Basic Phonetics
What is phonetics?
The study of speech sounds
Which organ helps us taste and produce speech sounds?
The tongue
How many vowel letters are there in English?
Five — A, E, I, O, U
What is phonetic transcription?
Writing speech sounds using special symbols
What do we use to hear sounds?
Our ears
What do we use to produce speech sounds?
Speech organs
Which organs do we use to bite and produce some speech sounds?
The teeth
Give one example of a vowel sound
/iː/ as in “see”
What does the symbol /p/ represent?
The /p/ sound, as in “pen”
Which sound is a vowel: /m/ or /a/?
/a/
How many letters are there in the English alphabet?
26 letters
What organ contains the vocal cords?
The larynx
Give one example of a consonant sound
/b/ as in “book”
What is the first sound in the word “cat”?
/k/
Is /b/ voiced or voiceless?
Voiced
What is the difference between vowels and consonants?
Vowels are produced without blocking the airflow, while consonants involve some obstruction
What is the function of the nasal cavity in speech?
It helps produce nasal sounds
Is /s/ a voiced or voiceless sound?
Voiceless
What is the last sound in the word “dog”?
/g/
What is intonation?
The rise and fall of the voice when speaking
What are the three main branches of phonetics?
Articulatory, acoustic, and auditory phonetics
What is the function of the vocal cords?
They help produce voiced sounds
Is /z/ a voiced or voiceless sound?
Voiced
What does IPA stand for?
International Phonetic Alphabet
Why is phonetics important when learning English?
It helps us pronounce words correctly and understand speech