2.1.4 Consonants, Vowels & Diphthongs To start off, let us look at the alphabets. There are 26 letters in the English language, 21 consonants and 5 vowels. However, when we look at phonology we are more concerned with the 44 English phonemes (sounds of the alphabets). The English phonemes are made up of 24 consonant sounds and 20 vowel sounds. Consonants: Here are the 24 consonant sounds and the sounds are represented by the phonetic symbols listed below Phonetic Phonetic No | “mbol | Examples of words | No. “Fymbot_| Examples of words 1.) bl | bed, rubbish, scrub | 13 Isi__| sun, recent, ice | 2.) kl | cat, kid, sock 14 It | tub, bat, better 3.| Id! | dog, reduce, mud 15 Wi | van, ever, grave 4.| ffl | fan, tough, before 16 tw! | wig, between, 5.| Iof | gum, baget, drag \17 Wil | yak, beyond 6.| /hl | hen, behave 118 | [al | zip, visit, boys | 7.| Id/_| jet, magic, page 19 In! | ring, sink, language 8.| MW | log, English, will | 20 i | shop, station, wash 9.| Im! | mop, smell, rhythm itil chimp, teacher 40| nl | net, found, gun 22 Ial_| then, mother 11] Ip! | pup, rely, stop 23 (6 | thumb, width 42) It | to, arrest {24 Bl leisure, beige |‘The Vowel Sounds : Here are the 20 vowel sounds represented by the phonetic symbols a) Vowel: LONG VOWEL SOUNDS: ‘There are two types of vowels: Long Vowels and Short Vowels. ‘SHORT VOWEL SOUNDS ea Examples no. | Danser Exam a [cea [ss miren bean _ 7 iy [sa bit Proliy 2| fav | asin arm, car | iz je/__| as in exercise, fresh __| 3 | sou [esi overt bom | |_| sms _[esin ample, giea 4 asinioose. grew | [4 | mm [as in unctor, jump 5 asinearh,tur «| s«[ Ss yar |asinother, among _| = 6 (oy as in chop, otter = - 731 as in put, full 4 fev | eight, gate 5 | 2 ice, pi 7 6 Ba elly, boy al 7 4 air, bear 8 | /ea/_| pure, securityCheck the words in the dictionary and state whether these words are of long or short vowels. Fill in ten minimal pairs that you can practise. 7 Te 2 | 3 zExercise 1 Rewrite the following words into phonetic symbols. (You may refer to the dictionary to help you). Words | Phonetic Symbols refugee Punishment | anchor confess ol=le]x]= T cigarette [ wonder amazing yellow perfect =l©le]~]o 0 | suitcase Exercise 2 Rewrite the following phonetic symbols into words in the space provided. | Symbols | Words Phonetic es jt Ida:ks 7 oe eA head : 8} ow | 3) irate . 9! feprear 4) teow 10] fetkser See ; 11} Igattel