FONTICA & FONOLOGA INGLESA I

QUESTIONNAIRE ON CONSONANTS

1- Provide a complete definition of consonants.
2- In what ways may consonants be classified?
3- Which are the classes of consonants distinguished by the organs of speech which
articulate them?
4- Which are the classes of consonants distinguished by the manner in which the
organs of speech articulate them?
5- Given the following: /lj / is a voiceless-fortis palato-alveolar affricate, what
things have been kept in mind to provide the complete label above?
6- What are the differences between the following:
a. A bilabial plosive and an alveolar plosive?
b. A labiodental fricative and a dental fricative?
c. An alveolar fricative and a palato-alveolar fricative?
d. A velar plosive and a velar nasal?
e. An alveolar plosive anda n alveolar fricative?
7- Most of the consonants of English are presented in pairs, i.e.: /p/ has the same
classification as /b/, /f/ the same as /v/. What is the difference, then, between the
sounds in the following pairs pairs:
a. /p/ /b/
b. /l/ /d/
c. /L/ /g/
d. /lj / /d/

8- What differences do you find between:
a. /d/ //
b. /b/ /m/
c. /!/ / 0/
d. /v/ /b/
c. /n/ / p /
!. / z/ //

9- What two conditions are to be met for a consonant to be classified as a nasal?
10- What do you understand by secondary articulation? Provide examples.
11- We define /g/ as a voiced-lenis consonant (among other things). Which of the two
labels is not permanent? Explain why.