Parameters for Describing the Consonants of English
When we speak English, we use many different consonant sounds. These are sounds like /p/, /b/, /t/, /d/, /s/, /z/, /m/, /n/ and /ʃ/. A consonant is usually made when the air from the lungs is blocked, stopped or squeezed somewhere in the mouth or throat. Linguists describe consonants by asking three simple questions: 1. Is the sound voiced or voiceless? This means: Do the vocal cords vibrate when we say the sound? Put your fingers gently on your throat and say /z/ as in zoo . You should feel a vibration. That means /z/ is a voiced sound. Now say /s/ as in see . You should not feel the same vibration. That means /s/ is a voiceless sound. Some English sounds come in pairs. They are made in almost the same way, but one is voiced and the other is voiceless. Voiceless sound Voiced sound Examples /p/ /b/ pin /pɪn/ — bin /bɪn/ /t/ /d/ ten /ten/ — den /den/ /k/ /ɡ/ coat /kəʊt/ — goat /ɡəʊt/ /f/ /v/ fan /fæn/ — van /væn/ /s/ /z/ sip /sɪp/ — zip /zɪp/ This difference mat...