Part 3.

Phonetics Practices

Exercise 1, Complete the following sentences.

1. Phonetics is divided into 3 branches: Articulatory phonetics, Acoustic phonetics, and
…………. phonetics.
2. Vowel sounds are sounds which do ……….the airflow.
3. There are 4 criteria to classify vowels: vowel length, tongue height, …………….. and
lip rounding.
4. Primary and……………… are kinds of word stress.
5. If final consonant changes to become like initial consonant in the same way, the
assimilation is called…………….
6. Consonant sounds are sounds which do ……….the airflow.
7. There are 3 criteria to classify consonants: place of articulation, ………………. and
voicing.
8. A stressed syllable is louder, longer,……….………, and ……………………...
than an unstressed one.

Exercise 2, Compare the sounds of the underlined words. (20 points)

E.g. tea- teacher Sofa- banana
/i:/= /i:/ /Ə/ ≠ /a:/
1. learn-little
……………………………………………………………………..
2. psychology-psychiatry
……………………………………………………………………..
3. books-butchers
……………………………………………………………………..
4. education-joking
……………………………………………………………………..
5. enjoyed-refused
……………………………………………………………………..
6. sugar- sea
……………………………………………….
7. place-hill
……………………………………………….
8. learns- stops
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 ……………………………………………..
9. watched-laughed
………………………………………………
10. rhyme-rhythm
………………………………………………

Exercise 3. Describe the consonants in “CIVILIZATION”

Consonants Voiced/voiceless Manner of Place of articulation
articulation

Describe the consonants in “MODERNIZATION”

Consonants Voiced/voiceless Manner of Place of articulation
articulation

Exercise 4, List the English alveolar consonants. For each consonant of this type,
provide one word containing it.

List the palato-alveolar consonants. For each consonant of this type, provide one word
containing it.

Exercise 5, State the differences between the sounds represented by the underlined
letter(s) in each pair below.
a. man- moon
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………………………………………………………………………………………….
b. brain-train
………………………………………………………………………………………….
c. pen-pop
………………………………………………………………………………………….
d. quick-skill
………………………………………………………………………………………….
e. bill- place
………………………………………………………………………………………….
f. sing-sit
………………………………………………………………………………………….
g. longevity-install
………………………………………………………………………………………….
h. invitation-invite
………………………………………………………………………………………….
i. pork-sport
………………………………………………………………………………………….
j. rang-rat
………………………………………………………………………………………….

Exercise 6, Work out the rule for stress placement from the examples below
a. ,perso'nality - ,capa'bility
………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………….
b. ,transfor'mation- ,classifi'cation
………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………….
c. 'desert - de'sert
………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………….
d. ,heavy-'headed - ,bad-'tempered
………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………….

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Exercise 7. Give phonetic transcriptions of the underlined words.
Example: I am fond of / v/ tea.
1/ Is it at /.........../ or on the table?
It is at /.........../ the table.
2/ The letter is not to /.........../ him but from /.........../ him.
I wrote to /........../ him the other day, and now I have got it from /........../ him.
3/ What can I do /.........../?
Do/......../ they mean I have /......../ to stay at home? I don’t think I have /......../

Exercise 8, Put the following words into the right columns of stress pattern.

classification, alternates, discussed, transformation, maintains, overestimate, mountaineer,

Japanese, photography, romantic, improper, unforgettable, courageous, celebrate,
economic, hot-tempered, consolidate, pronunciation, electrician, climatology
1, …………. 2, ………….. 3, …………. 4, ……………
…………. ………….. …………. ……………
…………. ………….. …………. ……………
…………. ………….. …………. ……………
…………. ………….. …………. ……………
5, …………. 6, ………….. 7, …………. 8, ……………
…………. ………….. …………. ……………
…………. ………….. …………. ……………
…………. ………….. …………. ……………
…………. ………….. …………. ……………

Exercise 9. Answer the questions as you are instructed to.

1. Circle the word where r is NOT pronounced.
a. for one thing b. for a job c. their aunt d. for each
2. Circle the sound that cannot be omitted in the following word groups.
a. right way b. next Sunday c. mixed sweet d. needed some
3. The vowel sound in the first syllable of the word “comfortable” is …..
a. /ʌ / b. /Ə/ c. / ɔ / d. /Ɔ:/
4. The stressed symbol of the word “nationalization” is …..
a. /′_ _ _ _ _ _/ b. /_ _ _ _ ′_ _ / c. /_ ′_ _ _ _ _/ d. /_ _ _ ′_ _ _/
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5. There may be assimilation in ………………
a. not her b. those books c. woolen gloves d. one shoe
6. Circle the word where r is NOT pronounced.
a. for a book b. for one class c. her umbrella d. you’re an engineer?
7. Circle the word group where the underlined part CANNOT be omitted.
a. first question b. second row c. highest mountain d. wanted more
8. The vowel sound in the second syllable of the word “economy” is …..
a. /ƏƱ/ b. /Ə/ c. / ɔ / d. /Ɔ:/
9. The stress symbol of the word “sociological” is …..
a. /′_ _ _ _ _ _/ b. /,_ _ _ _ ′ _ _ / c. /_ ′ _ _ _ _ _/ d. /,_ _ _ ′ _ _ _/
10. There is NO assimilation in ………………
a. not mine b. those shirts c. woolen scarf d. red boots

Exercise 10. Read the following utterances (sentences) then underline and give
transcription of the phonemes which may undergo assimilation of some kind in
connected speech.
Example: From a good book one can learn much.
Answer: …………… /b/……………………/m/……..
1. We'll stay side by side in case we have to fight.
Answer:..................................................................
2. That was a good moment for a nice shower.
Answer:..........................................................……
3. A hot coffee would be all right.
Answer:...................................................................
4. They say that man matters most in the group.
Answer:..................................................................
5. That question has troubled ours youngsters for years.
Answer:.....................................................................

