Page 142 - DENG504_LINGUISTICS

Linguistics

Notes tenth /t en / (/n/ followed by / θ /)
θ
in there /in ð e */ (/n/followed by/ ð /)
e
/n/ occurs as the syllabic nucleus in certain syllables. The second syllables of followings words
are examples:
∧
sudden /'s –dn/
mutton /'m –tn/
∧
cotton /’k -tn/
∧
button /'b –tn/
3. During the articulation of (ŋ), the oral closure is made by the back of the tongue making a firm
contact against the soft palate. The soft palate is lowered thereby allowing the air to escape
freely through the nose. The vocal cords vibrate producing voice, /ŋ/ is thus a voiced velar
nasal.
Spellings
(i) ng as in sing, king
(ii) n followed by /k/as in monkey, uncle
Distribution
[ŋ] occurs medially and finally as in uncle (medial) and sing (final). It does not occur initially.
Important note: In R.P. final orthographic ng is pronounced /ŋ/ as in sing /siŋ/ and king /
k iŋ/. Medial ng is also Symbol (i.e. without a /g/ following / ð / in words which are derived
from verbs. In other words medial ng is /ŋg/. Thus singer is pronounced /sinŋ */ while
finger is pronounced / fing */.
e
e
Listed below are words in which the consonants that we have discussed so far, occur in various
positions. The words are given in ordinary spelling. In words of more than one syllable, stress
is marked. Practise saying these words.
(i) Aspirated /p/ at the beginning of accented syllables:
‘paper pre’pare’ policy
‘pepper o’pinion ‘previous
a’part ‘perfect (adj.) im’portant
ap’pear ‘pen ‘pool
‘parrot ‘precious ‘pill
re’pair ‘pencil ap’point
(ii) Unaspirated /p/
(a) after /s/
‘spin ‘spear
‘split ‘spring
‘splash ‘spine
‘spleen ‘spurious
(b) ‘apple open
‘capital ‘protect
po’lice per’fect (verb)
par’ticular re’present

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