Voiceless consonants in English. Classification of English speech sounds

Phonetics is a section that studies sounds. Its main goal is to teach you how to correctly pronounce English sounds and words, and also to develop your ability to perceive the speech of native speakers. Therefore, in order to learn to speak and read English correctly, you need to know the English alphabet and learn the pronunciation of individual phonemes and the words in which they are used. English phonetics The English language is built on the Latin alphabet, has only 26 letters (instead of the usual 33), but almost twice as many sounds are superimposed on these familiar letters, namely 46 different phonemes. English sounds are very important for language learners, so you need to understand how they are used in speech and why.

As stated above, a distinctive feature of the English language is the huge number of sounds that do not correspond to the number of letters available. That is, one letter can convey several phonemes, depending on the letters that are next to each other. Based on this, it is necessary to speak very carefully and carefully. Incorrect use of a particular sound leads to misunderstandings.

For example, the word "bed" (bed) and the word "bad" (bad) They are pronounced and written almost identically, so it is quite easy to get confused about them. At this stage of learning English, many begin to transcribe pronunciation in Russian in order to facilitate the memorization process.

However, this “relief” is very misleading, as it often leads to even greater confusion between words with similar pronunciation. After all, both words “bed” and “bad” in Russian can be transcribed exclusively as "bad" without reflecting the duality of sound in any way. Therefore, it is better to learn sounds separately.

How to learn English sounds correctly?

Learning English phonetics will undoubtedly bring some clarity to the pronunciation and mastery of all phrases and words that will come your way during learning.

First of all, you should create a dictionary in which you will designate all the sounds in traditional transcription, and then, next to them, their sound version in your native language.
Special cases of pronunciation should also be indicated, indicating that this word needs to be pronounced in a special way or writing down that it is impossible to give an analogy of the Russian sound. London - London For convenience, it is better to divide phonemes into groups. For example, consonants, vowels, diphthongs and triphthongs. It is also necessary to constantly practice and perform exercises of this type:

The main city of Great Britain is London. London - ["lʌndən]- 6 letters, 6 sounds. Let's find it on the map of England. Where is it? Then, let’s check with our friend: How do you write it? How do you spell it? Now spell this name - Spell this name for us:

- London - [Landen]

This way you will practice not only the pronunciation of sounds, but also learn useful words and phrases in a foreign language.

Now let's move on directly to their writing and pronunciation.

Sounds of English

Let's get acquainted with a brief description of all sounds using this table

Sound	Pronunciation
Vowels
[ı]	short [and], as in “outside And»
[e]	similar to [e] - “sh” e exist"
[ɒ]	short [o] - “in O T"
[ʊ]	short, close to [y]
[ʌ]	similar to Russian [a]
[ə]	unstressed, close to [e]
	looks like a long [and]
[ɑ:]	deep and long [a] - “g A lk"
[ə:] = [ɜ:]	long [ё] in “sv” e cla"
	long [y], like “b” at lk"
[ᴐ:]	deep and long [o] - “d O lgo"
[æ]	Russian [uh]
Diphthogs (two tones)
	[hey] - same
[ʊə]	[ue] - poor
[əʊ]	[оу] - tone
[ᴐı]	[ouch] - join
	[ouch] - kite
	[ea] - hair
[ıə]	[ie] - fear
Triphthongs (three tones)
	[ауе] - power
	[yue] - European
	[aie] - fire
Consonants
[b]	Russian [b]
[v]	analog [in]
[j]	weak Russian [th]
[d]	like [d]
[w]	short [y]
[k]	[j]aspirated
[ɡ]	like [g]
[z]	like [z]
[ʤ]	[d] and [g] together
[ʒ]	like [f]
[l]	soft [l]
[m]	like [m]
[n]	like [n]
[ŋ]	[n] “in the nose”
[p]	[p] aspirated
[r]	weak [p]
[t]	[t]aspirated
[f]	like [f]
[h]	just exhale
[ʧ]	like [h]
[ʃ]	average between [w] and [sch]
[s]	like [s]
[ð]	voiced [θ] with voice
[θ]	tip of tongue between upper and lower teeth, without voice

Notes:

• Double vowels are read as one sound: moon - - [moon] or bitter - ["bitǝ] - [bite]
• Voiced consonants in English, unlike Russian, do not become voiceless: in a word good [good] the sound [d] is pronounced clearly, just like [g] in dog [dog] etc.

