The Linguistics Structure of Modern English

/>The Linguistics Structure of Modern English (Laurel J. Brinton and Donna M. Brinton) 2010
NOTEː Highlighted exercises are extra (for high-achieving students), which requires students to read the
textbook besides the slideshows

English Consonants and Vowels
Exercise 2.2: English Consonants

1. Give a complete description of the consonant sound represented by the symbol and then
supply an English word containing the sound.
Example: /tʃ/
Answer: voiceless alveolopalatal affricate
Word:
cherry
(a) /θ/
(e) /r/
(b) /ŋ/
(f) /j/
(c) /ʒ/
(g) /ɡ/
(d) [ɫ]

2. Give the phonetic symbol representing the consonant sound described and then supply
an English word containing the sound.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)

voiced alveolopalatal affricate
aspirated voiceless bilabial stop
alveolar flap
dentalized alveolar nasal
voiced bilabial nasal
voiceless labiodental fricative
voiceless glottal fricative or voiceless vowel

3. Of the sounds in questions (1) and (2)
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)

Which never occur word initially in English?
Which never occur word finally in English?
Which occurs only word or syllable initially before a stressed vowel?
Which sound replaces /t/ or /d/ between vowels for most North American speakers?


(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)
(i)

Which occurs only before dental sounds?
Which involves labialization?
Which sound can also be analyzed as a complex sound?
Which sound is produced only following vowels?

Which are sibilants?

4. Give the phonetic symbol for the initial consonant sound(s) in each of the following
words.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)

rhetoric
one
know
Thomas
sure

(f)
(g)
(h)
(i)
(j)

cereal
jaguar
unity
pheasant
theme

(k)
(l)

(m)
(n)
(o)

psalm
chorus
chaste
charade
shave

(p)
(q)
(r)
(s)
(t)

gnat
wrong
zero
ghost
science

5. Give the phonetic symbol for the medial consonant sound(s) in each of the following
words.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)

toughen
visage
alloy
descent
azure

(f)
(g)
(h)
(i)
(j)

away
errand
ocean
adjourn
aghast

(k)
(l)
(m)
(n)
(o)

listen
plumber
cupboard
soften
measure

(p)
(q)
(r)
(s)
(t)

author
lather
psyche
future
lawyer

6. Give the phonetic symbol for the final consonant sound(s) in each of the following
words.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)

froth
miss
stomach
indict
ledge

(f)
(g)
(h)
(i)

(j)

itch
sign
niche
hiccough
ooze

(k)
(l)
(m)
(n)
(o)

phase
lathe
tongue
comb
brogue

(p)
(q)
(r)
(s)
(t)

mall
rough
beige
hopped

solemn

7. For the words – anger, finger, wringer, as opposed to hanger, ringer, singer – can you


see a rule at work which determines whether the -g is pronounced or not? (Hint: Are the –
er's the same in all of the words?)
8. (a) In which of the following words is one of the stops likely to be unreleased?
right leap accent carry scepter backpack
(b) In which of the following words is the /t/ or /d/ likely to be flapped in North
American English?
plotter filter muddy hidden middle pattern
(c) In which of the following words is nasal or lateral release likely to occur?
madness maudlin sideline ignore tippler madly
(d) In which of the following words is the /l/ likely to be "dark" (velarized)?
alive Carl pal kill play loom

English Consonants and Vowels
Exercise 2.3: English Vowels

1. Give a complete description of the vowel sound represented by the symbol and then
supply an English word containing the sound.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)

/uː/
/e/

/ɪ/
/ɔɪ/
/aʊ/

2. Give the phonetic symbol representing the vowel sound described and then supply an
English word containing the sound.
(a) short low front neutral monophthong
(b) long mid back rounded monophthong
(c) high front (lax) to (upper) mid central diphthong
(d) mid front to high front (lax) diphthong
(e) long mid central neutral monophthong
3. Of the vowel sounds in questions (1) and (2)
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)

Which never occur in a stressed open syllable?
Which diphthong may be "raised" before voiceless consonants?
Which may be replaced by /ɑ/ by some speakers?
Which is a "reduced" vowel?
Which is a centring diphthong?
Which are closing diphthongs?
Which involve labialization?


