Speech Articulators
What part of the tongue touches the alveolar ridge in /t/?
The tip of the tongue
Where are /p/ and /b/ articulated?
Bilabial
Name two voiceless stop sounds in English.
/p/, /t/, /k/
Which fricative is voiceless and labiodental?
/f/
What are the three nasal sounds in English?
/m/, /n/, /ŋ/
Which articulator is used for bilabial sounds?
The lips
What place of articulation do /tʃ/ and /ʃ/ share?
Post-Alveolar
Which stop is made at the velar place of articulation?
/k/ and /g/
What’s the voiced version of /θ/?
/ð/
What’s the difference between clear /l/ and dark /ɫ/?
Clear /l/ is used before vowels (e.g., “light”); dark /ɫ/ is used after vowels (e.g., “milk”).
What organ helps distinguish between voiced and voiceless sounds?
The vocal folds (larynx)
What is the place of articulation for /ŋ/?
Velar (soft palate)
What makes /b/ different from /p/?
/b/ is voiced; /p/ is voiceless
Which sound is voiced: /ʒ/ or /ʃ/ ?
/ʒ/ is voiced
Which nasal is velar?
/ŋ/
Which articulators are used for /θ/?
The tongue and the upper teeth
Which sounds are interdental?
/θ/ and /ð/
Which stop is aspirated at the beginning of a word: /t/ or /d/?
/t/
Which fricative does not exist in standard Spanish?
/ʒ/as in "measure"
Is /j/ more like a vowel or a consonant?
More like a vowel – it's a glide and has a similar articulation to /i/.
What is the role of the soft palate (velum) in nasal sounds?
It lowers to allow air through the nasal cavity.
What’s the difference between alveolar and post-alveolar sounds?
Alveolar sounds are produced at the alveolar ridge; post-alveolar are just behind it.
True or False: Spanish /d/ and English /d/ are produced in exactly the same place.
False – Spanish /d/ is dental; English /d/ is alveolar.
Why are /θ/ and /ð/ difficult for Spanish speakers?
Spanish does not have interdental fricatives; tongue placement is unfamiliar.
How does the soft palate change position for nasal vs. oral sounds?
It lowers for nasal sounds, allowing airflow through the nose and raises for oral sounds.