ (IPA or / ǰ / (NA). /j/ (IPA) or /y/ (NA) is a palatal glide, which is not found as a final consonant in Standard American English. It is, however, the initial sound in the word ‘yellow’.
C	/ʤ/ (IPA or /ǰ/ (NA) Hint: Correct! The final sound in the word 'rage' is the voiced post-alveolar affricate /ʤ/ (IPA or / ǰ / (NA).

Question 2

Chose the symbol that represents the initial (first) sound in the word union.

A	/w/ Hint: Although the initial sound seems to be the vowel /u/, it is actually preceded by the palatal glide /j/ (IPA) or /y/ (NA). /w/ is the initial sound in the word ‘wind’.
B	/u/ Hint: Although the initial sound seems to be the vowel /u/, it is actually preceded by the palatal glide /j/ (IPA) or /y/ (NA). /u/ is the vowel sound in the word ‘soup’.
C	/j/ (IPA) or /y/ (NA) Hint: Correct! Although the initial sound seems to be the vowel /u/, it is actually preceded by the palatal glide /j/ (IPA) or /y/ (NA).

Question 3

Chose the symbol that represents the final sound in the word beige.

A	/j/ (IPA) or /y/ (NA) Hint: The final sound in the word ‘beige’ is the voiced post-alveolar fricative /ʒ/ (IPA) or /ž/ (NA). /j/ (IPA) or /y/ (NA) is a palatal glide, which is not found as a final consonant in Standard American English. It is, however, the initial sound in the work ‘yellow’.
B	/ʒ/ (IPA) or /ž/ (NA) Hint: Correct! The final sound in the word ‘beige’ is the voiced post-alveolar fricative /ʒ/ (IPA) or /ž/ (NA).
C	/g/ Hint: The final sound in the word ‘beige’ is the voiced post-alveolar fricative /ʒ/ (IPA) or /ž/ (NA). /g/ is the final sound in the word ‘fog’.

Question 4

Chose the symbol that represents the initial (first) sound in the word giant.

A	/g/ Hint: The initial sound in the word ‘giant’ is the voiced post-alveolar affricate /ʤ/ (IPA or / ǰ / (NA). /g/ is the initial sound in the word ‘grasp’.
B	/ʤ/ (IPA or / ǰ / (NA). Hint: Correct! The initial sound in the word ‘giant’ is the voiced post-alveolar affricate /ʤ/ (IPA or / ǰ / (NA).
C	/j/ Hint: The initial sound in the word ‘giant’ is the voiced post-alveolar affricate /ʤ/ (IPA or / ǰ / (NA). /j/ is the initial sound in the word ‘yell’.

Question 5

Chose the symbol that represents the initial (first) sound in the word honest.

A	/o/ Hint: The initial sound in the word ‘honest’ is the low, back, unrounded /a/. Remember, in this word the /h/ is silent. /o/ is the initial sound in the word ‘owner’.
B	/h/ Hint: The initial sound in the word ‘honest’ is the low, back, unrounded /a/. Remember, in this word the /h/ is silent. /h/ is the initial sound in the word 'home’.
C	/a/ Hint: Correct! The initial sound in the word ‘honest’ is the low, back, unrounded /a/.

Question 6

Chose the symbol that represents the initial (first) sound in the word charter.

A	/k/ Hint: The initial sound in the word ‘charter’ is the voiceless post-alveolar fricative /ʧ/ (IPA) or /č/ (NA). /k/ is the initial sound in the word ‘crate’.
B	/c/ Hint: The initial sound in the word ‘charter’ is the voiceless post-alveolar fricative /ʧ/ (IPA) or /č/ (NA). /c/ is a voiceless palatal stop, which does not exist in Standard American English.
C	/ʧ/ (IPA) or /č/ (NA). Hint: Correct! The initial sound in the word ‘charter’ is the voiceless post-alveolar affricate /ʧ/ (IPA) or /č/ (NA).

Question 7

Chose the symbol that represents the final sound in the word lamb.

A	/m/ Hint: Correct! The final sound in the word ‘lamb’ is the bi-labial nasal /m/.
B	/p/ Hint: The final sound in the word ‘lamb’ is the bi-labial nasal /m/. /p/ is the final sound in the word ‘zip’.
C	/b/ Hint: The final sound in the word ‘lamb’ is the bi-labial nasal /m/. Although /b/ is present in the orthography, it is silent in this phonological environment. /b/ is the final sound of the word ‘rib’.

Question 8

Chose the symbol that represents the final sound in the word smashed.

A	/t/ Hint: Correct! The final sound in the word ‘smashed’ is the voiceless alveolar stop /t/.
B	/ʤ/ (IPA or / ǰ / (NA). Hint: The final sound in the word ‘smashed’ is the voiceless alveolar stop /t/. /ʤ/ (IPA or / ǰ / (NA) is the final sound in the word ‘pledge’.
C	/d/ Hint: The final sound in the word ‘smashed’ is the voiceless alveolar stop /t/. /d/ is the final sound in the word ‘played’.

Question 9

Chose the symbol that represents the final sound in the word sign.

A	/n/ Hint: Correct! The final sound in the word ‘sign’ is the alveolar nasal /n/.
B	/ŋ/ Hint: The final sound in the word ‘sign’ is the alveolar nasal /n/. /ŋ/ is the final sound in the ‘song’.
C	/g/ Hint: The final sound in the word ‘sign’ is the alveolar nasal /n/. /g/ is the final sound in the word ‘bag.’ Remember, the /g/ is silent in this phonological environment.

Question 10

Chose the symbol that represents the final sound in the word fax.

A	/s/ Hint: Correct! The final sound in the word ‘fax’ is the voiceless alveolar fricative /s/.
B	/k/ Hint: The final sound in the word ‘fax’ is the voiceless alveolar fricative /s/. /k/ is the final sound in the word ‘sack’.
C	/x/ Hint: The final sound in the word ‘fax’ is the voiceless alveolar fricative /s/. /x/ is a voiceless fricative. There are no words in Standard American English that end with this sound.

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Phonetics: Phonemic Symbols 1.2

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