Ling1101 HW2

Isabel Bosque
Name: _______________________
Section: ___________

Homework 2: Phonetics
(1)

For each set of three words, one of the words begins with a different sound than the other two.
Which one? Consider only the first sound an example has been done for you. Write your answer
in the blank. [1 pnt each]
(e) scale, state, shall

shall
she

(i) sister, she, cease

(2)

(ii) jelly, gym, giving

giving

(iii) thick, then, thin

then

How many speech sounds does each of the following English words contain? Write how many and for
each sound, say whether it is a consonant (C) or a vowel (V) an example has been done for you.
[2pts each]
(e) still

(i) seems

4 CVCC

(ii) theme

3 CVC

(iii) answer

(3)

CCVC

5 VCCVC

Each of the following English words contains two instances of the letter s or the letter c. The letter s
can spell either the sound [s] or the sound [z]. The letter c can spell either the sound [s] or the
sound [k]. For each word, decide whether the two underlined letters represent the same sound, or
two different sounds, and write the sound(s). An example has been done for you. [2 pts each]
(e) season

different: [s] then [z]

(i) wisdoms

different: [z] then [s]

(ii) secrecy

different: [s] then [c]

(iii) cases

different: [k] then [s]

(4)

Is the last sound in each of the following words voiced or voiceless? [1 pnt each]
(e) boat

voiceless

(i) judge
(ii) choose

(5)

Each of the following English words contains a letter that does not directly correspond to a
pronounced sound. Pronounce each word, and decide which letter is not pronounced. An example has
been done for you. [1 pnt each]
(e) answer

(i) guard
(ii) black
(6)

(7)

For each word, a choice of transcriptions has been given. Indicate which one is consistent with
pronunciation of the word and with the set of IPA symbols. An example has been done. [2 pts each]
(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e) cat

[cat]

[kat]

[kt]

[ct]

(i) see

[see]

[si]

[cee]

[sy]

(ii) you

[you]

[ju]

[jou]

[yu]

(iii) she

[she]

[e]

[shi]

[i]

Give the regular English orthography for the following words, which are phonetically transcribed. An
example has been done for you. [2 pts each]
(e) [mt]

much

(i) [nIt]
(ii) [blkni]
(iii) [mn]

(8)

Give the IPA transcription for the following words. [2 pts each]
(i) xerox
(ii) direct
(iii) photo

(9)

Provide the IPA symbol whose definition is given. An example has been done for you. [1 pnt each]
(e) voiced alveolar plosive

[d]

(i) voiceless velar plosive

(ii) long high back unrounded vowel
(iii) voiced labiodental fricative
(iv) alveolar nasal
(v) alveolar lateral approximant

(10) Compare the sounds in each set below. In each set, all but one are in a single row or column on the
IPA chart. Give the name of that row or column, and write the sound that does not belong. An
example has been done for you. [2pts each]
(e) [m] [n] [] []

nasal, []

(i) [p] [t] [k] [v] [d] [g]

(ii) [b] [] [] [m] [p] []

(11) Each of the sagittal diagrams below illustrates the articulation of exactly one consonant of English.
Specify the consonant in the square brackets below the diagram. (2 pts. each)

(12) The image below shows a waveform of a word. Answer the following questions:

(i) Is there a vowel in this word? Explain why or why not: [1 sentence, 2 pts]

(ii) Is there a voiced fricative in this word? Explain why or why not? [1 sentence, 2 pts]