Recognizing the Different English Sounds
The Sounds of English
The English sounds fall into three main groups: consonants, vowels and diphthongs. These sounds are something represented by letters of the alphabet and in some cases by phonetic symbols.
A. Vowels: English vowels are those 12 sounds produced with the vocal cords vibrating but with no obstruction from the other speech organs in the vocal track. Vowels are either vocal (with the sounds being made through the mouth only) or nasal (with the sounds being made through the nasal cavity and mouth).
B. Consonants: the following words are pronounced with initial consonants that have underlined: principle, bandage, taxi, dining, table, government, sister. The 24 consonants in English sound values. The consonants in their phonetic.
C. Diphthongs: there are English sounds in which within one syllable there is a glide from one vowel to another during the course of pronunciation
Producing English Consonants
English has 24 consonants and these usually sound whose production involves some obstruction of or movement of some of the speech organs. When consonants are produced alone, they are likely to be individual sounds as in/p/ or /k/ or /s/. To produce, however, consonants © have to be combined with vowels (v) or diphthongs (a) or both as in cat, can, cap, taxi. Sounds in English take different possibilities such as C+V+C as in cat, mob, said or C+C+V+C as in crib, plan, scan confirm the high occurrence of what is usually referred to as consonant clusters in English. Most Nigerian or other African language operate a sound system that is unlike English. Thai is C+C+V+C as in kekere (Yoruba sound). For the Nigerian student to perceive accurately the sounds of English. The following precautions must be taken.
a. Little or no assumption must be made
b. The special nature of each sound must be accurately recognized
c. The different organs of speech must be used correctly
d. The special role of the nasal passage must be represented
Recognizing the Different English Sounds
Certain sounds are made closing the two lips and parting them suddenly to allow the explosions of sounds. Some of the sounds that result from the sudden release of air include: /b/, /p/. For another set of Consonants that upper teeth and forced against the lower lip and the resultant sounds include: /f/, /v/. Certain sounds are produced by bringing the two lips together and still allowing some air to escape in between the two lips: the resultant sounds include: /p/, /b/, /rn/, /w/. Probably the most important requirements in the production of these sounds include:
I. The organs involved in the production of the sound to question
II. The point of production of the sound
III. The manner of production of the sound
It is important not to interchange or confuse sounds that are similar either I’m their manner or position. The following examples may be confusing to the Nigeria ears because the initial consonant may not be differentiated in some Nigeria Languages.
A Fat vest rate think look chop chap low than
B Pat best late sink nook sink shop sharp row rank
Often the inaccurate listener will not identify correctly, the incoming sounds because of the limited exposure to all possible sound, in English. Certain consonants have different realizations (pronunciation) even though they may retain the same spelling.
A word labeled ‘archaic’ implies that it is out of date, it is no longer used. It was current sometime ago and was the vocabulary of some great writers but it is no more used. As example of such a word is methinks; it is entered as: methinks (arch) it seems to be.
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