The meaning of correct pronunciation

As I already said, it is very important and extremely necessary to improve English pronunciation, because a large number of words in this language differ by only one or two sounds. But sometimes, even such a small difference is critically significant for correct and accurate contact with primary native speakers.

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There are few rules for reading consonants in English. They can be compared with similar rules in Russian: the name of a letter does not always correspond to the sound it denotes.

There are only 20 letters in the English language that can convey 24 consonant sounds in different positions and combinations. Some English sounds are similar to Russian, while others are significantly different from them. There are also those that have no analogues in Russian: [ð], [θ], [w]

However there is a few rules. English consonant sounds are always:

• pronounce firmly - do not soften, as in the word suit
• at the end of words we do not deafen the voiced ones, we pronounce the unvoiced words more clearly: pin-pit
• doubled consonants are pronounced as one sound, for example swimmer [ˈswɪmər]

Rules for reading letters that convey one consonant sound

Let's start with 15 consonants that convey one sound. They correspond to the letters of the English alphabet and their transcription signs are the same.
Letter and sound	Pronunciation Features	Examples	Translation
	always sounds like "b"		boy
P [p]	reminds me of the Russian "p"	panda [ˈpændə]	pool
F[f]	similar to Russian "f"	fire [ˈfaɪər]
V[v]	this is a Russian pure “v”		minibus brave
T[t]	hard Russian “t”, with strong aspiration		vertex
D [d]	identical to Russian "d" with stronger aspiration	riddle [ˈrɪdl]	mystery
M[m]	identical to Russian "m"
N [n]	identical to the Russian "n", but more nasal	number[ˈnʌmbər]
K [k]	identical to the Russian "k" with intense aspiration
L [l]	identical to the Russian "l", always hard		small
R [r]	This letter should be given a little more attention. The tongue rests on the upper palate and the Russian “r” is pronounced. It sounds at the beginning of a word after consonants and between some vowels. At the end of a word, it is usually not pronounced, or is barely audible	writer [ˈraɪtər]	writer
H[h]	this sound is pronounced with a slight aspiration, almost like an exhalation
W [w]	at the beginning of a word, like Russian [u], but more energetic
S[s]	identical to Russian "s"
Z [z]	identical to Russian "z"	zebra [ˈziːbrə] crazy [ˈkreɪzɪ]	crazy

Rules for reading consonants that convey several sounds

Letter and sound	Pronunciation Features	Example	Translation
C[s]	before vowels e, i, y
C [k]	in other cases
J	like [j], only softer
X	- How :		next
X	- before a stressed syllable	exotic [ɪgˈzɔtɪk] example [ɪgˈzɑːmpl]	exotic
X [z]	- at the beginning of a word	Xerox  [ˈzɪərɔks]	Xerox
G	- before vowels e, i, y		Gym page
G[g]	- in other cases
Q	- occurs only in the letter combination qu -	squirrel [ˈskwɪrəl]	Queen

Rules for reading letter combinations with consonants

Consonants often form letter combinations. Let's look at the main ones:
Ch	Basically this letter combination sounds like Russian "ch"
Ch [k]	- in Greek words	character [ˈkærɪktər]	character
Ch[ʃ]	- in words of French origin	machine	car
Sh [ʃ]	Sounds like Russian "sh"	mushroom [ˈmʌʃrum]
Th [θ]	At the beginning of nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs; at the end of words; before a consonant or after a consonant. You need to stick the tip of your tongue between your teeth and pronounce the Russian “s”		thick
Th [ð]	- the second pronunciation option, like [ð] (in function words (articles, pronouns), between vowels). Pronunciation method: tongue between teeth, pronounce Russian “z”	father [ˈfɑːðər]
Ng [ŋ]	At the end of a word. There is no analogue to it in Russian. Pronounced roughly like [ny], in the nose		long
Ng [ŋg]	- inside a word:	England [ˈɪŋglənd] finger [ˈfɪŋgər]

There are many exceptions in the English language and this does not make it any less attractive. Each word must be memorized separately. Let the dictionary become your good friend and assistant, and let the teachers at the English language school via Skype become your personal consultants!

