1. Phonetic and Phonological Nature of Consonant Sounds
How are consonants produced?
By blocking airflow.
Why did some consonants become silent?
Due to sound changes.
Which language has the most silent consonants?
English.
Why are silent consonants difficult?
Spelling and sound differ.
What determines voicing?
Vocal cord vibration.
What is assimilation?
Sounds merge.
Which language has few silent consonants?
German.
What tool helps learners?
Phonetic transcription.
What are voiced consonants?
b, d, g, v, z, m, n.
What is elision?
Sounds disappear.
In which language are final consonants mostly silent?
French.
What are minimal pairs used for?
Pronunciation drills.
What are voiceless consonants?
p, t, k, f, s, h.
What is lenition?
Weakening of consonants.
Which languages are more phonetic?
Spanish and Italian.
What do silent consonants preserve?
Etymology.
What does German retain more than French?
Final consonants.
What does the word “doubt” show?
Latin origin “dubitare.”
Why do Romance languages drop final sounds?
For euphony.
What do they help distinguish?
Homophones.