Exercises for English Phonetics and Phonology

1. Give a complete description of the consonant sound represented by the symbol and then
supply an English word containing the sound.
Example: /tʃ/
Answer: voiceless alveolopalatal affricate
Word: Cherry
a. /S/: voiceless alveolopalatal (palate-alveolar) fricative
b. /k/: voiceless velar stop
c. /N/: voiced velar nasal
d. /D/: voiced dental fricative
e. /T/: voiceless dental fricative
f. /n/: voiced alveolar nasal
g. /g/: voiced velar stop
h. /s/: voiceless alveolar fricative
i. /v/: voiced labiodental fricative

2. Give the phonetic symbol representing the consonant sound described and then supply an
English word containing the sound.

a. Voiced alveolopalatal affricate: /dZ/

b. Voiceless bilabial stop: /b/
c. Voiced alveolar nasal: /n/
d. Voiced bilabial nasal: /m/
e. Voiceless labiodental fricative: /f/
f. Voiceless glottal fricative: /h/

3. Give the phonetic symbol for the initial consonant sound(s) in each of the following words.
a. room: /r/ j. say: /s/
b. one: /w/ k. chorus: /k/
c. know: /n/ l. chase: /tS/
d. Thomas: /t/ m. shave: /S/
e. sure: /S/ n. wrong: /r/
f. cereal: /s/ o. zero: /z/
g. jaguar: /dZ/ p. ghost: /g/
g. unity: /j/ q. science: /s/
h. pheasant: /f/ r. judge: /dZ/
i. theme: /T/ s. who: /h/

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4. Give the phonetic symbol for the medial consonant sound(s) in each of the following
words.
a. toughen: /f/ k. listen: /s/
b. visage: /z/ l. plumber: /m/
c. alloy: /l/ m. cupboard: /b/
d. descent: /s/ n. soften: /f/
e. azure: /Z/ o. measure: /Z/
f. away: /w/ p. author: /T/
g. errand: /r/ q. lather: /D/
h. ocean: /S/ r. psyche: /k/
i. adjourn: /dZ/ s. future: /tS/
j. against: /g/ t. lawyer: /j/

5. Give the phonetic symbol for the final consonant sound(s) in each of the following
words.
a. froth: /T/ k. phase: /z/
b. miss: /s/ l. with: /D/
c. stomach: /k/ m. tongue: /N/
d. addict: /t/ n. comb: /m/
e. ledge: /dZ/ o. brogue: /g/
f. itch: /tS/ p. mall: /l/
g. sign: /n/ q. rough: /f/
h. niche: /S/ or /tS/ r. beige: /Z/
i. hiccough: /p/ s. hopped: /t/
j. ooze: /z/ t. solemn: /m/

6. Give a complete description of the vowel sound represented by the symbol and then
supply an English word containing the sound.
a. /u:/: long/tense high back rounded monophthong: spoon
b. /e/: short mid front unrounded monophthong: pet
c. /I/: short/lax high front unrounded monophthong: bill
d. /OI/: mid back to high front (lax) diphthong: soil
e. /aU/: low central to high back (lax) diphthong: mouse
f. /i:/: long/tense high front unrounded monophthong: see

7. Give the phonetic symbol representing the vowel sound described and then supply
an English word containing the sound.

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 a. short low front neutral monophthong: /{/: sand
b. long mid back rounded monophthong: /O:/: corn
c. high front (lax) to (upper) mid central diphthong: /I@/: beer
d. mid front to high front (lax) diphthong: /eI/: date
e. long mid central neutral monophthong: /3:/: bird

8. Give the phonetic symbol for the vowel sound in each of the following words.
a. build: /I/ j. fruit: /u:/ s. proud: /aU
b. gauge: /eI/ k. wolf: /U/ t. break: /eI/
c. threat: /e/ l. feud: /u:/ u. cute: /u:/
d. plan: /{/ m. vein: /eI/ v. throw: /@U/
e. earn: /3:/ n. flax: /{/ w. slim: /I/
f. brought: /O:/ o. mourn: /O:/ x. weigh: /eI/
g. town: /aU/ p. style: /aI/ y. through: /u:/
h. young: /V/ q. heart: /A:/ z. their: /e@/
i. stop: /Q/ r. war: /O:/
9. Each of the following contains one error in transcription; i.e., it indicates an
impossible pronunciation of the word for a native speaker of English. Give the word
and supply the correct transcription.

