Consonant phonemes - Review

Besides having the physical properties, the speech sounds also have _______ function when they are used as distinctive units of sounds in a language.

• distinctive

• stylistic

• thematic

• affective

The term “_______” is applied for the study of the more abstract, and the more psychological aspects of speech.

• Phonetics

• grammar

• Phonology

• morphology

What is the difference between a vowel and a consonant?

• Vowels are voiced, while consonants are voiceless.

• Vowels are always at the beginning of words, while consonants are always at the end of words.

• Vowels are always long, while consonants are always short.

• Vowels are produced with a relatively open vocal tract, while consonants are produced with a relatively constricted vocal tract.

What is the difference between voiced and voiceless consonants?

• Voiced consonants are produced with a relatively open vocal tract, while voiceless consonants are produced with a relatively constricted vocal tract.

• Voiced consonants are produced with vibration of the vocal cords, while voiceless consonants are produced without vibration of the vocal cords.

• Voiced consonants are always at the beginning of words, while voiceless consonants are always at the end of words.

• Voiced consonants are always long, while voiceless consonants are always short.

Which of the following words has an initial consonant sound that is different from that of the others?

• check

• chat

• chef

• chest

Which of the following statements is correct?

All the consonants are produced with _______.

• an obstruction of the airstream (complete or partial)

• an extra puff of the air strongly expelled

• no vibration of the vocal cords

• vibration of the vocal cords

Which of the following phonemes are nasal?

• /ʃ/, /ʒ/

• /n/, /m/, /ŋ/

• /k/, /g/

• /θ/, /ð/

Which of the following phonemes are fricative and dental?

• /r/, /j/, /w/

• /ʃ/, /ʒ/

• /θ/, /ð/

• /k/, /g/

Pairs of words which differ in one sound only and have different meanings are called _______.

• near pairs

• minimal pairs

• different pairs

• close pairs

Voiced sounds involve the vibration of the _______.

• eyes

• lips

• tongue

• vocal folds