Watch the video on consonants

The consonants of the English language are classified according to the following principles:

• place and active organ of articulation
• type of obstacle
• noise generation method
• number of noise-generating barriers
• vocal cord work
• utterance power.

Labial consonants

Depending on which mobile and fixed speech organs are involved in the articulation of speech sounds, consonants are divided into labial, lingual and laryngeal.

Deaf culture is the sense of community among deaf people. Cultural events may include. Communicate in American Sign Language, share information about resources that can improve the lives of deaf people, perform and participate in non-spoken theater events, joke about being deaf, and reflect on role models and events important to deaf people. We all have our own way of doing things, and deaf people are no different.

Deaf people communicate differently depending on several factors. Age when deafness began; type of deafness; language skills; amount of residual hearing; speech reading skills; speech abilities; personality; family environment; education; and personal preferences. You can communicate with deaf people in several ways. The key is to figure out what combination of methods works best with each deaf person. Keep in mind that you are not exchanging ideas, but doing.

Labial consonants can be

• labiolabial, articulated by both lips – [w], [m], [p], [b] and
• labiodental pronounced with the lower lip and upper teeth – [f], [v].

Linguistic consonants

Linguistic consonants are divided into frontal, midlingual and posterior lingual.

Forelingual consonants can be

Pay attention to the deaf person before speaking. Call out the person's name; if that fails, tapping the shoulder, wave, or other visual cue will usually do the trick. The deaf person's key to the topic of discussion. Deaf people need to know what subject will be discussed in order to pick up words that will help them follow the conversation. This is especially important for deaf people who depend on speech reading.

Speak slowly and clearly, but do not shout, exaggerate or enunciate. Exaggeration and overemphasis on words distort lip movements, making speech more difficult to read. Try to pronounce each word without force or tension. Short sentences are easier to understand than long ones.

• interdental (predorsal-dental)– [θ], [ð] (the surface of the front part of the tongue forms an incomplete barrier with the upper teeth);
• apical-alveolar– [t], [d], [n], [l], [s], [z], [∫], [ʒ], (the anterior edge of the tongue is raised to the alveolar arch);
• cacuminal-retroalveolar– [r] (the anterior edge of the tongue is raised up and slightly bent towards the posterior slope of the alveoli).

IN middle-language consonant obstruction is formed by raising the middle part of the tongue to the hard palate. This is how the only one is articulated in English dorsal palatal sound [j].

Look directly at the deaf person when you speak. Avoid turning away to write on the board, look at the computer screen, or pull something out of a file while talking. Don't put anything in your mouth while talking. Mustaches that shade your lips, smoke, chew a pencil, and put your hands in front of your face make it difficult for deaf people to follow what is said.

Maintain eye contact with the deaf person. Eye contact conveys a feeling of direct connection. Even if an interpreter is present, continue to speak directly to the deaf person. Avoid standing in front of a light source such as a window or bright light. The gaze and shadows created on the face make it almost impossible for a deaf person to speak.

Rear lingual consonants are articulated by raising the back of the tongue to the soft palate - [k], [g], [ŋ]. This dorsal-velar sounds.

Glottal consonant

The only laryngeal sound in the English language [h] is formed in the larynx: the exhaled air flow with a slight friction noise passes through the narrowed glottis, the vocal cords do not vibrate, the speech organs in the supraglottic cavities occupy the position necessary to pronounce the vowel sound following the laryngeal consonant.

Repeat first, then try to rephrase the thought if you have problems, rather than repeating the same words. If a person misses a word or two the first time, one repetition usually helps. Feel free to communicate with pencil and paper if necessary, as specific combinations of lip movements sometimes make speech difficult. Receiving the message is more important than the medium used.

