The Sounds

of English
Objectives:
At the end of the lesson, the
students should be able to:
1.Identify the various sounds of
English
 The speech phones or sounds of English
may be classified into vowels, consonants,
and diphthongs.
The 44 English sounds can be divided into
two major categories – consonants and
vowels. A consonant sound is one in which
the air flow is cut off, either partially or
completely, when the sound is produced.
In contrast, a vowel sound is one in which
the air flow is unobstructed when the
sound is made.
 The Consonant Sounds
of Englisht
Consonants are sounds produced by
obstructing the breath stream either by
narrowing or closing the speech tract
before coming out of the nose or mouth.
 Manner of Obstruction or Articulation
This is the way the air is expelled as it flows
out of the breath passage.

Place of Articulation
This is the part or the position of the speech
organs that alters the air that comes out of
the breath passage.
 Manner of Obstruction or
Articulation
Plosives are characterized by a momentary
blocking of the air stream and then a sudden
release of the blocked air.

Fricatives are characterized by partial blocking

of the air stream at some point in the mouth.
This partial blocking causes friction and a
blowing noise occurs.
Glides are characterized by the stopping of
the air stream at the glottis itself. This results in a
panting nose or a choking sound.

Affricates are characterized by the stopping of

the breath stream and then releasing it
through the narrow opening with friction.
Laterals are characterized by the passage of
the air stream by the sides of the tongue.

Nasals are characterized by the blocking of

the air stream and then expelling it through the
nasal activity.
 Place of Articulation

Bilabial. Two lips touching each other.

Labiodental. Lower lip touches the upper teeth.

Dental. Tip of the tongue and the inner edge of the

upper teeth
Alveolar . Tip of the tongue and the alveolar ridge.

Palatal . The tongue and hard palate.

Velar . The dorsal tongue and soft palate.

Glottal . The throat passage.

Consonant
Chart
 Place of Articulation
Manner
Bilabial Labio Dental Alveolar Palatal Velar Glottal

Stop /p/ /b/ /t/ /d/ /k/ /g/

Fricative /f/ /v/ /θ /ð/ /s/ /z/ /ʃ/ /ʒ/ /h/

/tʃ/​/dʒ/​
Affricate

Nasal /m/ /n/ /ŋ/

Liquid /l/ /r/
Glides /w/ /y/
PHONEMIC EXAMPLE​
SYMBOL​

/b/​ bunch, crab, grab​

/d/​ dine, middle, fled​
/f/​ phone, afraid, beef​
/g/​ game, beggar, bag​
/h/​ hose, behind, home​
/dʒ/​ jump, angel, garbage​
/k/​ keep, ankle, track​
/l/​ lick, along, hole​
PHONEMIC EXAMPLE​
SYMBOL​

/m/​ mug, camel, same​

/n/​ nice, candle, tan​
/ŋ/​ singer, lung, finger​
/p/​ pout, apply, slap​
/r/​ run, around, fear​
/s/​ sail, basket, chess​
/ʃ/​ shell, ashes, blush​
/t/​ talk, platter, mint​
PHONEMIC EXAMPLE​
SYMBOL​

/tʃ/​ check, catcher, witch​

/θ/​ theme, author, birth​
/ð/​ though, bother, clothe​
/v/​ vouch, cover, stove​
/w/​ wedge, coward​
/j/​ yes, yellow, lawyer​
/z/​ Zipper, razor, bruise​
/ʒ/​ Leisure, cage, pleasure​
 The Vowel Sounds of
English
Vowel sounds are produced with one’s mouth
open. It is also a fact that all vowel sounds are
voiced sounds. Vowel sounds can be classified
according to the height of the tongue and
jaw, and the way the mouth opens.
Vowel Chart
 Front Central Back

High
/i/ /I/ /u/ /U/

Mid /ə/
/e/ /ε/ /^/ /o/
Low
/æ/ /ɔ/
PHONEMIC SYMBOL​ EXAMPLE​

/i/​ seat, cream, tree, feel, beat​

/I/​ sit, dim, itch, will, bit​

/e/​ say, brake, pale, play​

/ε/​ Said, pen, sketch, yell​

/æ/​ Sad, flash, can, hang​

/ə/​ Syrup, method, above, away​,

/^/​ Sun, cup, luck​,cut

PHONEMIC EXAMPLE​
SYMBOL​
/a/​ sod, harm, farm, father​
/u/​ zoo, school, pool, blue, fool​
/U/​ pull, push, book, full​
/o/​ boat, soul, row​
/ɔ/​ draw, law, wrong, call​
/aI/​ blind, grind, fly​
/aU/​ out, ground, now​
/ɔI/​ enjoy, choice, employ​
/ju/​ human, view, usual, tutor​