Rules for English consonant allophones

Question 1

Consonants are longer when at ________.

Answer 1

Consonants are longer when at the end of a phrase.

Question 2

Voiceless stops are aspirated when they are ________.

Answer 2

Voiceless stops are aspirated when they are syllable initial (as in words such as pip, test, kick)

Question 3

Obstruents classified as voiced are voiceless only through a small part of the articulation when they occur at _________ or (before/after) a ____ ______.

Answer 3

Obstruents (stops and fricatives) classified as voiced are voiced through only a small part of the articulation when they occur at the end of an utterance or before a voiceless sound.

Question 4

So-called voiced stops and affricates are voiceless when ______ _______, except when _____ _______ by a _______ sound

Answer 4

So-called voiced stops and affricates are voiceless when syllable initial, except when immediately preceded by a voiced sound (compare “a day” to “this day”)

Question 5

Voiceless stops are unaspirated (before/after) ___ in words such as ____, ____, ____.

Answer 5

Voiceless stops are unaspirated after /s/ in words such as spew, stew, skew.

Question 6

Voiceless obstruents are longer than the _____ ______ ______ when at _____________.

Answer 6

Voiceless obstruents are longer than the corresponding voiced obstruents when at the end of a syllable.

Question 7

Approximates are at least partially voiceless when they occur (before/after) ______ ______.

Answer 7

Approximates are at least partially voiceless when they occur after initial /p, t, k/ (as in play, twin, cue).

Question 8

The gestures for consecutive stops overlap, so that stops are ____ when they occur (before/after) ______ ___.

Answer 8

The gestures for consecutive stops overlap, so that stops are unexploded when they occur before another stop (words such as apt, rubbed)

Question 9

In many accents of English, syllable-final /p,t,k/ are accompanied by an overlapping ____ _____.

Answer 9

In many accents of English, syllable final /p,t,k/ are accompanied by an overlapping glottal gesture. (rule 9)

Question 10

In many accents of English, /t/ is replaced by a glottal stop when it occurs (before/after) an ______ _____ in the same word.

Answer 10

In many accents of English, /t/ is replaced by a glottal stop when it occurs before an alveolar nasal in the same word, (like “beaten”)

Question 11

Nasals are syllabic at the _________ when immediately (before/after) an _______.

Answer 11

Nasals are syllabic at the end of a word when immediately after an obstruent (leaden, chasm)

Question 12

The liquids /l,r/ are syllabic at ________ when immediately (before/after) a ______.

Answer 12

The liquids /l,r/ are syllabic at the end of a word when immediately after a consonant.

Question 13

Alveolar stops become voiced taps when they occur between two _______ the second of which is ________.

Answer 13

Alveolar stops become voiced taps when they occur between two vowels the second of which is unstressed.

Question 14

Alveolar consonants become dentals (before/after) _____ ______.

Answer 14

Alveolar consonants become dentals before dental consonants (eighth, tenth, wealth)

Question 15

Alveolar stops are reduced or omitted when between two ______.

Answer 15

Alveolar stops are reduced or omitted when between two consonants.

Question 16

A homorganic voiceless stop may occur after a ____ before a ____ _____ followed by an ______ vowel in the same word.

Answer 16

A homorganic voiceless stop may occur after a nasal before a voiceless fricative followed by an unstressed vowel in the same word.

Question 17

A consonant is shortened when it is (before/after) an _____ _______.

Answer 17

A consonant is shortened when it is before an identical consonant.

Question 18

Velar stops become more front (before/after) ____ _____ _____.

Answer 18

Velar stops become more front before more front vowels.

Question 19

The lateral /l/ is velarized after a _____ or before a _____ at _______.

Answer 19

The lateral /l/ is velarized after a vowel or before a consonant at the end of a word.

Question 20

The lateral /l/ is ______ after a vowel or before a consonant at the end of a word.

Answer 20

The lateral /l/ is velarized after a vowel or before a consonant at the end of a word.

Question 21

Velar stops become ___ ____before more front vowels.

Answer 21

Velar stops become more front before more front vowels.

Question 22

A consonant is ______ when it is before an identical consonant.

Answer 22

A consonant is _____ when it is before an identical consonant.

Question 23

A _____ ______ ____ may occur after a nasal before a voiceless fricative followed by an unstressed vowel in the same word.

Answer 23

A homorganic voiceless stop may occur after a nasal before a voiceless fricative followed by an unstressed vowel in the same word.

Question 24

Alveolar stops are _____ or _______ when between two consonants.

Answer 24

Alveolar stops are reduced or omitted when between two consonants.

Question 25

Alveolar consonants become _______ before dental consonants

Answer 25

Alveolar consonants become dentals before dental consonants (eighth, tenth, wealth)

Question 26

Alveolar stops become _____ ____ when they occur between two vowels the second of which is unstressed.

Answer 26

Alveolar stops become voiced taps when they occur between two vowels the second of which is unstressed.

Question 27

The liquids /l,r/ are ______ at the end of a word when immediately after a consonant.

Answer 27

The liquids /l,r/ are syllabic at the end of a word when immediately after a consonant.

Question 28

Nasals are ______ at the end of a word when immediately after an obstruent

Answer 28

Nasals are syllabic at the end of a word when immediately after an obstruent (leaden, chasm)

Question 29

In many accents of English, /t/ is _____ by a ______ ____ when it occurs before an alveolar nasal in the same word

Answer 29

In many accents of English, /t/ is replaced by a glottal stop when it occurs before an alveolar nasal in the same word, (like “beaten”)

Question 30

In many accents of English, _____-_____ /p,t,k/ are accompanied by an overlapping glottal gesture.

Answer 30

In many accents of English, syllable final /p,t,k/ are accompanied by an overlapping glottal gesture. (rule 9)

Question 31

The gestures for consecutive stops _____, so that stops are unexploded when they occur before another stop

Answer 31

The gestures for consecutive stops overlap, so that stops are unexploded when they occur before another stop (words such as apt, rubbed)

Question 32

Approximates are at least partially ______ when they occur after initial /p, t, k/

Answer 32

Approximates are at least partially voiceless when they occur after initial /p, t, k/ (as in play, twin, cue).

Question 33

Voiceless obstruents are ______ than the corresponding voiced obstruents when at the end of a syllable.

Answer 33

Voiceless obstruents are longer than the corresponding voiced obstruents when at the end of a syllable.

Question 34

Voiceless stops are ______ after /__/ in words such as spew, stew, skew.

Answer 34

Voiceless stops are unaspirated after /s/ in words such as spew, stew, skew.

Question 35

So-called voiced stops and affricates are _______ when syllable initial, except when immediately preceded by a voiced sound

Answer 35

So-called voiced stops and affricates are voiceless when syllable initial, except when immediately preceded by a voiced sound (compare “a day” to “this day”)

Question 36

Obstruents (stops and fricatives) classified as voiced are _____ through ____________ of the articulation when they occur at the end of an utterance or before a voiceless sound.

Answer 36

Obstruents (stops and fricatives) classified as voiced are voiced through only a small part of the articulation when they occur at the end of an utterance or before a voiceless sound.

Question 37

Voiceless stops are ______ when they are syllable initial

Answer 37

Voiceless stops are aspirated when they are syllable initial (as in words such as pip, test, kick)

Question 38

Consonants are _____ when at the end of a phrase.

Answer 38

Consonants are longer when at the end of a phrase.