What's that rule?
This rule explains why /p/ in “pen” has a strong puff of air.
Aspiration
💡 Explanation: Voiceless sounds /p, t, k/ are pronounced with extra air at the beginning of stressed syllables.
How is “top” pronounced at the beginning?
With strong aspiration
💡 Explanation: /t/ is at the beginning of a stressed syllable, so it has a puff of air.
Why does “pen” have a strong puff of air?
Because it starts with /p/
💡 Explanation: Initial voiceless consonants are aspirated.
Strong air in /k/ in “cat.”
Aspiration
💡 Explanation: /k/ is voiceless and at the beginning, so it has extra air.
What type of language is English based on rhythm?
Stress-timed language
💡 Explanation: Stressed syllables occur at regular intervals.
This rule makes /t/ sound like a soft /d/ in “water.”
Flapping
💡 Explanation: /t/ becomes a quick flap sound when it is between vowels, especially stressed + unstressed.
How do we pronounce “butter” in natural speech?
“budder”
💡 Explanation: /t/ becomes a flap between vowels.
Why is there NO aspiration in “spin”?
Because /p/ comes after /s/
💡 Explanation: Aspiration does not happen after /s/.
Soft /t/ sound between vowels.
Flapping
💡 Explanation: /t/ becomes a flap in intervocalic position.
What happens to unstressed syllables in English?
They become shorter and weaker
💡 Explanation: This keeps the rhythm natural.
This rule explains a small stop in the throat before /p/ in “stop.”
Preglottalization
💡 Explanation: The vocal cords briefly stop airflow before pronouncing /p, t, k/.
How is “banana” pronounced?
bə-NAN-ə
💡 Explanation: The first and last vowels are unstressed, so they reduce to schwa.
Why does “water” sound like “wader”?
Because /t/ is between vowels
💡 Explanation: This environment triggers flapping.
Dark /l/ sound in “full.”
L-Velarization
💡 Explanation: The tongue moves back, making /l/ sound “darker.”
Which syllables are clear and strong?
Stressed syllables
💡 Explanation: They carry the main meaning and have full vowels.
This rule changes “did you” into “didju.”
Palatalization
💡 Explanation: Sounds change when they come before the /j/ (y sound), making speech smoother.
How do we pronounce “family” in fast speech?
“famly”
💡 Explanation: The schwa /ə/ disappears (schwa deletion).
Why does “about” start with a weak vowel sound?
Because the syllable is unstressed
💡 Explanation: Unstressed syllables reduce to schwa.
Vowel movement in “go” /oʊ/.
Diphthongization
💡 Explanation: The vowel changes position while being pronounced.
Why does pronunciation change in “PHOtograph” vs “phoTOGraphy”?
Because stress shifts
💡 Explanation: When stress moves, vowel pronunciation changes.
This rule explains why vowels become weak in unstressed syllables like “about.”
Vowel Reduction
💡 Explanation: Unstressed vowels become shorter and often change to the schwa /ə/.
How is “don’t you” pronounced in connected speech?
“donchu”
💡 Explanation: /t/ + /j/ combine and change due to palatalization.
Why does “camera” become “camra”?
Because the schwa is deleted
💡 Explanation: In fast speech, weak vowels may disappear.
Weak vowel becomes /ə/ in unstressed syllables.
Vowel Reduction
💡 Explanation: This is the most common change in English rhythm.
Why does vowel reduction happen in English rhythm?
Because English is stress-timed
💡 Explanation: Unstressed syllables must be reduced to maintain rhythm.