1.

Aspiration in an initial stressed syllable

popcorn

[phpkn]

privilege

[phvld] [phvld]
[phbblij]

probably

(or even [phblij] or [phlij] in rapid speech!)

[phklejt]
(Note that the first syllable has a schwa as its nucleus even
though its a stressed syllable. Theres no other symbol that
accurately represents how we say this vowel when its

percolate

followed by [].

conference

[khnfnts] [khnfns]

comprehension

[khmpijhnn] [khmphnn] [khmpijnn]

kangaroo

[khuw] [khuw]

chronicle

[khnkl ] [khnkl ]
[thmpij] [thmpij]

temporary

(or [thmpij] in very rapid speech!)

telephone

[thlfown] [thlfown]

turquoise

[thkwojz]

toothache

[thuwejk]

2. Unstressed initial syllables, no aspiration

Canadian

[knejdijn]

precision

[psn] [psn]

conspiracy

[knspsij]

percentage

[psntd]

permission

[pmn]

community

[kmjuwnij] [kmjuwntij]

tonight

[tnajt]

tomorrow

[tmow]

terrific

[tfk]

3. Words with aspiration on stressed syllables in the middle of the word

acquire

[khwaj]

appearance

[phijns] [phijnts]

internal

[nthnl ]

importance

[mphtnts] [mphns] [mphns]

impression

[mphn]

impersonate

[mphsnejt]

intention

[nthntn] [nthnn]

intestines

[nthstnz] [nthstnz]

intoxicated

[nthkskejtd] [nthkskejd]
[inthuwd]
[intuwd]

intruder

Often when theres an alveolar stop ([t] or [d]) before an [],

the stop becomes an affricate. Compare train with
tame and drain with day to hear the difference.

equipment

[khwpmnt] [ijkhwpmnt]

conclusion

[knkhluwn]

4. Stressed syllables with [s] in the onset, no aspiration word-initially

sponsorship

[spnsp]

splendid

[splndd] [splndd]

spectrum

[spktm] [spktm] [spktm]

sprain

[spejn]

strategy

[stdij] [sttdij]

stomach

[stmk]

sterilize

[stlajz] [stlajz]

statistics

[stthstks]

scavenger

[skvnd]

scholarship

[sklp]

squander

[skwnd]

screenplay

[skijnplej]

5. [] or []?
rubber

[rb]

dusty

[dstij]

drum

[dm] [dm]

thunder

[nd]

achieve

[tijv]

beneath

[bnij] [bnij] [bijnij]

arrange

[ejnd]

demand

[dmnd] [dijmnd]

6. major diphthongs

arrival

[ajvl]

revive

[vajv] [ijvajv]

empire

[mpaj]

sapphire

[sfaj]

gargoyle

[gojl]

turmoil

[thmojl]

enjoy

[ndoj] [ndoj]

destroy

[dstoj] [dstoj] [dijstoj]

allowed

[lawd]

proud

[phawd]

eyebrow

[ajbaw]

snowplow

[snowplaw]