Exercise 11. Circle and transcribe the underlined sound which is different from the
other ones in each group of words. Some differences may result from the assimilation
in connected speech.
Example: that man left last might.
…/p/……………………….
1/ All adults amass data and formula involuntarily.

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……………………………………………………………………………………….
2/ He took a hot coffee but did not eat anything.
……………………………………………………………………………………….
3/ The old worked hard and felt tired.
……………………………………………………………………………………….
4/ No doubt, a fine behaviour signals a noble man.
……………………………………………………………………………………….
5/ The vulnerable fund for a fundamental purpose met with a blunt refusal.

Exercise 12. Write out the word containing the underlined sound different from the
other ones in the sentence, and transcribe the sound. Some differences may result from
assimilation in connected speech.
Example: That man looks a bit frightened at the moment.
Answer: That /p/
1/ He said his friends helped retired officials a lot.
Answer: ................................................................ .
2/ It is on that brown table next yours.
Answer: ................................................................ .
3/ These young trees will result in a rise of green.
Answer: ................................................................ .
4/ Old men remind us about regard for records.
Answer: ................................................................ .
5/ That crisese increase in building houses surprises no one.
Answer: ................................................................ .

Exercise 13. Underline the words where an elision is likely to occur in rapid and
casual speech. Transcribe the words and mark the elision with θ . Don’t forget the
stress.
Example: You must do it today.
/tθ’dei/
1/ The police have connected them lately.
......................................................................................................................................
2/ Perhaps, I will see you tonight then.
......................................................................................................................................
3/ The committee touched upon a lot of complicated questions.

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......................................................................................................................................
4/ The politician politely corrected his mistakes in speech.
......................................................................................................................................
5/ The project has been properly considered.
..………………………………………………………………………………………

Exercise 14. Transcribe the following utterances showing the stress syllables, the strong,
weak and contracted forms. Mark the linking sound with a curve, point out assimilation
and elision if there are. Use the rules of intonation, mark the intonation of each
utterance.
1. His face went red when I mentioned her name.
………………………………………………………………………………………………
2. Did I tell him that good news?
………………………………………………………………………………………………
3. You did that yourself, didn’t you? (Forcing answer YES)
………………………………………………………………………………………………
4. He looked out the window. (and put on his overcoat.)
………………………………………………………………………………………………
5. How many eggs must I have? (You told me, but I’ve forgotten.)
……………………………………………………………………………
6. - Who’s there?
……………………………………………………………………………
- It’s only me. (soothing)
……………………………………………………………………………
7. I’ve never met them. (but I’ve heard of them.)
……………………………………………………………………………
8. I’d better go, hadn’t I? (please confirm my feeling.)
……………………………………………………………………………
9. It was quite good.
………………………………………………………………………………………………
…..……………………………………………………………………………………………
10. She is not very helpful, isn’t she?
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………

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Exercise 15. Complete the following sentences.
1. There are 3 criteria to classify vowels : …………………………………………
2. Consonants are sounds which …… ……………………………………. the airflow.
3. A stressed syllable is louder, ………,…………, and ………... than an unstressed one.
4. If final consonant changes to become like initial consonant in the same way, the
assimilation is called ……………………. .
5. There are 3 criteria to classify consonants: ……………………………………………
6. Vowels are sounds which……………………………………………….. the airflow.
7. Phoneme is……………………………………………………………………………
8. If initial consonant changes to become like final consonant in some way, the
assimilation is called ……………………………..

Exercise 16. Decide that the following statements are True (T) or False (F).(10pts)
1. Certain suffixes (-ity, -ion, -ic) attract the stress to the syllable immediately
preceding them.
2. Assimilation is a phonetic phenomenon in which sounds disappear under certain
influence of neighbouring ones.
3. A stress group is a stressed syllable together with any unstressed syllable which may
go before or after it.
4. If you want the command to sound more a request than an order, use the dive.
5. In the falling tune, the stressed syllable of the last important word is high and the
voice rises from there.
6. Rhythm is a unit of speech with an unstressed syllable as its center and any stressed
syllables around it.
7. Elision is the change of sounds under certain influence of neighbouring ones.
8. In British English, three-syllable verbs ending in -ate have their stress on the first
syllable.
9. Dental consonant sounds involve the tip of the tongue, the upper and lower teeth.
10. The take-off is the intonation pattern that ends with a rise in the voice like the glide
up.
11. / p /, / t /, / k / are aspirated when they are preceded by an /s/.
12. When an adjective modifies a noun, the noun usually has the secondary stress.
13. The initial sound of the second syllable of the word "acknowledge" is voiced and
nasal.
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14. According to the English phonological rules, the sound shown by “n” in “ten
keys” can be elided.
15. The rising intonation is used in ‘You did it?’
16. If a word beginning with r/re in the spelling is followed by a word beginning with
a vowel, the /r/ may then be pronounced
17. A sound is aspirated when it is before another stop sound.
18. When an adjective modifies a noun, the noun usually has the secondary stress.
19. The phonemic transcription for the first sound of "Thomas" is /θ/.
20. The falling intonation is used in ‘Can you help me?’