Allophones

Question 1

Aspitation [h]

Answer 1

Strong aspiration: Fortis plosives are extremely aspirated when they appear in initial position in stressed syllables. When the plosive is followed by a vowel sound.
Ex. /tʰaɪm/
Weak Aspiration: in initial position in unstressed syllables.
Ex. ˈsɜːt ən li
Unaspirated: in initial position in unstressed syllables.
Ex. ɪkˈsperɪmənt

Question 2

Devoicing [◦]

Answer 2

Devoicing of /l, r, j, w/: when a fortis plosive /p, t, k/ is followed by /l, r, w, j/, the aspiration is perceived as the devoicing of the approximant.
Ex. /tr̥eɪn/; /pl̥eɪ/
Devoicing of /b, d, g, dʒ, ʒ, ð/:
* Lenis obstruents /b, d, g, dʒ, ʒ, ð/ are devoiced when they are followed by a voiceless sound.
Ex. /lʌvd̥ pleɪ ɪŋ/
* Lenis obstruents /b, d, g, dʒ, ʒ, ð/ are devoiced when they appear at the end of the tone unit.
Ex./bæɡ̥/

Question 3

Non-audible release [¬]

Answer 3

Plosives /p, t, k, g, d, b/ are pronounced with non-audible release before plosives.
Ex. /ˈhɒt̚ dɒɡ/
Plosives /p, t, k, g, d, b/ are pronounced with non-audible release before affricates /tʃ, dʒ/.
Ex.ˈfæk̚ tʃu‿əl
Plosives /p, t, k, g, d, b/ may be pronounced with non-audible release when they are followed by a dental fricative /θ, ð/.
Ex. Streŋk̚θ
Plosives may be pronounced with non-audible release when they appear at the end of the tone unit.
Ex.ˈmjuːz ɪk̚

Question 4

Dentalization [⊓]

Answer 4

All alveolar /n, l, d, t/ sounds except for /z, s/ are dentalized before dental fricatives /θ, ð/.
Ex. Breadth /bred̪θ/

Question 5

Syllabic Consonants [ˌ]

Answer 5

/l, r, m, n, ŋ/ can be syllabic in unstressed syllables.
Syllabic [n] is most common after alveolar plosives /t, d/ or fricatives /z, s/.
Ex. Ability /əˈbɪl̩əti/
ˈpɑːt n̩ə