025 devoicing of approximants

1

Prof. Francisco Zabala - 2016

Devoicing of approximants
/l, r, w, j/
When stressed syllable-initial .o+
s+
j. are followed by the approximants .k+
q+
v+
i. there is no aspiration
as such: instead, the extra puff of air merges with these approximants, which become fricative and lose
their original voice. Cruttenden (2014; personal correspondence) and O’Connor (1973, 1980) suggest that
in strongly accented positions, it is the local friction rather than the voicelessness that show the effect of
the previous stressed voiceless plosive. Learners can profit from the idea that the resulting sounds have
to show a lot of turbulence. The approximants .k+
q+
v+
i. become the voiceless fricatives ZJ+
¢“+‡
V+
B\
respectively. However, for simplicity’s sake, devoicing is often shown just by keeping the original
phonemic symbol with the devoicing diacritical mark underneath Z

fi\.

FULLY DEVOICED & FRICATIVE after syllable-initial stressed .o+
s+
j.1

RULE

EXAMPLES

.k.
=
Zkfi\


Z!okfi\

Playing Z!!okfidHHM\ - Plot Z!okfiPs\

,
Imply ZHl!okfi`H\

voiceless alveolar
lateral fricative

Z!jkfi\

Clean Z!jkfih9m\ - Class Z!jkfi@9r\
,
Include ZHM!jkfit9c\

.q.
=
Zqfi\

Z!oqfi\

Proud Z!oqfi`Tc\ - Prince Z!oqfiHmr\
,
Comprise Zj?l!oqfi`Hy\

voiceless post-alveolar Z!sqfi\
fricative
Z!jqfi\

.v.
=
Zvfi\

voiceless labio-velar
fricative

Trees Z!sqfih9y\ - Trade Z!sqfidHc\
,
Intrusive ZHm!sqfit9rHu\
Christ Z!jqfi`Hrs\ - Crumbs Z!jqfiUly\ - Increase ZHM!jfiqh9r\

Z!ovfi\
Poirot Z!ovfi@9q?T\ - Puerto Rico Z!ovfi29s?
!qh9j?T\
Z!svfi\

Twelve Z!svfidku\ - Entwine ZHm!svfi`Hm\
,
Twin Z!svfiHm\

Z!jvfi\
Queen Z!jvfih9m\ - Enquire ZHM!jvfi`H?\
,
Quick Z!jvfiHj\

.i.
=
Zi\


Z!oi‡\

Pure Z!oi‡T?\
,
Computer Zj?l!oi‡t9s?\
,
Purity Z!oi‡T?q?sh\

voiceless palatal
fricative

Z!si‡\

Tune Z!si‡t9m\
Constitution Z$jPmrsH!si‡t9Rm\
,
Tube Z!si‡t9a\

Z!ji‡\

Cute Z!ji‡t9s\
,
Accuse Z?!ji‡t9y\
,
Cure Z!ji‡T?\

Notice:
The sequence .sq.
is always treated as an affricate (i.e. a plosive element followed by a fricative element),
therefore, it will be Zsq\ even if it’s not stressed. E.g.: attribute Z!zsqfiHait9s\.

1

The sequence .sk.
cannot be syllable-initial in English. E.g. Atlas .!zs-k?r., Atlantic .?s!kzmsHj..


Prof. Francisco Zabala - 2016

2

Activity 1:
Transcribe the following sentences phonemically. Use the diacritical mark Zç\ to indicate those instances
where the voiceless plosives are fully aspirated. (Zoç+
sç\ and Zjç\). Use the diacritical mark Z=\ to indicate
those instances where the voiceless plosives are unaspirated. (Zro=+
rs=\ and Zrj=\). Use the diacritical
mark Z

fi\ to show devoicing. Colour the diacritical marks you use.

1. Patricia Cranford loves cruising the Caribbean.
2. Tracy Stuart travels by tube every Tuesday.
3. Chris Queen questioned our treacherous plan.
4. Princeton McKenzie went to Cuba and practised scuba diving.
5. Clint climbed a cliff and found a cute crane.
6. Is it true that Claire Price has just quit college?
7. I pray for a quick presentation of the project at King’s Cross St. Pancras tube station.
8. Practically all these tropical plants should be transferred from the trellis.
9. I am pleased with Claudia’s splendid explanation of the problems in Springfield.
10. The clay factory closed down quite quickly. It’s crystal clear! They played a tremendous
trick on us all, Mr. Trump.

KEY:
1. Zo?!sqfiHR?
!jqfizme?c
{
!kUuy
!jqfit9yHM
C?
$jçzqH!ah9?m\
2. Z!sqfidHrh
!rs=it9?s
{
!sqfizuky
a`H
!si‡t9a
{
!duqh

!si‡t9ycdH\
3. Z!jqfiHr
!jvfiHm
{
!jvfidrsR?mc
@9
!sqfidsR?q?r
!okfizm\
4. Z!oqfiHmrs?m
l?!jçdmyh
!vdms
s?
!ji‡t9a?
{
?m
!oqfizjsHrs
!rj=t9a?
$c`HuHM\
5. Z!jkfiHms
!jkfi`Hlc
?
!jkfiHe
{
?m
!e`Tmc
?
!ji‡t9s
!jqfidHm\
6. ZHy
Hs

