UNIT 5
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ENGLISH CONSONANTS - 2
Structure
t
5.0
5.1
5.6
5.7
5.8
5.9
Objectives
Introduction
The Nasals
5.2.1 Bilabial Nasal
5.2.2 Alveolar Nasal
5.2.3 Velar Nasal
The Lateral Consonants
Irl
The Semi-Vowels
5.5.1 Palatal Semi-vowel
5.5.2 Labio-velar Semi-vowel
Let Us Sum Up
Key Words
Some Useful Books
Answers
5.0
OBJECTIVES
5.2
1
5.3
5.4
5.5
!
In the previous unit (Unit-4) we discussed three types of English consonants the plosives, the affricates and the fricatives. In this unit we shall give you
some information regarding the remaining English consonants and the
phonetic symbols used to represent them in dictionaries. When you have read
this unit carefully, you should be able to
distinguish between the different consonants discussed in this unit, and
use a dictionary to find out which consonants are used in particular
words.
An audio recording is also available at the various Study Centers of the University.
5.1
INTRODUCTION
In Unit 4 we discussed three types of English consonants - plosives, aftiicates
and fricatives, together called obstruents. These consonants involve some
kind of closure or narrowing of the air-passage, causing difference in the airpressure before and after the narrowing.
We shall now take up the other English consonants, generally called
sonorants. These do not involve a closure or narrowing of the air-passage,
and in their production there is no difference in the air-pressure before and
afier the place of articulation.
Phonetics and
Phonology- I
5.2
THE NASALS
The English consonants /m/, In/ and / r ~ / are called nasal because during their
articulation the oralpassage of air is blockedcompletely by either the two lips
making a firm contact with each other (as in the case of /m/)or some part of
the tongue making a firm contact with some part of the roof of the mouth (as
in the case of In/ and /r~/). But the soft palate and the uvula are brought down
from the back wall of the throat and so the nasal passage of air is open. The air
from the lungs comes out through the nasal passage and the nostrils, causing a
continuous flow of the air coming out of the lungs.
5.2.1 Bilabial Nrvsal
/m/ as in map
Examples
mate
might
manage
small
remain
summer
come
palm
same
/se~m/
/m/ can be represented by m (as in mad) and mm (as in 'summer).In words li
thumb, b is silent; in world like autumn, n is silent.
5.2.2 Alveolar Nasal
In/as in night
Examples
night
name
nasty
snake
under
running
ban
man
remain
In/ can be represented by n (as in no) or nn (as in 'manner).In words like ki
k is silent. Ir! words like sign, g is silent.
In/ can be syllabic, that is, it can be the nucleus o f {he syllable; e.g., in cotton
/ k ~ t n /the second syllable has a syllabic In/; it represents the V (vowel)
element in syllable structure. Some Indian speakers insert a short vowel / e l
before In/ in such words and do not use a syllabic In/.
5.2.3
Velar Nasal
/q/ as in king
Examples
I' f ~ r ~ g e /
finger
singer
uncle
king
ring
S
/' IJ~/
l'nr~kll
~
/JI/
1r1 g/
YolJng
ljnrjl
Word-final /IJ/
/rjl does not occur in the word-initial position in English.
/rj/ i s represented by n followed by kl or /g/, as in think, finger. I t i s also
represented by ng in words like sing, 'singer, where lndian speakers generally
use /rjg/.
5.3
THE LATERAL CONSONANTS
'T'he English consonants /I/ i s called an alveolar lateral. During its
articulation, the tip or blade o f the tongue firmly touches the teeth ridge and so
the central oral passage or air is blocked completely. The sides o f the tongue
are lowered, so the lung-air comes out along the sides o f the tongue freely, e.g.
/I/ as in live
Examples
live
love
less
please
bless
pully
call
be1l
sell
/I/ can be represented by Ias in laugh, or 1I as in kill.
I i s silent in words like walk, should, haK calm.
/I/ can be syllabic; e.g., in words like cattle /kztl/ where the second syllable
has a syllabic /I/. Some lndian speakers insert a vowel before /I/ and do not use
a syllabic /I/.
English
Consonants-2
Phoneflcs and
Phonology- 1
/r/ in British R.P. is pronounced in a number of ways, the commonest being a
post-alveolar frictionless continuant used in words like red.
Example
right
rest
wrong
Pray
try
crowd
shrine
three
very
In British R.P. /r/ occurs only before vowels. It does not occur before
consonants. Nor does it occur finally in word, except when a word beginning
with a vowel follows immediately.
Example
far
the letter
fear
more
murder
/fa:/
lbrletrl
1f1 a/
/ma:/
/nla:da/
far away f fa:re'we~/
the letter on the desk lbeleter on bedeskl
fear of ghosts / f ~ a r a vgaustsl
more and more /ma:r an ma:/
Murder in the Cathedral /ms:der~nzbaOi:drall
Most Indian speakers use /r/ in all position. This is quite acceptable.
5.5
THE SEMI-VOWELS
There are two semi-vowels in English; /j/ as in yes and /w/ as in west.A semivowel is a vowel-glide to more prominent sound in the same syllable.
5.5.1 Palatal Semi-vowel
/j/ as in yes
/j/ is palatal; it is glide from /i:/ to the next vowel, which is syllabic.
Example
Yes
Yet
yard
beyond
beauty
/jes/
/jet/
/ja:d/
/b~jond/
/bj'u:t~/
duty
f dju:t~/
Word-initial /j/
Word-medial /j/
/j/ cannot occur at the end of a word.