(a) citation (g) magical (m) orthopedic

(b) century (h) oxygen (n) punitive
(c) sunflower (i) breathed (o) question
(d) tomcat (j) strength (p) customary
(e) oysters (k) faintly (q) perplexed
(f) umbrella (l) neighborhood (r) sphinx

(a) /saɪˈteɪʃəәn/ (g) /ˈmædʒɪkəәl/ (m) /ɔːθəәˈpiːdɪk/

(b) /ˈsentʃəәri/ (h) /ˈɒksəәdʒəәn/ (n) /pjuːnəәtɪv/
(c) /ˈsʌnflaʊəәr/ (i) /briðd/ (o) /ˈkwestʃəәn/
(d) /ˈtɒmkæt/ (j) /streŋkθ/ (p) /ˈkʌstəәməәri/
(e) /ˈɔɪstəәrz/ (k) /ˈfeɪntli/ (q) /pəәˈplekst/
(f) /əәmˈbreləә/ (l) /ˈneɪbəәrhʊd/ (r) /sfɪŋks/

10. Write out the following proverbial expressions, which are given in broad transcription.
(a) /ðəәrəәʊdtəәhelɪzpeɪvdwɪðɡʊdɪntenʃəәnz/

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(b) /bɜːdzəәvəәfeðəәrflɒktəәɡeðəәr/

(c) /əәrəәʊlɪŋstəәʊnɡæðəәrznəәʊmɒs/

(d) /əәwɒtʃtketəәlnevəәrbɔɪlz/

(e) /tʃærɪtibɪɡɪnzæthəәʊm/

(f) /evriklaʊdhæzəәsɪlvəәrlaɪnɪŋ/

(g) /ɡreɪtmaɪndzrʌnɪnðəәseɪmtʃænəәlz/

(h) /menihændzmeɪklaɪtwɜːrk/

(i) /stɪlwɔːtəәrzrʌndiːp/

(j) /ðiɜːlibɜːdkætʃəәzðəәwɜːrm/

(k) /taɪmændtaɪdweɪtfəәrnəәʊmæn/

(l) /ɒpəәrtjuːnɪtinɒksbəәtwʌns/

(m) /əәfuːlændhɪzmʌniɑːrsuːnpɑːrtəәd/

(n) /ɔːlwɜːrkændnəәʊpleɪmeɪksdʒækəәdʌlbɔɪ/

(o) /əәstɪtʃɪntaɪmseɪvznaɪn/

(p) /ɪtteɪkstuːtəәmeɪkəәkwɒrəәl/

(q) /jukɑːntɜːrnəәsɑʊzɪəәrɪntuəәsɪlkpɜːrs/

(r) /əәnæpəәləәdeɪkiːpsðəәdɒktəәrəәweɪ/

(a) The road to Hell is paved with good intentions.

(b) Birds of a feather flock together.
(c) A rolling stone gathers no moss.
(d) A watched kettle never boils.
(e) Charity begins at home.
(f) Every cloud has a silver lining.
(g) Great minds run in the same channels.
(h) Many hands make light work.
(i) Still waters run deep.
(j) The early bird catches the worm.
(k) Time and tide wait for no man.
(l) Opportunity knocks but once.
(m) A fool and his money are soon parted.
(n) All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
(o) A stitch in time saves nine.
(p) It takes two to make a quarrel.
(q) You can't turn a sow's ear into a silk purse.

