Improve Your Pronunciation - Study Session 5 - ESL Blogs

Voiceless and Voiced Consonants

Consonant Sounds /k/ and /g/

[ Click on the image to see it on a large scale! ]

-{ Click ' HERE ' for the transcript of my voice }-

Step 1: Watch the videos (I've given the transcript for an easy grasp of the speech.)

First, while you are watching a video, make the consonant sound and pronounce

the words as instructed by Alex.

Second, play the video again but this time look at the transcript while listening to Alex.

Again, don't forget to make the consonant sound and pronounce the words.
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Voiceless Consonant /k/

(Video 1 - Watch in 'Full Screen')

This is a voiceless consonant.

You can hear it at the beginning of the word ‘came’ /keɪm/;

In the middle of the word ‘lucky’ /ˈlʌki/;

At the end of the word ‘sick’ /sɪk/;

And, at the beginning and end of the word ‘clock’ /klɒk/.

Now, you try. Listen and repeat after me.

came ../keɪm/

lucky /ˈlʌki/

sick /sɪk/

clock ./klɒk/

.
Similar Sounds: /k/ and /g/

Now, it may be difficult to hear the difference between this voiceless sound /k/ that you can hear

at .the beginning of the word ‘came’ /keɪm/ and its voiced partner /g/ .that you can hear at the beginning of the word ‘game’ /geɪm/.

Listen carefully to hear the difference. For each example, I shall say the word with the voiceless sound /k/ first.

came ../keɪm/ game ../geɪm/

back ./bæk/ bag ../bæg/

cage ../keɪdʒ/ gauge ./geɪdʒ/ *

calories ./ˈkæləriz/ ...galleries ../ˈgæləriz/

* There is a typo in the video: 'gauge' /keɪdʒ/ should begin with the voiced consonant /g/ -> /geɪdʒ/

Now, you can't hear the difference. You might be able to see the difference. In English, we say

the voiceless sound /k/ with a puff of air.

Now, let's practise. Listen to the examples and repeat after me. (refer to the above list)

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Voiced Consonant /g/

(Video 2 - Watch in 'Full Screen')

This is a voiced consonant.

You can hear it at the beginning of the word ‘glue’ /glu:/;

In the middle of the word ‘struggle’ /ˈstrʌgl/ ;

At the end of the word ‘bag’ /bæg/

And, at the beginning and end of the word ‘gig’ /gɪg/.

Now, you try. Listen and repeat.

glue .../glu:/

struggle /ˈstrʌgl/

bag /bæg/

gig /gɪg/

Similar Sounds: /g/ and /k/

Now, it may be difficult to hear the difference between this voiced sound /g/ that you hear at the beginning of the word ‘glue’ /glu:/ and its voiceless partner /k/ that you hear at the beginning of

the word ‘clue’ /klu:/.

Listen carefully to hear the difference. For each example, I shall say the word with the voiced sound /g/ first.

glue /glu:/ clue ./klu:/

ghost .../gəʊst/ ...coast ./kəʊst/

log /lɒg/ ..lock /lɒk/

pig /pɪg/ pick . ../pɪk/

Now, did you hear the difference? You might be able to see the difference.

Let’s try again. Listen and repeat after me. (refer to the above list)

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SUPPLEMENTARY VIDEO

(Video 3 - Watch in 'Full Screen')

In this video, Rachel sums up what you’ve learned so far! They are the three pairs of stop consonants, also known as plosives: /p/... /b/; /t/.../d/ and /k/.../g/. Her demonstration of all

these plosives is plain. Hope you’ll find the video informative.

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Step 2: Do this activity - VERY IMPORTANT!

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(a) .Click on the image below for the animation of the speech organs. Watch what

happens inside our mouth when the voiceless consonant /k/ and voiced consonant /g/

are produced in isolation.

I'm waiting! Just click on me!!

.
Follow these steps if you are not sure where to start from: (refer to the numbers)

1. Click the tab 'stop' to make the three pairs of consonants appear first.

2. Click the phonetic symbol of the voiceless consonant /k/ and you'll see the rest.

3. Click the 'play' button to watch the animation of the voiceless consonant /k/

4. Click the 'radio button' and 'play' button again to watch the articulation in steps.

5. Click the right 'play' button for the front view of the mouth when /k/ is articulated.

6. Click the 'speaker icon' to listen to the voiceless consonant used in words.

7. Follow steps 1 - 6 to listen to the voiced consonant /g/

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Step 3: Your Audio Assignment:

Record the following as per the instructions given. You can use .any of the 5 voice

recorders that I've suggested in my blog 'Make your voice heard!'. Embed your recorded

audio in the comment box below.