4. Give the phonetic symbol for the vowel sound in each of the following words.

(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)

build (h) young (o) mourn (v) throw (cc) burn
gauge (i) stop (p) style (w) slim
(dd) hook
threat (j) fruit (q) heart (x) weigh (ee) goose
plaid (k) wolf (r) war (y) through (ff) blood
earn
(l) feud (s) proud (z) their
(gg) die
brought (m) vein (t) break (aa) peace (hh) toe
town (n) flax (u) cute (bb) face
(ii) shoe

5. Transcribe the full vowel in the word in column A and the corresponding reduced vowel
in column B.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)

A
diploma
assume
notify
migrate
implicit
emphatic
harmonic
tempestuous

B
diplomatic
assumption
notification
migratory
implication
emphasis
harmony
tempest

English Consonants and Vowels
Exercise 2.4: Transcription (Elementary)

1. Give complete (broad) transcriptions of the words in Exercise 2.2, questions 4, 5, and 6,
and Exercise 2.3, question 4.

2. Give broad transcriptions of the following near homophones.
(a) click (b) candid (c) tired (d) sweat (e) bade
clique

candied
tarred
sweet
bad
tirade


3. Give the two English words represented by each of the following transcriptions.
Example: /heər/ hair, hare
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)

/kærət/ (e) /ɜːn/ (i) /ˈhɒstəl/
/fraɪər/ (f) /nəʊz/ (j) /ɡreɪt/
/kɔːrs/ (g) /ɡrəʊn/ (k) /taɪm/
/deɪz/ (h) /θruː/

4. Each of the following contains one error in transcription; i.e., it indicates an impossible
pronunciation of the word for a native speaker of English. Give the word and supply the correct
transcription.

Example: /pitsɑ/ word: pizza transcription: /pitsə/
(a) /siːteɪʃən/ (g) /mæɡɪkəl/ (m) /ɔrðəpiːdɪk/
(b) /centʃəri/ (h) /ɒɡsədʒən/ (n) /puːnətɪv/
(c) /sʊnflaʊər/ (i) /briθd/
(o) /kwestən/
(d) /tɔːmkæt/ (j) /strenkθ/ (p) /kʊstəməri/
(e) /ɔɪstərs/

(k) /faɪntli/
(q) /pəplekzt/
(f) /umbrela/ (l) /neɪbərhəd/ (r) /sfɪŋx/

English Consonants and Vowels
Exercise 2.5: Reading Phonetic Transcription

Write out the following proverbial expressions, which are given in broad transcription.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)
(i)
(j)
(k)

/ðərəʊdtəhelɪzpeɪvdwɪðɡʊdɪntenʃənz/
/bɜːdzəvəfeðərflɒktəɡeðər/
/ərəʊlɪŋstəʊnɡæðərznəʊmɒs/
/əwɒtʃtketəlnevərbɔɪlz/
/tʃærɪtibɪɡɪnzæthəʊm/
/evriklaʊdhæzəsɪlvərlaɪnɪŋ/
/ɡreɪtmaɪndzrʌnɪnðəseɪmtʃænəlz/
/menihændzmeɪklaɪtwɜːrk/
/stɪlwɔːtərzrʌndiːp/
/ðiɜːlibɜːdkætʃəzðəwɜːrm/

/taɪmændtaɪdweɪtfərnəʊmæn/


(l)
(m)
(n)
(o)
(p)
(q)
(r)

/ɒpərtjuːnɪtinɒksbətwʌns/
/əfuːlændhɪzmʌniɑːrsuːnpɑːrtəd/
/ɔːlwɜːrkændnəʊpleɪmeɪksdʒækədʌlbɔɪ/
/əstɪtʃɪntaɪmseɪvznaɪn/
/ɪtteɪkstuːtəmeɪkəkwɒrəl/
/jukɑːntɜːrnəsɑʊzɪərɪntuəsɪlkpɜːrs/
/ənæpələdeɪkiːpsðədɒktərəweɪ/

English Consonants and Vowels
Exercise 2.6: Transcription (Advanced)

1. Give broad transcriptions of the following words.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)

(h)
(i)
(j)
(k)
(l)
(m)
(n)

parochial
(o) masculine
(bb) athletic
ineligible
(p) debauchery (cc) moisturize
quintessential (q) sacrilegious (dd) accumulate
habitual
(r) deciduous
(ee) gigantic
squelched
(s) authoritarian (ff) jewelry
parliamentary (t) literature
(gg) masochism
hallucination (u) delinquent
(hh) orthographic
infuriating
(v) cucumber
(ii) sanctuary
embarrassment (w) questionnaire (jj) molecular
relaxation
(x) psychological (kk) suggestion
exploratory

(y) thankfully
(ll) differentiate
kaleidoscope (z) awkwardness (mm) calculation
exhaustion
(aa) rectangular (nn) therapeutic
museums