Use mime, body language and facial expressions to help complement your communication. The most interesting thing is to watch a live speaker. Be polite to the deaf person when speaking. If the phone rings or someone knocks on the door, excuse yourself and tell the deaf person that you are answering the phone or answering the knock. Don't ignore the deaf person and continue the conversation with someone else while the deaf person waits.

Stop/Friction Consonants

According to the type of noise-producing barrier, consonants are divided into stops, when pronounced in the oral cavity, a complete barrier is formed, and fricative, when articulated in the oral cavity, an incomplete barrier is formed.

Stop consonants: [p], [b], [t], [d], [k], [g], [m], [n], [ŋ], .

Friction consonants: [f], [v], [θ], [ð], [s], [z], [∫], [ʒ], [h], [w], [l], [r] ,[j].

Use open-ended questions that require more than a “yes” or “no” answer. Don't assume that deaf people have understood your message if they approve of their heads. A consistent answer to an open-ended question will ensure that your information is shared.

If you are involved in group situations with deaf people, these tips will make communication easier. Ask the deaf person to choose the best places to communicate. This usually means sitting next to the speaker so that the deaf person can see the speaker's lips. Usually a deaf person knows better where to sit. Also consider the lighting in the area so that the speaker is brightly lit.

Noisy consonants

Both stop and fricative consonants can be noisy and sonant.

Stop noisy consonants are divided into explosive And affricates. When pronouncing plosive consonants, the complete barrier opens, air leaves the oral cavity, producing the sound of an explosion: [p], [b], [t], [d], [k], [g]. Affricates are sounds in which there is a close fusion of a stop with a fricative indentation. The opening of the speech organs, forming a complete barrier, occurs smoothly, sounds are articulated with 1 effort: , .

Provide new vocabulary in advance. It is difficult, if not impossible, to read and fingerprint unfamiliar vocabulary. If the new vocabulary cannot be presented in advance, write the terms on paper, a chalkboard, or an overhead projector. If a lecture is to be given or a film shown, a brief outline or script given to the deaf person in advance helps that person follow the presentation.

Avoid excessive stimulation and talking when writing on the board. It's hard to tell whose back is turned. Write or draw on the board, then look at the group and explain the work. If you are using an overhead projector, do not look at it while talking.

Fricative consonants

When articulating fricative noisy consonants (fricatives), air escapes through a narrow gap, creating friction noise. The shape of the slit can be flat, as in [f], [v], or round, as in [s], [z]. Fricative consonants: [f], [v], [θ], [ð], [s], [z], [∫], [ʒ], [h].

Nasal sonants

Stop sonants are nasal. A complete obstruction forms in the oral cavity, the soft palate descends, and air escapes through the nasal cavity. Nasal sonants: [m], [n], [ŋ].

Use visual aids whenever possible. Give participants time to read before speaking. Make sure the deaf person doesn't miss vital information. Write down any changes during meetings, special assignments, additional instructions, etc. Allow extra time when referring to manuals or texts, as deaf people must look at what has been written and then return their attention to the speaker.

Slowly reduce the speed of communication to make it easier to understand. Many speakers speak too quickly. Allow extra time for the deaf person to ask or answer questions. Repeat questions or statements made from the back of the room and point to the person speaking. Remember that deaf people are cut off from what happens outside their visual field.

Mouth sonants

Slit sonants are oral. They are divided into median sonants, during the formation of which the lateral edges of the tongue are raised and touch the lateral teeth, and the air exits along the central part of the tongue - [w], [r], [j], and lateral, when pronounced, the front edge of the tongue is raised to the alveoli and touches them, and the side edges are lowered, the air exits through the side passages - [l].

Allow the deaf person to fully participate in the discussion. Deaf people have difficulty participating in group discussions because they are not sure when the speakers have finished. The group leader or teacher should acknowledge the deaf person from time to time to ensure that person's full participation. Remember to talk and try to give the deaf person a chance to look at different participants before each one speaks.

Use hands-on experience whenever possible in training situations. Like other people, deaf people quickly learn to “do.” What may be difficult to convey verbally can be easily explained with a practical demonstration. Work with an interpreter in a large group. In such a situation, the interpreter will follow the speaker a few words when conveying information. Therefore, give the deaf person time to get all the information and ask questions. In the section “Through a translator”. Use recording, if possible, to record information.