1. Say the phonemes the number of times they appear.

[Make sure that the back of your tongue is raised against the roof of the mouth' for both the

consonants - refer to the above Step 2]

Voiceless consonant: /k/ /k/ /k/ /k/ /k/ ............ (say slowly)

Elongate this word ...: coo.....l coo.....l coo.....l (exaggerate the voiceless consonant /k/)

Voiced consoant . : /g/ /g/ /g/ /g/ /g/ ............ (say slowly)

Elongate this word ...: go.... go.... go.... (exaggerate the voiced consonant /g/)

A mixture of both ... : go go coo.....l ; cool cool go.....; cool go go cool go.....

D2. (A) Read the list of words in pairs.

.cold..... /kəʊld/ ...gold /gəʊld/

.curl ./kɜ:l/ .girl /gɜ:l/

.card ./kɑ:d/ guard ./gɑ:d/

.cutter ./ˈkʌtə/ gutter ./ˈgʌtə/

.crease. ./kri:s/ grease /gri:s/

D2. (B) Read the sentence. (Focus on the consonants /k/ and /g/)

The kings crown is of gleaming gold. (Read twice)

D3. (A) Read the short paragraph. (Focus on the consonants /k/ and /g/) (Read twice)

The kind country curate kept his clever cat in a glass case. When he began to speak Greek

to the clever cat, the clever cat got out of the glass case and scratched the good country

curate ungratefully.

D4. (A) Read the tongue-twisters. (Optional) (Say each twice; focus on the consonants /k/ and /g/)

.Begin with the first one and take a pause before you move to the second one; take a pause again

before you start saying the third one: Have fun ;-)

How much caramel can a canny cannonball cram in a camel if a canny cannonball can cram

caramel in a camel?

The great Greek grape growers grow great Greek grapes.

How many cookies could a good cook cook If a good cook could cook cookies? A good cook

could cook as much cookies as a good cook who could cook cookies.

~ * ~

This is my voice recording of the above audio assignment. If you like, you could practise with me before doing your own recording. Thank you!

If you would like to try 'Audiopal', you could check my blog:

"Make your voice heard!"

* You can exceed the 1 minute time limit that Audiopal offers if you upload your pre-recorded

assignment from your computer, instead of recording online using a microphone!

Try it! You'll love it!

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Note: If you are not sure about the pronunciation of any word used in this session (Alex's videos, my

audio or assignment), you could use the online Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary to hear

or practise it.

Click on this image. You'll be relishing the blast in less than no time!

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* Participants are encouraged to comment on each other's work and recordings!

*Onlookers are welcomed to share their observations, specially teachers!

This will surely make the session more lively and fruitful.

Thank You!

This Study Session is moderated by G & G: Gabriel | Galina

.
." The best teacher is the one who suggests rather than dogmatizes, and inspires his listener with the wish to teach himself. "
~ Edward Bulwer-Lytton ~

~* GS *~
August 7th, 2012

Attention!

Now, we need to assess you to find out how well you understand the six consonant sounds that you have learned so for! We have prepared a few questions. Please click on this hyperlink "Assessment No. #1" to see your 'question paper'. Closing date: August, 20th. 2012

Click HERE to go (back) to the contents page at EC Virtual Classroom.

Study Session 4 Study Session 6

Don't forget to click the 'Like' button if you find the posting useful!

Dear teacher Gabriel,

Oh... how can I express my feeling at now?

I'm really really happy, I can imagine that my heart have the wings and fly inside me :)

Thank you so much for all your kind words dear teacher, I'm glad to receive all compliment and remarks from you. It makes me stronger than never like that and push me try to with all my passion in learning English-which is my hobby :)

Yes teacher, I realized my mistake in the second time in No.3 You must be very patient to find all mistakes and help us so much. I will try again to revise my mistakes.

By the way, I love the name "Gabrielle" ;-) thanks for your recommend dear, I will consider about it... :P

One more time, I want to send to you my deep gratitude about your effort to help all members in class. Wish you always happy and best wishes for you

Best Regard.

Scarlett.

