Speech Work: An In-depth Study of Consonants /h/, /w/, and /j/ - JSS2 English language Lesson Note

Topic: Listening & Speaking Consonants /h/, /w/, and /j/

Consonant /h/: This sound is a voiceless glottal fricative. It is produced when the air stream passes through an open glottis to the mouth. The sound is present in words such as hat, house, horse, hen, hospital, who, how, behave, behind, hit, and hide. However, it's important to note that the /h/ sound is silent in certain words and therefore is not pronounced. Examples of such words include hour, honour, heir, vehicle, exhibit, and exhaust.

Consonant /w/: This is a semi-vowel consonant sound. It does not occur at the end of a word. Words that contain this sound include win, way, wed, wet, waist, waste, quick, question, quest, dwell, choir, queen, square, swim, and others. Note that the /w/ sound is silent in the word 'sword', and therefore it should not be pronounced.

Consonant /j/: This sound is also a semi-vowel sound. It represents the letter "y" both in writing and pronunciation. It is a voiced palatal consonant sound. The following words have the sound: yet, yam, yoke, yes, year, few, new, tune, beauty, suit, yellow, queue, human, use, you, ewe, feud, fuse, view, hew, and others. 

Note: Do not confuse the use of /j/ for /d3/. They are distinct sounds and are used differently in the English language.