ELI 80
Pronunciation---Consonants
I. Consonants. Here are some consonants that nonnative speakers tend to confuse. Now
work in pairs and try to pronounce these words to your partner.
A. Practice the contrast: /
(rock, lock)
(wrong, long)
/ as in “red” with /
/ as in “like.”
(race, lace)
(red, lead)
(road, load) (right, light)
(correct, collect) (pirate, pilot) (fry, fly) (crown, clown)
B. Practice the contrast: /
/ as in “see” with /
/ as in “zoo.”
(sue, zoo) (sip, zip) (sink, zinc) (sing, zing)
(dice, dies) (race, rays)
(loss, laws)
(rice, rise)
(advice, advise)
Now circle the word that you hear.
1. I said it was (seal, zeal).
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Take the (sink, zinc) back to the store.
He is (racing, raising) his dog.
Did you see her (niece, knees)?
I see the (ice, eyes) from here.
Which (plays, place) do you like best?
What’s the (price, prize) you have in mind?
C. Practice the contrast: / / as in “thin” with /
/ as in “the.”
(thing, think, theory) (nothing, author, method)
(math, fifth, death)
(that, there, these)
(smooth, breathe, bathe)
Contrasts between /
(together, other, weather)
/ and / /.
(taught, thought)
(team, theme) (tin, thin) (Tent, tenth)
Contrasts between / / and / /.
(debt, death)
(sick, thick)
(mouse, mouth)
(sigh, thigh)
(sank, thank) (face, faith)
D. Practice the contrast: / / as in “she” with /
/ as in “usual.”
(sure, ocean, machine)
(television, usual, leisure, measure, pleasure, treasure, visual, explosion, mirage)