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Comments

Gabriel Sowrian August 23, 2012 16:54

Dear Scarlett,

What a tremendous improvement; I just couldn’t believe my ears! To my certain knowledge you’ve done much better this time compare to the previous two study sessions. I’m very pleased to see that you are in the shadow of Gabriel – of course the female variant :-) I think you should change your name to ‘Gabrielle’. Just kidding! In fact, “Scarlett” is a lovely name! Here’s how your name should be pronounced /ˈskɑ:lət/.

Note: In No. 3 you mispronounced the word ‘kind’ the first time but you realized it when you read it the second time, didn’t you? By the way, please check the correct pronunciation of the word ‘elongate’. Have fun!

Regards,

~* GS *~
Scarlett August 23, 2012 16:35

Dear teacher Gabriel,

Oh... how can I express my feeling at now?

I'm really really happy, I can imagine that my heart have the wings and fly inside me :)

Thank you so much for all your kind words dear teacher, I'm glad to receive all compliment and remarks from you. It makes me stronger than never like that and push me try to with all my passion in learning English-which is my hobby :)

Yes teacher, I realized my mistake in the second time in No.3 You must be very patient to find all mistakes and help us so much. I will try again to revise my mistakes.

By the way, I love the name "Gabrielle" ;-) thanks for your recommend dear, I will consider about it... :P

One more time, I want to send to you my deep gratitude about your effort to help all members in class. Wish you always happy and best wishes for you

Best Regard.

Scarlett.
Gabriel Sowrian August 23, 2012 10:29

Hi, Anele!

How are you? It’s a pleasant surprise to see again. I'm sure Galina would be very glad too if she notices your presence. Thank you for making good use of that one rare ‘escape’ to post the audio assignment! That’s very sweet of you!

Your spoken English is, without a shadow of doubt, simply outstanding. You enunciate each word clearly! You move effortlessly from one word to the next. What a natural talent! I think you are a positive role model to the aspiring learners of English here in our virtual class. Hope to see you in Study Session 6, Anele! Take care!!

Best regards,

~* GS *~
Scarlett August 22, 2012 16:24

Dear teacher,

I'm very happy to practice this lesson, very funny and excited to do. Really thanks teacher, You are very kind.
Scarlett August 22, 2012 16:19

Dear teachers, this is my audio assigment
Prostomolotova Galina August 18, 2012 16:48

Wow! Charos, I like your self-criticism. You are right about tongue-twisters. I noticed that you didn't practise them and managed to pronounce rather well only thanks to your wonderful ability for learning foreign languages. I didn't tell you about it only because you were very busy before recording. Ok, next time I'll be more strict to your audio assignments ( and if your were my student at school.....!!!)
Prostomolotova Galina August 18, 2012 16:34

Wow! Grace!

Was it your voice? I don't know why, but this time even your voice sounds different. It's so nice to hear! And your English....it's great! You pronounced all the sounds clearly and in a proper way, it was pleasant to listen to you! You coped with tongue-twisters....and they're the most challenging part!

P.S. The only thing I'd like you to do is to pay attention to the word crown: the sound here is /aʊ/ /kraʊn/ ;

in the word grapes the sound is /eɪ/ /greɪps/.
Prostomolotova Galina August 18, 2012 16:07

Asma!

What a great work! To my mind it's much better than your previous audio assignment. The first part of it ( sounds, words in pairs, the sentence, the short paragraph) is done excellent! As for the tongue-twisters, it's the most challenging part, but it's extremely helpful for developing speech, try to pronounce them at first slow and then every time quicker and quicker. If you do it regularly, you'll learn to speak fast in no time. You pronounced the first and the third proverbs rather good but you had some problems with the third proverb. I recorded it for you, at first I pronounced it slow, then faster.
Prostomolotova Galina August 17, 2012 19:44

Charos!

Thank you for such a wonderful opportunity to hear your voice! Please, don't disappear again! It takes you only some minutes to record your voice ...and then we can enjoy it forever!

As for your English it's great as usual, all the sounds are pronounced in a clear and proper way.

P.S. Did it seem to me or you really pronounced the sound /ɒ/ in the word /ˈtʌŋˌtwɪstə/? This is the only flaw in your assignment ( I try to find something else but I can't).
Prostomolotova Galina August 17, 2012 18:42

Sakshi!

Thank you for such wonderful THANK YOU!!!

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