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 (r) An apple a day keeps the doctor away.

11. Give broad transcriptions of the following words.

(a) /pəәˈrəәʊkiəәl/ (o) /ˈmæskjʊlɪn/ (bb) /æθˈletɪk/

(b) /ɪˈnelɪdʒəәbəәl/ (p) /dɪˈbɔːtʃəәri/ (cc) /ˈmɔɪstʃəәraɪz/
(c) /kwɪntɪˈsenʃəәl/ (q) /sækrɪˈlɪdʒəәs/ (dd) /əәˈkjuːmjʊleɪt/
(d) /həәˈbɪtʃu(əә)l/ (r) /dɪˈsɪdʒuəәs/ (ee) /dʒaɪˈɡæntɪk/
(e) /skweltʃt/ (s) /əәθɔːrɪˈteriəәn/ (ff) /ˈdʒuːəәlri/
(f) /pɑːlɪˈmentəәri/ (t) /ˈlɪtəәrɪtʃəәr/ (gg) /ˈmæsəәkɪzəәm/
(g) /həәluːsɪˈneɪʃəәn/ (u) /dɪˈlɪŋkwəәnt/ (hh) /ɔːθəәˈɡræfɪk/
(h) /ɪnˈfjʊəәrieɪtɪŋ/ (v) /ˈkjuːkʌmbəәr/ (ii) /ˈsæŋktʃʊəәri/
(i) /ɪmˈbærəәsməәnt/ (w) /kwestʃəәˈneəәr/ (jj) /məәˈlekjʊləәr/
(j) /rɪlækˈseɪʃəәn/ (x) /saɪkəәlˈɒdʒɪkəәl/ (kk) /səә(ɡ)ˈdʒestʃəәn/
(k) /ekˈsplɒrəәtəәri/ (y) /ˈθæŋkfəәli/ (ll) /dɪfəәˈrenʃieɪt/
(l) /kəәˈlaɪdəәskəәʊp/ (z) /ˈɔːkwəә dnəәs/ (mm) /kælkjʊˈleɪʃəәn/
r

(m) /ɪɡˈzɔːstʃəәn/ (aa) /rekˈtæŋɡjʊləәr/ (nn) /θerəәˈpjuːtɪk/

(n) /mjuːˈziːəәmz/

12. Transcribe the following sets of words and mark primary and secondary stress with
Super- and subticks. Note the reduction of vowels in unstressed syllables.

(a) papyrus (i) pedigree (q) vigilante

b) feminine (j) hypotenuse (r) peripheral

(c) millionaire (k) summary (s) macaroni

(d) harmonica (l) memorandum (t) imperialism

(e) pelican (m) architecture (u) satellite

(f) geometry (n) discipline (v) characterize

(g) vocabulary (o) caterpillar (w) chromosome

(h) compliment (p) penetration (x) accidental

13. Transcribe the following sets of words and mark primary and secondary stress with
Super- and subticks. Note the reduction of vowels in unstressed syllables.

(a) /kəәˈtæstrəәfi/
/kætəәˈstrɑːfɪk/
(b) /ˈsɪnəәnɪm/
/səәˈnɒnəәməәs/
(c) /rəәˈpiːt/
/rəәˈpetəәtɪv/

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 /ˌrepəәˈtɪʃəәn/
(d) /ˈmaɪɡreɪt/
/ˈmaɪɡrəәˌtɔːri/
/maɪˈɡreɪʃəәn/
(e) /ˈɪntəәˌlekt/
/ˌɪntəәˈlektʃuəәl/
/ɪnˈteləәdʒəәnt/
(f) /əәˈplaɪ/
/ˌæpləәˈkeɪʃəәn/
[əәˈplɪkəәbḷ] or [ˈæplɪkəәbḷ]
/əәˌplɪkəәˈbɪlɪti/ or
/ˌæplɪkəәˈbɪləәti/
(g) /eɡˈzɪbɪt/
/eksɪˈbɪʃəәn/

