ENGLISH PHONOLOGY

The English Stops

Mia Perlina
(miaperlina@gmail.com)
(dosen00322@unpam.ac.id)
 The English stops
 Recall that to name a consonant, we will need to be able
to follow this order: (1) voicing; (2) place of
articulation; and (3) manner of articulation.
 based on the manner of articulation, the consonants are
classified into: stops, fricatives, affricates, nasals,
liquids, and glides.
 To be precise, we will learn about 7 stops, 9 fricatives, 2
affricates, 3 nasals, 2 liquids, and 2 glides.

Let us begin with the descriptions of 7 stops sounds:

p, b, t, d, k, g, and ʔ
 1. [p] as in pay, apple, and stop
 Pronouncing [p]
lips: pressed together
airstream: stopped and then exploded
vocal folds: not vibrating
Thus, [p] is described as voiceless bilabial stop
 This consonant is familiar to speakers of most languages. However, [p] is
much more explosive in English than it is in other languages

 When speaking English, [p] at the beginning of words must be produced with
strong aspiration or it might sound like [b]
e.g. pear will sound like bear pat will sound like bat
 When [p] follows [s] (as in spot, spy, spend), it is not aspirated

 Practice saying [p] by loosely holding a tissue in front of your lips. If you
aspirate [p] correctly, releasing a puff of air, the tissue will flutter

So puff, puff, puff, and you’ll pronounce a perfect [p]!

 Practice 1
The boldfaced words in the following phrases and sentences
should be pronounced with [p]
Exercise 1A
Exercise 1B
 2. [b] as in boy, rabbit, and tub
 Pronouncing [b]
Lips: pressed together (as for [p])
Airstream: stopped and then exploded
Vocal folds: vibrating
Such a production makes [b] a voiced bilabial stop.

 Although the consonant [b] is a simple sound to pronounce, you may confuse it with the sound [v],
e.g: boat will sound like vote

 When [b] is the last sound in a word, many speakers forget to make their vocal cords vibrate. This
will make [b] sound like [p] and confuse your listeners.
e.g. robe will sound like rope cab will sound cap

 The consonant [b] will be easy to say if you make your vocal folds vibrate and firmly press your lips
together.

Be sure to say [b] with a boom and you’ll be at your best!

 The letter b is always pronounced [b] . Exception: when b follows m in the same
syllable, it is not pronounced; it is silent
e.g. comb, lamb, bomb, plumber
Practice 2
Read the paragraph aloud. Pay attention to the boldfaced words
containing the sound [b]
 3. [t] as in top, return, and cat
 Pronouncing [t]
Tongue tip: firmly pressed against alveolar ridge behind upper front teeth
airstream: stopped and then exploded
vocal cords: not vibrating
Thus, [t] is described as voiceless alveolar stop
 Consonant [t] is a common sound and , for many speakers, it does not cause
much difficulty.
 When pronouncing [t], your tongue tip should touch upper gum ridge/alveolar
ridge, NOT the back of your upper front teeth
 [t] must be said with strong aspiration and a puff of air or it might sound like
[d]
 Practice saying [t] while loosely holding a tissue in front of your mouth. If you
aspirate [t] correctly and say it with a puff of air, your tissue will flutter.

 So - be sure to practice all the time; you’ll make a terrific [t].

3. [t] as in top, return, and cat
Practice 3
read the phrases and sentences aloud. Pay attention to
the sound [t] in The boldfaced words.
Exercise 3A
Exercise 3B
read the anecdote aloud. Pay attention to the consonant
[t] in the boldfaced words.
 4. [d] as in day, ladder, and bed
 Pronouncing [d]
Tongue tip: firmly pressed against alveolar ridge behind
upper front teeth
airstream: stopped and then exploded
vocal cords: vibrating
Thus, [d] is described as voiced alveolar stop

 The sound[d] should be produced with the tongue tip touching alveolar
ridge, NOT the back of your upper front teeth
e.g. instead of saying [d], you say [δ]: ladder will sound like leather
Breeding will sound like
breathing

Don’t forget to practice [d] every day!

Practice
read phrases and sentences aloud. pay attention to the
sound [d] in the boldfaced words
Exercise 4A
Exercise 4B
Read the paragraph aloud. Pay attention to the
boldfaced words containing the consonant [d]
 5. [k] as in cake, car, and book
 Pronouncing [k]
back of tongue: touching to soft palate
airstream: stopped and then exploded
vocal folds: not vibrating
thus, [k] is described as voiceless velar stop

 [k] is an easy consonant for you to say. Just remember that [k] is very
explosive in English

 When [k] begins a word, it must be said with strong aspiration and a puff
of air

 When k follows s (as in sky, skin, and skate), however, it is not aspirated
with a puff of air.

Keep practicing. You can say [k] OK!

[k] as in cake, car, and book
[k] as in cake, car, and book
Practice 5
The boldfaced words in the following phrases and
sentences should be pronounced with [k]
Exercise 5A
Read aloud each four-word series. Circle the one word
in each group of four that is not pronounced with [k]
Exercise 5B
Read the paragraph aloud. Circle all the words that should
be pronounced with [k]
 6. [g] as in go, begin, and egg
 Pronouncing [g]
back of tongue: touching to soft palate
airstream: stopped and then exploded
vocal folds: vibrating
thus, [g] is described as voiced velar stop

 [g] should be an easy consonant for you to say.

 However, When [g] is the last sound in a word, you might forget to add voicing or
substitute [k] by mistake. This will change the meaning of your words.
e.g. bag will sound like back
Instead of [g], you say [ŋ]: rug will sound like rung

 Always make your vocal cords vibrate for [g] at the end of words. Let your [g] GO
with an explosion

Your [g] has got to be good!

6. [g] as in go, begin, and egg
Practice 6
Read the phrase and sentences aloud. The boldfaced words
should be pronounced with [g]
Exercise 6A