SPELLING RULES

Afternoon: It takes vowel start /a/ because it is a bath word

Trying: The base form of the verb is “try” so magic -y- makes the previous vowel say its name,
which would be the dipthong /ei/. And as the verb is in the progressive form and ends with
ing, it takes another vowel which is kit /i/. So, we use the dipthong /ai/and vowel nº 2
Lose: It takes voiced /z/ because in the case of verbs there is a strong tendency to pronounce
final se as /z/
Starting: Radical r. The r is not pronounced but it has an effect in the preceding vowel, which
makes the vowel longer or turns it into a dipthong.
Wonderful: It takes a schwa or nothing, because the ending ful takes /u/ only when it means
“full”, as in handful or mouthful.
Depends: There is voice agreement, so it takes voiced /z/ because it is preceded by a voiced
consonant.
Classes: It takes /s/ because double s almost always takes /s/. The exceptions are the words
that have to do with possesion, and words such as desserve, dessert, scissors and dissolve.
Twice: Silent e, so the previous vowel says its name.
Week: Two vowels together, so the previous vowel says its name.
Half: The l is not pronounced because this termination tipically has a silent letter, which also
has an effect in the preceding vowel that makes it longer
Price: It takes voiceless /s/ because the ending ce is always pronounced with /s/
Thank: It takes velar /n/ because whenever we have a /n/ followed by a /k/ or /g/, it takes a
velar nasal.
Famous: The ending “ous” is weak, so takes schwa and the voiceless /s/
Scientists: There is voice agreement so it takes voiceless /s/ since it is preceded by the voiceless
consonant/t/
Politicians: It takes a strong vowel. We can perceive the primary stress on the third syllable. The
teutonic Rule states that either the first o second syllable should be stressed. Here, the Rule of
Alternation helps us find de secondary stress on the first syllable. So it will take the checked
vowel nº 6. It also follows the BVP as the vowel is between consonants.
Crane: Silent e so the vowel says its name
Glimpse: It takes voiceless /s/ because the ending -se is preceded by a voiceless consonant and
it usually takes /s/
Gardner: Radical r. The r is not pronounced and makes the preceding vowel longer or more
open
Discussing: It takes a checked vowel because of the double-consonant letter rule, that does not
allow the formation of a long vowel or a dipthong, so it takes strut /a/. This also happens
because of the Teutonic rule, in which you cannot have more than two unstressed vowels in
initial position.
Doctor and: Linking r. British English is non-rhotic accent, which means that the r’s are not
pronounced unless they are followed by vowels. In this case we have an r followed by a vowel,
so it is going to be pronounced.
Discussing: Double ss is almost always pronounced as /s/. The exceptions are the words that
have to do with possesion, and words such as desserve, dessert, scissors and dissolve.
Here: Radical r. The r is not pronounced and has an effect on the preceding vowel, which in this
case turns it into a dipthong
Cough: Sometimes this spelling is silent (as in thought). In this case it is pronounced as /f/
Six: It takes /ks/because final x is always /ks/
Exam: It takes /gz/ because when the x is followed by a stressed vowel it is going to be /gz/. If
the x is followed by a stressed vowel, it is going to be /ks/ (Mexico)
Long: It takes velar /n/ because when we have n followed by g or k it is going to be velar-nasal
Longing: If we have final ng followed by suffix, the g is not pronounced unless it is a
comparative or a superlative. If there is not a suffix the g is pronounced (anger)
Policy: It takes voiceless /s/ because the c is always pronounced with /s/
Dresses: This is an exception to the rule Voice agreement. It takes two phonemes /iz/ because it
is preceded by a sibilant consonant
Saying: The base form of the verb is “say” so magic -y- makes the previous vowel say its name,
which would be the dipthong /ei/. And as the verb is in the progressive form and ends with
ing, it takes another vowel which is kit /i/ and velar /n/.
Number: It takes strut a because this vowel occurs in stressed syllable and the because the
spelling u generally takes strut a. It takes a checked vowel because according to the basic vowel
pattern, the vowel is between two consonants.
Benn’s: Vocie agreement. The final sound in the base form is voiced, so it takes voiced /z/ to
agree in voicing.
Dress: The vowel is checked because the following consonant letter is doubled.