1/2 focal consonants

Most English consonants are 1-focal, as they have one place of formation, i.e. 1 noise-generating focus. However, in a number of cases, in addition to the main, noise-generating barrier, a second barrier is observed, giving the sound an additional shade. Such consonants are 2-focal. A secondary or additional obstruction can be formed by raising the middle part of the tongue towards the hard palate. In this case, the sound takes on a soft tone. This is the second middle focus in the sounds [∫], [ʒ], and in the so-called “light” version of the sound [l]. If a secondary obstruction is formed by raising the back of the tongue towards the soft palate, then an acoustic velarization effect is created, the sound acquires a hard, unsoftened hue. This is the second back focus, observed in the sounds [w], [r] and in the so-called “dark” version of the sound [ł].

Many deaf people have difficulty paying attention to the speaker and taking notes at the same time. Interpreters can facilitate communication during lectures, meetings, or other group situations. Before contacting an interpreter, please keep in mind that an interpreter is a professional subject to a code of ethics. Knowledge of sign language does not give a person the right to act as an interpreter, so it is better to use a professional interpreter.

Some may require a sign language interpreter who is proficient in Sign Language or Signed English, others may prefer an interpreter, and in some cases the interpreter can communicate what the deaf person wants to express.

Voiced/voiceless consonants

Based on the presence/absence of vibrations of the vocal cords, consonants are voiced, accompanied by vibrations of the vocal cords, and voiceless, during the pronunciation of which the vocal cords are passive and do not vibrate. The first includes voiced noisy consonants and sonants, the second includes voiceless noisy consonants.

Strong/weak consonants

Some tips to consider when planning translation services. Inform the referral service to interpret the needs of the deaf and in what setting the interpretation will be carried out. If highly technical language will be used, referral services will try to match your needs with a translator who is familiar with the subject matter. fees and privileges with translator in advance. Payment must be agreed upon by the translator or referral service before the service is performed. Be attentive to the interpreter's special needs, such as a glass of water, a straight back, etc. the interpreter may have other needs, such as room placement. If the interpreting situation involves lunch or other meals, the interpreter should be given the same privileges as other members of the group. It is also helpful to meet with the interpreter about 15 minutes earlier to explain what will be covered. If a meeting, class or lecture takes longer, two interpreters should operate on a rotating basis. Schedule breaks during the meeting. After sign language or interpreting for a long time, the deaf becomes tired. It is also tedious for the translator. Provide good lighting for the interpreter. If the interpretation situation requires the room to be darkened to view slides, videotapes, or films, additional lighting is necessary to allow the deaf person to see the interpreter. If you can't get a small lamp or spotlight, check to see if the lighting in the room is dim but there is enough light to see the interpreter. Speak directly to the deaf person, not the interpreter, when working with an interpreter. The interpreter is not part of the conversation and is not allowed to express personal opinions or introduce conversation. Allow time for the interpreter to allow the deaf person to ask questions or join in the discussion. Allow only one person to speak at a time during group discussions. It is difficult for an interpreter to follow several people at once. Ask for a short pause between speakers to allow the interpreter to finish before the next speaker begins. Speak clearly and in a normal tone when working with an interpreter. If you are reading shorthand, read slowly. Remember to breathe between sentences - this helps the translator keep up. An interpreter or deaf person may ask the speaker to slow down or repeat a word or sentence for clarification. As a final courtesy, thank the translator after the service has been completed. If there are any problems or misunderstandings, please notify the translator or help desk. Also, ask the deaf person if the service was satisfactory. It is always a polite gesture to let the referral service know of your satisfaction with the translator.

• Such fees should not be discussed with a deaf person.
• Treat the translator as a professional.

These tips can be used in conjunction with one-to-one tips to make interviewing a deaf job candidate easier.

In English, voiceless consonants are pronounced energetically, they are called strong. Voiced English consonants are accompanied by weak muscle tension, they are called weak. In Russian these differences are insignificant.

