Principles of Classification of English Consonants
1. The consonant is a sound in the production of which the air stream meets an
obstruction in the mouth cavity and a certain degree of noise is heard.
2. English consonants are classified according to:
- the degree of noise
- the manner of articulation
- the place of articulation and the active organ of speech
3. According to the degree of noise English consonants are divided into noise
consonants and sonorants. Noise consonants are further classified according to
the work of the vocal cords. When the vocal cords are brought together and
vibrate, voiced consonants are produced; when the vocal cords are drawn apart,
voiceless consonants are heard. Sonorants are always voiced, in their production
tone prevails over noise.
4. According to the manner of articulation consonants may be occlusive,
constrictive and occlusive-constrictive (affricates).
When an occlusive consonant is produced, the air stream meets a complete
obstruction in the mouth cavity. Occlusive noise consonants are also called
plosives as they are produced with a kind of slight explosion when the obstruction
is released.
Constrictive consonants are those in the production of which the air stream meets
an incomplete obstruction. Constrictive noise consonants are also called fricatives
as the air escapes from the mouth with some friction.
Affricates are noise consonants produced with a complete obstruction which is
slowly released and becomes incomplete.
5. According to the active organs of speech consonants may be labial, lingual and
glottal.
Labial consonants are made by the lips. They are bilabial (produced only by the
lips) or labio-dental (produced by the upper teeth biting the lower lip).
Lingual consonants are forelingual, mediolingual and backlingual. Forelingual
consonants are articulated with the tip of the tongue (apical articulation).
According to the place of obstruction consonants may be alveolar, post-alveolar,
palato-alveolar and interdental. Mediolingual consonants are produced with the
front and the central part of the tongue raised towards the hard palate. Backlingual
consonants are produced with the back part of the tongue raised towards the soft
palate (velar articulation). The glottal consonant [h] is articulated in the glottis.
Prepare model reading of each set of sentences concentrating on the headline
groups of consonants.
1. Occlusive Noise Consonants.
a. Pretty Polly Perkins has a pair of pretty plaits.
b. I’ll have a proper cup of coffee in a proper coffee cup.
c. Ping-pong is a popular sport and is played in many countries.
d. Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers,
a peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked.
If Peter Piper picked a peck a pickled peppers,
Where’s the peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked?
e. Barbara is a beautiful blonde with bright blue eyes.
f. A trip by train took a tiresome twenty-two hours.
g. Too many teenagers tend to waste their time watching TV.
h. Dennie’s daughter Diana doesn’t dislike darning.
i. If we keep quiet we may be lucky to see the cuckoo.
j. Cut your coat according to your cloth.
k. Curiosity killed the cat.
l. Trifles make perfection, and perfection is no trifle.
2. Constrictive Fricative Consonants.
a.
Fine fellows met at five on the first of February. “Philip,’ said Ferdinand, ‘I fear
we must fight.’ Then Philip and Ferdinand fought fairly for fifty-five minutes, after
which they fell down in a faint, for the fight had been fearfully furious. When
Philip came out of the faint, Ferdinand offered his hand. ‘Fair’s fair,’ said Philip,
‘and I think this affair shows neither of us fears to fight.’
b.
Every evening Victor and Vivian visit eve. Victor and Vivian are rivals. Both vow
to love Eve forever. But Eve is very vain. Vivienne is vivacious and full of verve.
Eventually, Victor gives up and goes over to Vivienne, leaving eve to Vivian.
c.
Arthur smith, a thick-set, healthy athlete sees three thieves throw a thong round
Thea’s throat and threaten to throttle her. He throws one thug to earth with a thud
that shakes his teeth. Both the other thieves run off with filthy oaths. Thea thanks
Arthur for thrashing the three hugs.
d.
These are three brothers. This is their other brother. These are their mother and
father. Their other brother is teething.
e.
Sue and Cecily are sisters. Sue is sixteen in summer. Cecily was seventeen last
Sunday. Sue is sowing grass seed. She sees Cecily asleep with a glass of cider and
a nice sixpenny ice by her side. Sue slips across, sips the glass of cider and eats the
ice. Cecily gets such a surprise when she awakes.
f.
Zoe is visiting the zoo. A lazy zebra called Desmond is dozing at the zoo. He feels
flies buzzing round his eyes, ears and nose. He rouses, opens his eyes, rises and
goes to Zoe. Zoe is wearing a rose on her blouse. Zoe gives Desmond the buns.
g.
I wish to be shown the latest fashion in short shirts.
Mr. Mash sells fish and shell-fish fresh from the ocean.
She was still shaking from the shock of being crushed in the rush.
h.
I can’t measure the pleasure I have in viewing this treasure at leisure.
The decision was that on that occasion the collision was due to faulty vision.
i.
Humble hairy Herbert has his hand on his heart because he sees how his brother’s
horse has hurt his hoof in a hole while hunting.
Henry helps him to hobble home. Henry is very humorous
3. Occlusive-Constrictive Consonants (Affricates).
a.
Charles is a cheerful chicken-farmer. A poacher is watching Charles’ chickens,
choosing which to snatch. He chuckles at the chance of a choice-chicken to chew
for his lunch. But the chuckle reaches Charles who chases the poacher and catches
him.
For lunch Charles chose a cheap chop and some chips, with cheese and cherries
afterwards.
They cheered the cheerful chap who chose to venture to match his skill with the
champions.
b.
How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck would chuck wood?
c.
The aged judge urges the jury to be just but generous. In June and July we usually
enjoy a few jaunts to that region.
He injured his jaw on the jagged edge of the broken jar.
4. Sonorous Consonants.
a. The murmur of the bees in the elms brings back memories of many memorable
summers.
b. Since time immemorial he moon has moved men to make poems.
c. That fine bunch of bananas will make a nice snack.
d. The rain in Spain falls mainly o the plain.
e. They ran and rang the bell.
f. the spring brings many charming things.
g. The real reason is really rather curious.
h. Robert Rowly rolled a round roll round.
i. Let Lucy light a candle and we’ll all look for the ball.
j. He lost his life in the struggle for liberty.
k. It was a pleasure to watch the wonderful way in which they worked.
l. ‘What’, ‘why’, ‘when’ and ‘where’ are the words we use quite often when we
want to ask questions.
m. Yesterday I heard a curious and beautiful new tune.
n. Don’t argue about duty, or you’ll make me furious.