Last: It’s a bath word as the a is followed by a voiceless fricative, so it takes a long vowel (start
a)
All: It takes force /o/ because the spelling a+l typically takes force /o/
Front: It takes strut /a/ because the spelling o can take strut /a/ and it also follows the basic
vowel pattern as the vowel is between two consonants, so it takes a checked vowel
Through: This termination is usually not pronounced, so it’s silent. The exceptions are words
such as cough, laugh, etc and compound words such as dohouse, bighead, etc
Tenacious: It is a weak ending, so it takes schwa and voiceless /s/
Unhappy: It is strong because the prefix un has a negative connotation and is always strong

WEEK/STRONG FORMS
It was amazing: It’s weak because it is followed by the subjective complement. The verb to be
even when it’s the main verb, is not going to be strong. It is strong in stranded position or when
there is contrast.
There was: It’s weak because it is existential there.
But: It’s weak because it is a function word (conjunction) and there are no reasons why it
should be strong. All the conjunctions might be strong for stylistic purposes, when they are in
initial position.
People from the movies: It’s weak because it is a function word (preposition) and there are no
reasons why it should be strong
That’s where I came from: It’s strong because it’s stranded and not followed by the object of the
preposition.
Try to get: It’s weak because it’s a function word and there are no reasons to be strong (citation,
contrast, stranded position).
Is that figure: It’s strong because it is a demonstrative pronoun
Why were you there?: Were can be either weak or strong, depending on what the speaker
wants to accent. There is only strong because it’s an adverb of place (locative).
Me?: It’s strong because there is contrast.
I hadn’t thought about it: It’s strong because it is a negative contraction and contains a negative
adverb, which is a content word.
Can I help you?: This is a yes/no question so either the weak or strong form is correct
We are launching: It is weak because it is followed by the subjective complement and is not
stranded
On: On has only one form which is strong
We have aerobics: It’s strong because it is the main verb and denotes possesion
The afternoon: It is going to take happy /i/ because it is weak and followed by a vowel sound
There are sessions: It is weak because it is existencial
How much does it cost?: It’s weak because in WH-Questions the auxiliary is always weak,
unless there is contrast.
What you’re looking for: It’s strong because it is stranded and not followed by the object of the
preposition
Some classes meet twice a week: It’s strong because there is contrast as we are singling out a
group of classes from the rest (Some classes, not all classes)
Do members get discounts?: It can be weak or strong because it is a complete yes/no question
That sounds amazing: Strong because it is a demonstrative pronoun
How can I pay? It’s weak because the auxiliary can is usually weak in WH-Question
We can do the paperwork: It’s strong because it is the main verb
Thank you
Thank you: The first you is going to be weak and the other one strong because there is contrast.
Can provide for: It’s weak because modal verbs are usually weak unless they are stranded
Let us: It’s weak because pronouns in generral are weak, unless there is contrast
Does it hurt when you cough? It can be either weak or strong because it is a complet yes/no
question. The auxiliary aways takes a strong form in short yes/no questions.
Yes, it does: Strong because it is a short yes/no answer
As long as that? It’s a conjuction, which is typically weak because it is a grammar word, but as it
is in initial position, it can be weak or strong for stylistic purposes, depending on the speaker’s
choice
She’s: Weak because pronoun + auxiliary contraction is generally weak
Being: The verb to be takes a weak form even if it works as a main verb. However, being takes a
strong form because it is not a monosyllable
It’s been some time: It is strong because in this case it means “a considerable amount”
I have some money: Weak because it is used before an uncountable noun
Then: It is strong because then only has a strong form (as with, on)
Before: It is a preposition, therefore, a grammar word. However, it takes a strong form because
it is not a monosyllabic.
Always done: It is strong because it is the main verb
But, as I advanced: It is a conjunction in initial position. So, it can be either weak or strong for
stylistic purposes, depending on the speaker’s choice.
There was Menderley: It is weak because it is existencial there.
There she was!: Strong because it is locative
This is some pizza!: Strong because there is emphasis, and it is exclamatory some.
Some of his friends might go to the party: Strong because there is contrast (some of his friends,
but not all of them)
I haven’t talked to him for some years: Strong because it means “a considerable amount”
Do you want some chocolate? No, thanks! I still got some: Strong because it is stranded
Some day, I will go to Paris, I know I will: Strong because it is modifying a singular countable
noun
I need some volunteers: Weak because it is modifying a plural countable noun
I want some milk: Weak because it is modifying an uncountable noun (no se traduce)

ARTICULATION
It was: Glottal Stop. We can have glottal replacement or glottal reinforcement.