English Joke

Mrs. Herman from London was visiting some friends in Florida when she saw a little old man rocking merrily away on his front porch. He had a lovely smile on his face. She just had to go over to him.
“I couldn’t help noticing how happy you look. I would love to know your secret for a long and happy life.”
“I smoke four packets of cigarettes a day, drink five bottles of scotch whiskey a week, eat lots and lots of fatty food and I never, I mean never exercise.”
“Why, that’s absolutely amazing. I've never heard anything like this before. How old are you?”
"I'm twenty six," he replied.

Russian speakers very often distort English sounds, since we are accustomed to deafening voiced consonants at the end in our native language. For example, we pronounce the word “club” as [clup], enemy as [vrak], pilaf as [plof]. That is, instead of voiced ones, we pronounce voiceless phonemes, but the meaning of the word does not change. In English, such a number will not work.

Pronunciation of voiced consonants

In English, it is strictly forbidden to deafen voiced consonants at the end when speaking. If you break this rule, you will be misunderstood, because the meaning of the word changes dramatically. Thus, the word “bed”, when pronounced correctly, will mean “bed”, and when deafened with a final voiced sound, it will mean “bet”.

This oversight is also completely acceptable, as if in Russian, instead of a voiced consonant before a vowel, we pronounced its dull paired sound. Then instead of the word “daughter” we would be able to say “period” or instead of complaining about “fever” we would boast about “ball”. Therefore, never deafen voiced consonants in English.

Features of English voiced consonants

Another feature of our speech is palatalization (softening) of consonant sounds. Along with hard sounds, there are soft analogues that are paired with them. The meaning of the word depends on hardness or softness: flax - laziness. In English consonants are never softened, they are always hard. That’s why foreigners say the funny “lublu” instead of “love.”

So, in English there are 8 voiced consonants in their pure form: [ b, d, ʤ, g, v, ð, z, ʒ ], they are also called weak. When they are pronounced, the organs of articulation begin to move, the vocal cords vibrate, but the air pressure is sluggish. And the sound of the voice is much stronger than the noise they make. That's why they are called voiced.

Pronunciation of consonants A characteristic mistake of English learners is that almost all consonants are easily replaced by “analogous” Russian sounds. Then the main attention is given to vowels. However, English voiced consonants also require sufficient attention. In pronunciation, almost no sound agrees 100%.

Remember the two main rules of articulation of English consonants:

• Don't soften
• Don't stun

Then you will have virtually no problems. Now let's move on to watching the training video.

Video on how to correctly pronounce voiced consonants

Let's study the main features of the sound of voiced phonemes with the help of short video lessons:

Similar to our "b". In writing it is expressed through a single or double letter “b”:

• b - tribe
• bb-cabbage

Similar to "d". Denoted by the following combinations:

• d - splendid
• dd-ladder

The short “d” before the soft “zh” is pronounced together. It is strictly forbidden to separate them; the sounds must come together. It is represented by the following combinations and letters:

• j - jealous
• g-origin
• dg-ridge

Correlates with "g". Expressed using the following letters:

• gg - aggression
• g - guess
• x-exist

Read as "v". Indicated in writing by “v”:

• v - move
• v-vest

One of the most complex phonemes. You need to hold your tongue between your teeth and try to say “z.” The result should be something between “z” and “t”. If a clear “z” is heard, this means that the tongue is not sticking out enough, and if there is a “t”, then it is clamped too tightly. Sent via "th":

• th - breathe
• th - then

Correlates with our “z”. Expressed with the letters “s” and “z” if they are placed between vowels, as well as with the help of “x” if it is at the very beginning of the word and a double “zz”:

• x-xylophone
• s-disaster
• z - zero
• zz - muzzle

This sound corresponds to our soft “zh”. It is conveyed in writing using the letters “s” and “g” and the letter connection “sure”:

• sure - measure
• s - casual
• g-massage

Carefully monitor the position of the articulatory apparatus of the video lecture teacher. Try to repeat as accurately as possible after the speaker. The training video will help you copy the maximum sound.

I wish you pleasant viewing and a useful time!

