Phonetic Answers
Phonetic Answers
Phonetic Answers
Falk
Phonetics Exercises—Answers, p. 1
1. Write down the phonetic symbols representing the following descriptions, and illustrate each of
the sounds with two English words.
a) A voiced labiodental fricative [v] h) A high front tense unrounded vowel [i]
b) A voiceless alveolar fricative [s] i) A low back lax unrounded vowel [a]
c) A voiced palato-alveolar affricate [ï] j) A mid front tense unrounded vowel [e]
d) A voiceless glottal fricative [h] k) A mid front lax unrounded vowel [å]
e) A voiceless bilabial stop [p] l) A high back lax rounded vowel [Ț]
f) A voiceless dental fricative [“] m) A low back lax rounded vowel [ö]
g) A voiced velar stop [g] n) A high front tense rounded vowel [ü]
a) What voiced consonant has the same place of articulation as [t] and the same manner of
articulation as [f]? [z]
b) What voiceless consonant has the same active articulator as [b] and the same passive
articulator as [›]? [f]
c) What voiced consonant has the same place of articulation as [m] and the same manner
of articulation as [l]? [b]
d) What voiced consonant has the same active articulator as [n] and the same passive
articulator as [f]? [ð]
e) Which tense vowel has the same height as [w] and the same advancement as [a]? [u]
f) Which rounded vowel has the same height as [e]? [o]
Phonetics Exercises—Answers, p. 2
j. F The term backness refers to the movement of the blade of the tongue.
k. T [š, ̌, č] The production of these sounds involves the movement of the tongue blade
in the direction of the palato-alveolar region.
l. F [uw] is the vowel sound in the word country.
m. T Approximants are produced by two articulators coming close together, but not close
enough to cause friction.
n. F [m, n, k] In the production of these sounds the velum is lowered.
o. F The term tense refers to the level the tongue is raised from the bottom of the mouth
4. Do the following pairs of consonants have the same or different place of articulation?
5. Do the following pairs of vowels have the same or different quality of tenseness?
6. For each of the following, state whether it is a natural class in English. If it is, define it in terms
of the minimal set of features needed to distinguish it from all other sets of phonemes.
a. / m, n, , l, r, y, w / sonorant Cs h. / p, b, k, l, t, d / stops
b. / p, k, t / voiceless stops i. / w, e, æ / front Vs
c. / w, y, k, l, / dorsal Cs j. / m, n, / nasals
d. / , ] / rounded Vs k / s, z, š, ž, č, ̌ /. sibilants
e. / t, d, ›, ð, s, z, š, ž / not a natural class l. / e, c, ā / mid Vs
f. / f, ›, s, š, h / voiceless fricatives m. / p, b / bilabial stops
g. / p, b, v, f, m, w / labial Cs
44166. STRUCTURE OF ENGLISH II: THE WORD Prof. Yehuda N. Falk
Phonetics Exercises—Answers, p. 3
1. Transcribe the following words. In each line, circle the word(s) that begin(s) with a consonant
that meets the description on the left.
a. F Raising the velum enables the air to flow through the nasal tract.
b. T In the articulation of voiced sounds, the vocal cords are brought close together.
c. T Different sounds are created by changing the properties of the vocal tract.
d. F The tip/blade of the tongue is one of the passive articulators.
e. T The velum is one of the passive articulators.
f. F During normal breathing, the vocal cords are close together and vibrate.
g. F Most speech sounds are made by allowing air to flow through the nose.
h. T Both passive and active articulators are involved in the production of speech sounds
i. F The tip/blade of the tongue, the body of the tongue and the upper lip are the active
articulators.
j. F The glottis surrounds the vocal cords.
44166. STRUCTURE OF ENGLISH II: THE WORD Prof. Yehuda N. Falk
Phonetics Exercises—Answers, p. 4
3. Transcribe the following words and circle the one(s) that contain(s) a vowel that fits the
description on the left.
5. Compare the sounds in the following groups. Describe in detail the movements of articulators
common to the sounds in each group and define the differences between them (i.e. in terms of
the relevant phonetic features).
a. [ w, e, æ ] The body of the tongue moves forward (these are all front vowels), and they differ in
height.
b. [ iy, , uw ] The body of the tongue moves upward (these are all high vowels), and they differ in
backness.
c. [ s, ›, f ] The air leaves the body gradually, creating friction (these are all fricatives), and
they differ in the place of articulation.
d. [ y, w, r ] The tip/blade of the tongue moves in the direction of the passive articulator (palate
or alveolar ridge), but does not create friction (these are glides), and they differ in the place
of articulation
e. [ t, d, n, z ] The tip/blade of the tongue touches the alveolar ridge (these are all alveolars),
and they differ in the manner of articulation.