2. Transcribe the following words using your normal pronunciation. If you know of any
other pronunciations, give these as well. Then check your answers against the variant
pronunciations given.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)

again
Tuesday
progress
schedule
tomato
data
aunt
resources

(p)
(q)

(r)
(s)
(t)
(u)
(v)
(w)

been
(ee)
process (ff)
lever
(gg)
genuine (hh)
almond (ii)
interesting (jj)
bury
(kk)
species
(ll)

stereo
produce
vase
blouses
missile
asphalt
arctic
vehicle

(i)
(j)
(k)
(l)
(m)
(n)
(o)

sorry
(x) longitude
placate (y) prestige
catch
(z) garage
tomorrow (aa) offense
capsule (bb) student
route
(cc) without
nuclear (dd) calm

(mm) luxury
(nn) battery
(oo) brooch
(pp) bilingual
(qq) apricot
(rr) coupon
(ss) leisure


English Consonants and Vowels
Exercise 2.7: Distinctive Features

1. What distinctive feature(s) do the sounds in each set have in common?

(a) /k/, /u/, /ɑː/, /ŋ/ (d) /l/, /ʒ/, /t/, /n/
(b) /b/, /ŋ/, /e/, /ʊ/ (e) /j/, /k/, /iː/, /w/
(c) /f/, /ʃ/, /ə/, /j/ (f) /r/, /ŋ/, /ɔː/, /æ/

2. What feature or features distinguish each of the following sets of sounds?
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)

/v/, /ə/ (f) /iː/, /j/
/f/, /v/ (g) /uː/, /ʊ/
/r/, /j/ (h) /z/, /ð/
/f/, /θ/ (i) /ɡ/, /ŋ/
/e/, /ɒ/ (j) /t/, /s/


English Phonology, Phonotactics, and
Suprasegmentals
Exercise 3.1: Phonemic Rules
1. Consider the following English words containing the phoneme /ɡ/.

[ləɡwuːn] [bræɡ] [iːɡər]
[ɡwəʊt]
[ æf] [frɒɡ]
[ɡləʊ]
[æŋɡər]

[ iːs]
[ɡwuːs]
[ eɪt] [ɡʌɾər]

[ɡɒn]
[ɡaʊn]
[ɡwɔɪɾər]
[ɡreɪd]

(a) List the allophones of /ɡ/.
(b) State in words the environment in which each allophone is found.
(c) Write a phonemic rule for /ɡ/, listing one allophone as "elsewhere".
2. Consider the following English words containing the phoneme /r/.

[frr̥iː] [trr̥aɪ]
[meri] [rʌf]
[ərwəʊz] [hæmrr̩]
[rwəʊd] [bɔːrdrr̩] [pɪər] [prr̥əfesərr̩] [əraɪz]
[rʌnrr̩]
w
w
[r uːt] [pɑːrt] [braɪd] [dreɪn]
[sɒr əʊ] [fɪlrr̩]
(a) List the allophones of /r/.
(b) State in words the environment in which each allophone is found.
(c) Write a phonemic rule for /r/, listing one allophone as "elsewhere".
3. Consider the following English words containing the phoneme /k/.

[kʌpəl] [ɑːkk̚teɪn] [mɑːkk̚t]

[skɜːrt] [ləʊkəl]

[kwəʊt] [kk̟eɪm]

[kk̟æmərə] [lʊkk̟ɪŋ] [kaʊ]

[kwuːlər] [mæsk]

[sɪkən]

[sɪkk̟ɪl]

[kləʊz]

(a) List the allophones of /kk̚/.
(b) State in words the environment in which each allophone is found.
(c) Write a phonemic rule for /kk̚/, listing one allophone as "elsewhere".
4. Consider the following English words containing the phoneme /l/.


[p eɪs]
[lwunər]
[mɪd ]
[læf]

[hɑːɫəʊ] [f eɪm]
[teɫ]
[lwəʊn]
[ʃʌv ] [əlaɪv]
[klr̥aɪm] [slr̥æp]

[lwɔɪtərr̩]
[leɪm]
[lɪt ]
[pɪk ]

[tʌn ] [melən]
[kɜːɫ] [teɫɪŋ]
[laʊd] [jeɫəʊ]
[les] [heɫp]

(a) List the allophones of /l/.
(b) State in words the environment in which each allophone is found.
(c) Write a phonemic rule for /l/, listing one allophone as "elsewhere".