The sound composition of the English language, as is known, involves division into two large groups: vowels (vowels) and consonants (consonants). There are slightly fewer vowels than consonants (20 to 24), and there are also more categories of consonants. Consonants in the English language have quite a few varieties, and the main classifications are given according to their sound and the characteristics of the functioning of the speech apparatus during their pronunciation. It is important to understand the features of this division in order to distinguish the pronunciation of consonant sounds in English from Russian and to understand what principles underlie the operation of the speech apparatus.

Features of consonants

If we compare consonants and vowels, it can be noted that vowels are mainly formed with the help of the voice, while consonant sounds in English are formed with the help of almost all organs of the speech apparatus, which include teeth, tongue, alveoli, lips.

To distinguish the pronunciation of a particular word, transcription is usually used, where specific designations of sounds are displayed, which should not be confused with letters.

As already mentioned, there are quite a few classifications of consonants, which are pronounced differently mainly due to the peculiarities of the arrangement of the elements of the speech apparatus and articulation. It is important to know these varieties and navigate them in order to pronounce the words as correctly and in English as possible.

Classification of consonants from the point of view of the use of the organs of the speech apparatus

The many types of consonants are due to different ways of their pronunciation, when parts of the structural apparatus become in certain positions.

Occlusive

Thus, stop sounds are popular. They are called that because by pronouncing them, the speaker blocks access to air. This type of consonants is also called stop-plosive, since their pronunciation is accompanied by a certain explosion and noise is created. This includes sounds such as . For example, the formation of the sound g is possible with the help of the tongue, which tenses and pushes in a peculiar way, and the lips are involved in the formation of b.

Slotted

If the closure of the organs is not complete, the resulting sounds will be called fricative. They are usually pronounced using the tongue ( [ð, θ ]) or lips ( ). The first examples are also called interdental sounds, since when they are pronounced, the tongue takes a position between the teeth.

Occlusion-slit

Special sounds are called closure-fissure sounds, where, as it becomes clear, closure of the organs of the speech apparatus and pronunciation through the fissure occur simultaneously. These include some specific sounds that are not similar to Russian ones. For example, (j) or , which is consonant with the Russian part.

Nasals

Another type of consonant associated with closure is called transitive consonants. Some of the air passes through the oral cavity, but there is still a barrier. An example of such consonants is . These same sounds are called nasal consonants, as air passes through the nasal cavity.

Dental

A separate category is occupied by dental sounds, which in English are more often called alveolar sounds due to the principle of connecting the tongue with the corresponding organ of the speech apparatus. Examples – .

Labial

Some English consonant sounds are called labiolabial and labiodental consonants. So, when the upper and lower sounds come closer together, the first version of consonant is obtained ( ), and when the lower lips touch the upper teeth, the second type is obtained ( ).

Voiced and voiceless consonants

Voiced and voiceless consonants in English have a separate large classification. These varieties of consonants are assessed in terms of the functioning of the vocal cords. Voiced consonants in English are formed by tensing the larynx, and voiceless consonants are formed by relaxing the vocal cords. Voiced consonants ( b, m, n, d…) cause vibrations of the ligaments, and deaf ones ( s, k, t, h…) - No.

Some consonants are considered partially unpronounceable. For example, the sound r may not be taken into account, but as a separate element it is pronounced in a very unusual way: the tongue takes on the shape of a bowl, the edges of which rise to the back upper teeth. However, such a concept as unpronounceable consonants is still more typical for Russian than for English.

The following table will help you structure all the previously described groups:

Thus, the English language has quite a few varieties of consonants, which differ in pronunciation features and have different approaches to articulation and placement of elements of the speech apparatus. Orientation in these categories will allow you to avoid errors in pronunciation and phonetically get as close as possible to native speakers.

Sounds of English- this is a difficult and quite voluminous topic that will require perseverance and patience from you. In order for you to master this level more easily and quickly, I suggest you work with English sounds in the table. If you remember, there are 44 sounds in the British pronunciation system, and it is with them that we will work. The peculiarities of American pronunciation can be found in a separate article. For convenience, the table is divided into separate theoretical blocks, which tell how to correctly pronounce a particular sound.

