Speech Work: Review of Consonant Sounds - JSS3 English language Lesson Note

Speech Work: Review of Consonant Sounds

Consonant sounds are produced by obstructing the airflow in some way in the vocal tract. Understanding and correctly articulating these sounds is essential for clear and accurate speech.

Categories of Consonant Sounds

Consonants can be categorised based on the manner of articulation, place of articulation, and voicing.

1. Manner of Articulation:

Plosive (Stop) Consonants: Complete closure followed by a release of air (e.g., /p/, /b/, /t/, /d/, /k/, /g/).

Fricative Consonants: Narrowing the air passage, causing friction (e.g., /f/, /v/, /θ/ (as in "think"), /ð/ (as in "this"), /s/, /z/, /ʃ/ (as in "ship"), /ʒ/ (as in "measure"), /h/).

Affricate Consonants: Combination of a plosive and a fricative (e.g., /tʃ/ (as in "church"), /dʒ/ (as in "judge")).

Nasal Consonants: Air escapes through the nose (e.g., /m/, /n/, /ŋ/ (as in "sing")).

Lateral Consonants: Air flows around the sides of the tongue (e.g., /l/).

Approximant Consonants: Articulators come close but do not create turbulence (e.g., /r/, /j/ (as in "yes"), /w/).

2. Place of Articulation:

   Bilabial: Both lips (e.g., /p/, /b/, /m/).

   Labiodental: Lower lip and upper teeth (e.g., /f/, /v/).

   Dental: Tongue against upper teeth (e.g., /θ/, /ð/).

   Alveolar: Tongue against the alveolar ridge (e.g., /t/, /d/, /s/, /z/, /n/, /l/).

   Post-alveolar: Tongue just behind the alveolar ridge (e.g., /ʃ/, /ʒ/, /tʃ/, /dʒ/).

   Palatal: Tongue against the hard palate (e.g., /j/).

   Velar: Back of the tongue against the soft palate (e.g., /k/, /g/, /ŋ/).

   Glottal: Using the glottis (e.g., /h/).

3. Voicing:

Voiced Consonants: Vocal cords vibrate (e.g., /b/, /d/, /g/, /v/, /ð/, /z/, /ʒ/, /dʒ/, /m/, /n/, /ŋ/, /l/, /r/, /j/, /w/).

Voiceless Consonants: Vocal cords do not vibrate (e.g., /p/, /t/, /k/, /f/, /θ/, /s/, /ʃ/, /tʃ/, /h/).

Consonant Sounds and Their Examples

1. Plosive (Stop) Consonants:

   - /p/ (as in "pen")

   - /b/ (as in "bat")

   - /t/ (as in "tap")

   - /d/ (as in "dog")

   - /k/ (as in "cat")

   - /g/ (as in "go")

2. Fricative Consonants:

   - /f/ (as in "fish")

   - /v/ (as in "van")

   - /θ/ (as in "think")

   - /ð/ (as in "this")

   - /s/ (as in "sun")

   - /z/ (as in "zoo")

   - /ʃ/ (as in "ship")

   - /ʒ/ (as in "measure")

   - /h/ (as in "hat")

3. Affricate Consonants:

   - /tʃ/ (as in "church")

   - /dʒ/ (as in "judge")

4. Nasal Consonants:

   - /m/ (as in "man")

   - /n/ (as in "no")

   - /ŋ/ (as in "sing")

5. Lateral Consonants:

   - /l/ (as in "lamp")

6. Approximant Consonants:

   - /r/ (as in "red")

   - /j/ (as in "yes")

   - /w/ (as in "wet")