English Phonology, Phonotactics, and Suprasegmentals
Exercise 3.2: Phonological Processes

1. Write the word indicated by each transcription and identify the phonological process or
change responsible for each pronunciation.
Example: Transcription Word
Phonological Process
h
[əp izmənt]
appeasement aspiration
w
(a) [t uːθbrʌʃ]
(n) [laa͂ːndri]
(b) [sĩmfəni]
(o) [laɪtnnɪŋ]

(c) [kɜːɫi]
(p) [kʌtləs]
(d) [əphɔɪntmənt]
(q) [plr̥ʊrəl]
(e) [ræpk̚tʃər]
(r) [beɫəʊ]
(f) [prr̥eri]
(s) [pænn̪θər]
(g) [tɑɾər]
(t) [daɪdʒestʃən]
(h) [ɑkk̚təpʊs]
(u) [maɪɾi]
(i) [pæŋkeɪk]
(v) [lwɔɪtər]
(j) [bɪlɪt ]
(w) [ɒpk̚tɪməl]
(k) [kk̟ɪtʃən]
(x) [ ɪtɑːr]
(l) [heln̪θi]
(m) [tuːzdeɪ]

2. (a)
(b)

(y) [hɑːrdnr̩]

Write a rule for the unreleasing of stops.
Write a rule for the monophthongization of [juː].

English Phonology, Phonotactics, and Suprasegmentals

Exercise 3.3: Word Stress
1. Using acute and grave accents, mark primary and secondary stress (where present) in the
following words.

(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)

papyrus
feminine
millionaire
harmonica
pelican
geometry
vocabulary
compliment

(i) pedigree
(j) hypotenuse
(k) summary
(l) memorandum
(m) architecture
(n) discipline

(o) caterpillar
(p) penetration

(q) vigilante
(r) peripheral
(s) macaroni
(t) imperialism
(u) satellite
(v) characterize
(w) chromosome
(x) accidental

2. Transcribe the following sets of words and mark primary and secondary stress with
Super- and subticks. Note the reduction of vowels in unstressed syllables.
(a) catastrophe
catastrophic
(b) synonym
synonymous
(c) repeat
repetitive
repetition
How does stress affect the quality of the first t in repetitive and repetition?
How does stress affect the quality of the p?
(d) migrate
migratory
migration
(e) intellect
intellectual
intelligent
(f) apply

application
applicable
applicability
(g) exhibit
exhibition
How does stress affect the voicing of the consonants in exhibit and exhibition?


3. How does stress differentiate these derivationally-related words?
(a) proverb proverbial
reflex reflexive
(b) perfect perfection
tranquil tranquility
(c) injure injurious
enter entertain

4. (a) Give strong and weak forms of that and show how they are used in a sentence.
(b) Give two sentences in which the word afternoon has a different syllable stressed.

English Phonology, Phonotactics, and Suprasegmentals
Exercise 3.4: Intonation

For each of the following sentences, identify
(a) the number of tone group(s)
(b) the tonic syllable(s) in each tone group
(c) the intonation patterns of each tone group
1. We went to a movie last night.
(topic of conversation: last night's activities)

2. We went to a movie last night.

(topic of conversation: going to movies)

3. Should we see a movie tonight?
(topic of conversation: doing something tonight)


4. Should we see the movie tonight?
(topic of conversation: when we are seeing a movie)

5. Should we see the movie tonight, or tomorrow? (two yes/no questions; see 3d, p. 73 in
text)

6. Should we see the movie tonight, or tomorrow? (alternative question; see 7a, p. 74 in
text)

7. We could see a movie tonight or go out for ice cream.

8. We could visit a museum this afternoon or go to the zoo tomorrow.

9. We could go to a movie, couldn't we?

10. When should we go to a movie?
(topic of conversation: our going to a movie)

11. When should we go to a movie?
(topic of conversation: our doing something)

12. You liked that movie, didn't you? (tag expressing real question; see 6a in text, p. 74)

13. You liked that movie, didn't you? (tag eliciting confirmation; see 6b in text, p. 74)

English Phonology, Phonotactics, and Suprasegmentals
Exercise 3.5: Syllabification

Syllabify the following words, using periods to indicate syllable breaks. Note
ambisyllabicity.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.

aroma
algebra
advocate
kangaroo
obstinate
codify
altitude
duplicate
geometry

temperate
whiskey
integrity
appropriate

14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.

seclusion
arithmetic
discipline
periodic
banana
insinuate
nightingale
instrument
exclamation
already
condemnation
esthetic