14. For each of the following sentences, identify

(a) the number of tone group(s)

(b) the tonic syllable(s) in each tone group

(c) the intonation patterns of each tone group

1 (a) one
. tone
group
(b) stresse
d
syllabl
e in
movie
(c) long
falling

2. (a) one tone group

(b) stressed syllable in night
(c) long falling

3. (a) one tone group

(b) stressed syllable in movie
(c) long rising

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4. (a) one tone group
(b) stressed syllable in tonight
(Note that the definite article with movie tells you that this is given information.)
(c) long rising

5. (a) two tone groups: should we see the movie tonight // or tomorrow
(b) stressed syllable in tonight
stressed syllable in tomorrow
(c) long rising
short rising

6. (a) two tone groups: should we see the movie tonight // or tomorrow
(b) stressed syllable in tonight
stressed syllable in tomorrow
(c) long rising
short falling

7. (a) two tone groups: we could see a movie tonight // or go out for ice cream
(b) stressed syllable in movie
stressed syllable in ice cream
(c) short rising
long falling

8. (a) two tone groups: we could visit a museum this afternoon // or go to the zoo
tomorrow
(b) stressed syllable in museum
stressed syllable in zoo
(c) short rising
long falling

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9. (a) two tone groups: we could go to a movie // couldn't we
(b) stressed syllable in movie
stressed syllable in couldn't
(c) short falling
short rising

10. (a) one tone group

(b) stressed syllable in when
(c) long falling

11. (a) one tone group

(b) stressed syllable in movie
(c) long falling

12. (a) two tone groups: you liked that movie // didn't you
(b) stressed syllable in movie
stressed syllable in didn't
(c) long falling
short rising

13. (a) two tone groups: you liked that movie // didn't you
(b) stressed syllable in movie
stressed syllable in didn't
(c) long falling
short falling

15. Syllabify the following words, using periods to indicate syllable breaks. Note
ambisyllabicity.

1. a.rom.a/a.ro.ma

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 2. al.ge.bra (al.geb.ra) *lg not a possible initial cluster
3. ad.vo.cate (ad.voc.ate) *dv not a possible initial cluster
4. kan.ga.roo *ng not a possible initial cluster
5. ob.sti.nate (ob.stin.ate) *bst not a possible initial cluster
6. cod.i.fy/co.di.fy (co.dif.y/cod.if.y)
7. al.ti.tude (al.tit.ude) *lt not a possible initial cluster
8. du.pli.cate/dup.li.cate (du.plic.ate/dup.lic.ate)
9. ge.o.me.try/ge.om.e.try (ge.om.et.ry/ge.o.met.ry)
10. tem.per.ate/tem.pe.rate *mp not a possible initial cluster
11. whi.skey/whis.key
12. in.teg.ri.ty/in.te.gri.ty (in.teg.rit.y/in.te.grit.y)
13. a.ppro.pri.ate/a.pprop.ri.ate
14. se.clu.sion/se.clus.ion
15. a.rith.me.tic (a.rith.met.ic) *θm not a possible initial cluster
16. di.sci.pline/disc.i.pline (di.scip.line/disc.ip.line)
17. per.i.o.dic/pe.ri.o.dic (per.i.od.ic/pe.ri.od.ic)
18. ba.na.na/ba.nan.a
19. in.sin.u.ate/in.si.nu.ate *ns not a possible initial cluster
20. nigh.ten.gale/night.en.gale *ng not a possible initial cluster
21. in.stru.ment (in.strum.ent) *ns not a possible initial cluster
22. ek.skla.ma.tion/ek.skl.mat.ion (x = ks)
23. al.rea.dy/al.read.y *lr not a possible initial cluster
24. con.dem.na.tion/con.dem.nat.ion
25. es.thet.ic/es.the.tic *sθ not a possible initial cluster