/j/ can be represented by y as in yes.
It occurs with the vowel /u:/ in words like 'union, beauty, due, new, view.
I
i
i
!
i
5.5.2 Labio-velar Semi-vowel
/w/ as in west
/w/ is glide from /u:/ to the next vowel, which is syllabic.
Examples
wet
wheat
wear
sweet
swear
between
/wet/
/w i :tl
/weal
1swi:t.I
Isweal
b1'twi:nl
Word-initial /w/,
Word-medial /wl
/w/ does not occur at the end of a word in English. It is represented by w as in
way, wh as in when and u in words like quick, 'language. Indian speakers often
replace /w/ by a soft sound /v/, which they also use for Ivl.
For an international standard it is necessary to make a distinction between /wl
and /vl so that there is no confusion between words like west and vest.
Iwl can be acquired easily be preparing to say /u:l and moving quickly to the
next vowel.
Check Your Progress 1
1.
i)
iii)
Write a phonetic transcription of the following words according to
British R.P, using the symbols as given by us. After you have checked
your answer, say the words correctly according to the transcription.
English ....................
i i)
consonants .........................
objectives .................
iv)
cassette .............................
v)
vii)
introduction ..............
vi)
nasal .................................
vowels ....................
viii)
useful ...............................
i x)
prevrous.. ..................
unit ..................................
xi)
discussed ..................
x)
xii)
three .................................
xi i i)
information ................
xiv)
phonetic .............................
xv>
xvii)
symbols ....................
xv i)
represent ............................
distinguish .................
xviii) particukr ............................
xix)
accompanies ...............
xx)
,2.
available .............................
Listen to the following sentence on the audio recording. The stressed
syllables have been marked for you. .After listening to the audio
English
Consonants-2
recording, say each sentence aloud, making sure that you articulate the
various vowels and consonants correctly.
Phonetics and
Phonologv- l
"Three and 'four make 'seven.
'Mary 'had a 'little 'lamb.
Its 'fleece was 'white as 'snow
I 'bought 'three 'bottles of to'mato 'sauce.
'What a mag'nificent 'building!
The 'Taj Ma'hal was 'built by 'Emperor 'Shah Je'han.
The 'heart of 'India is in her 'villages.
There are 'millions of i'l l iterate 'people in the 'world.
Our 'leaders are 'striving 'hard for 'national inte'gration.
Di'wali is a 'festive oc'casion 'all over 'lndia.
It's 'always a 'pleasure to 'meet old 'friends.
My 'uncle's a 'doctor, /and his 'wife an engi'neer.
'Honesty is the 'best 'policy.
3.
Listen to the following dialogue on the audio recording and then repeat
it. Make sure that you pronounce the various vowels and consonants
correctly. 'The stressed syllables have been marked for you.
Helllo,'Ram. 'Nice to 'see you again.
He'l lo!
'Lakshmi, /Ram's 'here. Can you 'bring him some 'coffee?
It's 'ages since we 'met 'last 'isn't it?
'Yes. 'Eight 'years. I 'heard you were a'broad.
'That's 'right. 1 was in 'Aden for 'eight 'years.
'Aden? 'Where 'is it?
It's in 'Yemen.
'What were you 'doing 'there?
'Teaching. 'Teaching 'English.
Did you en'joy your 'stay there?
Im'mensely.
'Here 'comes 'Lakshmi with the 'coffee.
'With milk and sugar?
'Yes, 'please. 'Just a 'drop of 'milk/ and 'two 'spoons of 'sugar.
5.6
LET US SUM UP
--
In this unit, we learnt about the nasals /m,n, g / , lateral sound /I/ and the semivowels /j/ and /w/. This-completes our description of the consonants of
English. You must listen to the recording to get the correct pronunciation of
English and never hesitate to consult the dictionary for the correct
pronunciation of the words.
5.7
Nasal:
KEY WORDS
a sound for which the air comes out through the nose
only; e.g., /m/, n, d.
I
Lateral:
Semi-vowel:
5.8
a sound during the articulation of which the air escapes
only along the sides of the tongue because there is a
total blockage of the central oral passage. Example: /I/.
A semi-vowel is a vowel-glide to a more prominent
sound in the same syllable. Example: /w,j/.
SOME USEFUL BOOKS
Balasubramanian, T. (1 98 I, 1987). A Textbook of English Phonetics for Indian
Sfudents, Macmi llian India Limited.
Bansal, R.K. and J.B. Harrison (1983). Spoken English for India, Orient
Longman (2nd Edition)
CIEFL. Exercises in Spoken English: Part 2: Consonants.
5.9
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ANSWERS
Check Your Progress
!
i)
ii)
iii)
iv)
v)
vi)
vii)
vi i i)
ix)
x)
xi)
xi i)
xiii)
xiv)
xv)
xvi)
xvii)
xviii)
xix)
xx)
'1!lgl1S
'kunsanants
ab'djekt~vz
ka 'set
~ntra'd~kjn
'ne~zalz
'vaualz
'ju:sful
'pri:v~as
'ju:nrt
~ I ' S ~ A S ~
Bri:
' ~ f na ' m e ~ l a n
fe'netrk
'srmbalz
reprfzent
d~'sti~gw~J
pa't~kjula
a'k~mpan~z
a've~labl
English
consonants-2