Page 145 - DENG504_LINGUISTICS

Unit 10: Phonemes: Detailed Study

nuns /n Λ nz/ Notes
calls /k :lz/
writhes /rai ð z/
laws /1 :z/
(iii) /iz/, if the root ends in /s/,/z/, / ∫ /,z/,/t ∫ /, and /dz /,e.g.,
losses /’losiz/
buzzes /’b Λ ziz/
bushes /’bu ∫ iz/
garages /g’era: z iz/
churches /’t ∫ 3:1 ∫ iz/
judges /’dz dz i z’/
( ∫ )
7. The tip and blade of the tongue are brought very close to the teeth ridge. Simultaneously the
front of the tongue is raised in the direction of the hard palate. The soft palate is raised, thereby
completely blocking the nasal passage of air. The air escapes through the narrow passage between
the tip, blade and front of the tongue and the teeth ridge and the hard palate, with audible
friction. The vocal cords do not vibrate. / ∫ /is thus a voiceless palatoalveolar fricative.
Spellings: / ∫ / is represented by
(i) the letters sh as in shine, sheep.
(ii) the letters ch as in ‘machine.
(iii) the letter s [+u] as in sugar.
(iv) the letters tio as in nation, caution,
(v) the letter c as in efficient.
(vi) the letters ss as in pressure.
(vii) the letters ci as in conscience.
Distribution
/ ∫ / occurs initially, medially and finally as in shell [initial] pressure (medial) and fish (final).
/z/
8. /z/ is articulated exactly like / ∫ / described above, except that during the articulation of /z/
the vocal cords vibrate producing voice. /z/ is thus a voiced palato-alveolar fricative.
Spellings: /z/ is represented by
(i) the letters si as in decision, vision,
(ii) the letters s [+u] as in pleasure, leisure,
(iii) the letters ge in French loan words like rouge, garage.
Distribution
/z/ occurs only medially in English words. It occurs finally in French loan words. It does not
occur initially e.g. pleasure [medial] and mirage (final).
/h/
9. The vocal cords are kept close together so that the glottis is very narrow. The air escapes through
the narrow glottis with audible friction. /h/ is thus voiceless glottal fricative. In English /h/
occurs only in syllable-initial positions, always followed by a vowel. It may thus be regarded as
a strong, voiceless onset of the succeeding vowel.

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