Page 141 - DENG504_LINGUISTICS

Unit 10: Phonemes: Detailed Study

Notes
2. /dz/ is articulated exactly as /t /∫ described above, except that during the articulation of /
dz/, the vocal cords vibrate producing voice. /dz/ is thus voiced palato alveolar affricate.
Spellings: /dz/ is represented by the following letters:
(i) initial j as in jump.
(ii) initial g as in gin, gentle.
(iii) gg as in suggest.
(iv) final ge as in luggage, revenge.
(v) di as in soldier
(vi) medial gi as in religion
Distribution
/dz/ occurs initally, medially and finally as in join (initial), religion (medial) and badge (final)
C: Nasals
A nasal consonant is produced by a complete oral closure. That is, the oral passage of air is
completely blocked by the articulators coming into firm contact with each other, but the soft palate
is lowered so that the nasal passage of air is open. The air has thus a free passage through the nose.
There are three nasal consonant-phonemes in English. They are:
/m/bilabial
/n/alveolar
/ŋ/velar
1. During the articulation of /m/, the two lips are brought together and thus the oral passage of
air is blocked completely. The soft palate is lowered and the air escapes through the nose. The
vocal cords vibrate, producing voice. /m/ is thus a voiced bilabial nasal.
Spellings: /m/ is represented by
(i) the letter m as in man, many
(ii) the letters mm as in summer
(iii) the letters mb as in comb, lamb
(iv) the letters mn as in autumn
Distribution
/m/ can occur initially, medially and finally as in man (initial), enemy (medial) and some (final).
2. During the articulation of /n/, the tip of the tongue makes a firm contact with the teeth ridge,
thus blocking off the oral passage of air completely. The soft palate is lowered so that the air
escapes through the nose. The vocal cords vibrate producing voice. /n/ is thus a voiced alveolar
nasal.
Spellings: /n/ is represented by
(i) the letter n as in near, pin
(ii) the letters nn as in running
(iii) initial kn as a knife, knit
(iv) final gn as in sign
Distribution
/n/ can occur initially, medially and finally as in name (initial), many [medial] and son [final].
Allophonic variants
A dental [n] instead of the nasal is used if /n/ is immediately followed by the voiceless and
dental fricative / θ /, and // e.g.

LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY 135