Amazing: The /z/ is fully voiced because it is between vowels. When voiced sounds are
surrounded by other voiced sounds, they cannot be devoiced.
I’d never: There is nasal release because the plosive /d/ is followed by a nasal sound.
Liked it: Either glottal reinforcement or replacement. And there is non audible release.
Actors: Non audible release because there are two plosive together, so there is no release for the
first plosive.
Head?: Devoicing of obstruent because there is a /d/ in final position and followed by silence
Just walked: Elision becuase /t/ is in final position, preceded and followed by a consonant, and
because there is agreement in voice between the voiceless /t/ and the preceding voiceless /s/
Past you: Yod coalescence because the alveolar plosive is followed by the palatal approximant,
so both of them merges into the palatoalveolar /ch/
Trying: Devoicing of approximant. The /r/ is influenced by the preceding voiceless plosive
/t/so it loses part of its voicing and becomes fricative
Keep: Pre-fortis clipping because the vowel is followed by a fortis sound
Help: Dark l because it is followed by a consonant
Would: There is non audible release because the plosive is in final position
Latest program: There is elision because the /t/ is preceded and followed by consonants and
because there is agreement in voice between the voiceless /t/ and the voiceless /s/ . The
exceptions are “and” and negative contractios that can always be elided
Cost: Full aspiration because there is a voiceless plosive at the beginning of a stressed syllable.
So you produce an extra puff of air
What you’re: Yod coalescence because we have an alveolar plosive followed by the palatal
approximant, and both of them turn into the palatoalveolar /ch/
And they: Elision because in the word the /d/can always be elided. And there is also
dentalisation because the alveolar /n/ is followed by a dental sound.
Club get: There are two plosives together so there is non audible release for the first plosive.
Credit: Devoicing of approximant. The sound that preceds /r/ is a voiceless plosive that
devoices the aproximant that follows, so the /r/ becomes fricative.
Especially: There is lack of aspiration because the /p/ is preceded by a /s/ and therefore it is
no longer in initial position, so there is not an extra puff of air
While you: Clear l because it is followed by a semi vowel
Problem: Lateral release because we have a plosive /b/ followed by a lateral
Doctor: Lack of release because we have two plosives together so the compression stage is
longer than with a normal plosive, and the first plosive will not be released
Yes: Pre-fortis clipping because the vowel is followed by a fortis sound
Weeks: We can have glottal reinforcement because the /k/
Tried taking: There is non audible release in the first plosive and devoicing of obstruent,
because it is in final position and followed by a voiceless sound, so the obstruent loses part of its
voicing. In the second plosive there is aspiration because it is in initial position in a stressed
syllable
And then: The /d/ is elided and there is dentalisation because we have the alveolar /n/
followed by a dental sound.
Had my: Bilabial assimilation. There is nasal release because the plosive /d/ is followed by a
nasal sound
Dreamt: As the vowel is followed by a nasal sound, it becomes nasalised and therefore the air
escapes through the mouth and the nose at the same time.
Last night: The /t/ can be elided because it is preceded and followed by consonants, and agrees
in voicing with the preceding /s/. There is also nasal release because the voiceless plosive /t/is
followed by a nasal sound.
Went to: There is non-audible release because the are two plosives together, so there is no
release for the first plosive. There can also be glottal reinforcement because the /t/ is preceded
by a nasal sound and followed by a consonant.
From gate. : There is glottal reinforcement because the /t/ is followed by silence. There is also
non-audible release because there is silence.
To the drive, and: Devoicing of obstruent because the /v/ is in final position and followed by a
silence.
And for: There is elision, because the /d/ in the word “and” can always be elided, as in the case
of negative contractions.
Twisting: Devoicing of approximant. The /w/ is influenced by the plosive /t/ and loses part of
its voicing and becomes fricative
Little: There is lateral release because the /t/ is followed by a lateral sound.
Upon the: Dentalisation because the alveolar /n/ is followed by a dental sound
His fingers. On: Devoicing of obstruents because the /s/ is in final position and before silence