!sqfit9
{
C?s
!jkfid?
!oqfi`Hr
g?y
cY?rs
!jvfiHs
!jçPkHcY\
7. Z`H
!oqfidH
{
e?q
?
!jvfiHj
$oqfidy?m!sçdHRm
?u
C?
!oqfiPcYdjs
{
?s
!jçHM
!jqfiPr
r?ms
!oçzMjq?r
!si‡t9a
$rs=dHRm\
8. Z!oqfizjsHj?kh
!N9k
Ch9y

!sqfiPoHjk
!okfi@9msr
{
RTc
ah
sqfizmr!e29c
eq?l
C?
!sqfidkHr\
9. Z`Hl
!okfih9yc
vHC
!jkfiN9ch?y
!ro=kdmcHc
$djro=k?!mdHRm
{
?u
C?
!oqfiPak?ly
Hm
!ro=qHMeh9kc\
10. ZC?
!jkfidH
!ezjsqfih
!jkfi?Tyc
!c`Tm
!jvfi`Hs
!jvfiHjkh
{{
Hsr

!jqfiHrsk
!jkfiH?
{{
CdH
!okfidHc
?
sqfi?!ldmc?r
!sqfiHj



Pm
?r
!N9k
{
!lHrs=?
!sqfiUlo\








Prof. Francisco Zabala - 2016

3

Activity 2:

Transcribe the following text phonemically. Use the diacritical mark Zç\ to indicate those instances where
the voiceless plosives are fully aspirated. (Zoç+
sç\
(
and Zjç\). Use the diacritical mark Z=\ to indicate those
instances where the voiceless plosives are unaspirated. (Zro
( =+
rs=\ and Zrj=\). Use the diacritical mark Z

fi\
to show devoicing. Colour the diacritical marks you use.


Travelling
How about a trip to a tropical island? Do you crave for adventure? Clive Quinn has
some practical clues to give us. He claims that there are plenty of cute places off the
beaten track. You can find clean and friendly hostels for a small price. If you book well
in advance, you may apply for discounts on plane tickets and tube or train fares. Try to
steer clear of touristy package holidays: you’ll be spending money like crazy and
queuing a lot. Besides, you’ll get treated like cattle. Avoid cruises at Christmas,
Christm
they’re
crowded! Cuba is a no-no
no in summer: the climate will cripple your plans! Got curious?
Clive will answer your questions. Visit www.quicktrip.co.uk

KEY:
Z!sqfizukHM
{{
!g`T
?!a`Ts
?
!sqfiHo
st
?
!sqfiPoHjk
!`Hk?mc
{{
cYt
!jqfi
PoHjk
!`Hk?mc
{{
cYt
!jqdHu
e?q
?c!udmsR?
{{
!jkfi`Hu
!jvfi
`Hu
!jvHm
{
!gzy
r?l
!oqfizjsHjk

!jkfit9y
s?
!fHu
?r
{{
gh
!jkfidHly
{
C?s
C?q?
!okfi
dHly
{
C?s
C
dmsh
?u
!ji‡t9s
!okfidHrHy
{
!Pe
C?
!ah9sm
!sqfi
dHrHy
{
!Pe
C?
!ah9sm
!sqzj

{{
it
j?m
!e`Hmc




!jkfih9m
?m
!eqdmckh
!gPrsky
e?q
?
!rlN9k
!oq
q
?
!rlN9k
!oqfi`Hr
{{
He
it
!aTj
!vdk
Hm
?c!u@9mr
{
it
ldH

?!okfi
`Hr
{{
He
it
!aTj
!vdk
Hm
?c!u@9mr
{
it
ldH
?!ok`H
e?
!cHrj=`Tmsr
{
Pm
!okfidHm
!sçHjHsr
{
?m
!si‡t9a
N9
!sqfi
t9a
N9
!sqfidHm
!ed?y
{{
!sqfi`H

s?
!rs=H?
!jkfiH?q
?u
!sçT?qHrs=h
!oçzjHcY
!gPk?cdHy
{{


=
itk
ah
!ro dmcHM
!lUmh
k`Hj
!jqfidHyh
{
?m
!ji‡
dHyh
{
?m
!jit9HM
?
!kPs
{{
aH!r`Hcy
{
itk

!fds
!sqfih9sHc
k`Hj
!jçzsk
{{
?!uNHc




h9sHc
k`Hj
!j
!jqfit9yHy
?s
!jqfiHrl?r
{{
Cd?
!jqfi`TcHc
{{
!ji‡
`TcHc
{{
!jit9a?
{
Hy
?
!m?T
!m?T
Hm

!rUl?
{{
C?
!jkfi
t9a?
{
Hy
?
!m?T
!m?T
Hm
!rUl?
{{
C?
!jk`Hl?s
{
vHk
!jqfiHok
iN9




!okfizmy
{{
!fPs
!ji‡T?qh?r
{{
!jkfi`Hu
vHHk

!@9mr?
iN9
!jvfidrsRmy
{{
!uHyHs
{
!cUakit9
!cUakit9
!cUakit9
{
!jvfi
drsRmy
{{
!uHyHs
{
!cUakit9
!cUakit9
Hj





!sqfiHo
{
!cPs
!jç?T
{
!cPs
!it9

!jçdH\