Before you begin, be sure to read the following information:

British English has 44 sounds:

24 consonants:

• paired, voiced and unvoiced:
  /b/-/p/, /z/-/s/, /d/-/t/, /v/-/f/, /dʒ/-/tʃ/, /ʒ/-/ʃ/, /ð /-/θ/, /g/-/k/
• unpaired, voiced and voiceless:
  /l/, /m/, /n/, /j/, /r/, /w/, /h/, /ŋ/

With consonant sounds, everything is more or less clear: paired - unpaired, voiced - voiceless. From the school course on phonetics of the Russian language, we know about these categories. We also know that in Russian consonants can be soft and hard. In English there is no concept of softness and hardness of consonant sounds. There is the concept of palatalization - softening consonants in position before some vowels, by raising the back of the tongue to the hard palate. What exactly is the difference? The thing is that in Russian the softness and hardness of consonant sounds affects the semantic meaning of the word. Compare: “empty” - “let”, “out” - “stench”, “weight” - “all”. In English, softening consonant sounds does not affect the meaning of words, but is only the result of a mechanical change in sound in the flow of speech.

20 vowels:

• closed, long and short:
  /iː/, /ɪ/, /uː/, /ʊ/
• medium-open, long and short:
  /e/, /ɜː/, /ə/, /ɔː/
• open, long and short:
  /æ/, /ʌ/, /ɑː/, /ɒ/
• diphthongs:
  /eɪ/, /aɪ/, /ɔɪ/, /aʊ/, /əʊ/, /ɪə/, /eə/, /ʊə/

With vowels it’s a little more complicated: closed, open, mid-open. What are we talking about? About the position of the tongue in the oral cavity. When pronouncing open vowels, the tongue lies low in the mouth and does not touch the palate. Pronounce the Russian sound /a/, which is open, and notice that the tongue lies low in the mouth. When pronouncing closed vowels, the tongue is very close to the palate. Pronounce the Russian sound /i/, which is closed, and notice that the tongue curves the back, like a kitten, and the back almost touches the hard palate. When pronouncing mid-open ones, the tongue takes an intermediate position. Pronounce the Russian sound /e/, which is mid-open and remember the position of the tongue. Long and short vowels. What are we talking about? About the duration of sound pronunciation. Long sounds last longer than short ones. The longitude of a sound in English transcription is indicated as a colon sign, followed by the sound sign /iː/, /ɜː/, /ɑː/, /ɔː/. Diphthongs. What is this? This is a sound consisting of two vowel sounds, the first element of the diphthong sounds stressed, and the second weak. Well, now you can start working on English sounds in the table.

/æ/	We open our mouth in order to pronounce the Russian sound /a/, but at the same time we pronounce the sound /e/. To avoid mistakes like the Russian sound /e/, you should open your mouth wider, the tip of the tongue remaining at the lower teeth. In case of an error such as the Russian sound /a/, you should press the tip of your tongue to your lower teeth and open your mouth wider. (open, short)
/ɪ/	We open our mouth in order to pronounce the Russian sound /и/, but at the same time we try to pronounce the sound /ы/. To avoid mistakes like the Russian sound /и/, you should not raise your tongue too high, you need to pull it back slightly and shorten the sound. If you make an error like Russian /ы/, you should move your tongue forward, stretch your lips and shorten the sound as much as possible. (closed, short)
/e/	We pronounce the Russian words “chalk”, “warmed”, “stump”, “cedar”. We remember how the letter “e” sounds when pronounced in these words and use it as the sound /e/ in English. If you make an error like Russian /e/, you should open your mouth less, stretch your lips slightly and move your tongue forward. (medium open, short)
/ɒ/	We pronounce the Russian sound /o/, but do not extend our lips forward. In case of an error like Russian /o/, you should open your mouth wider, lower and move your tongue lower, rounding your lips, do not pull them forward and slightly shorten the sound. (open, short)
/ʊ/	We pronounce the Russian sound /у/, but at the same time we arch the back of our tongue, almost touching the hard palate with it and do not stretch our lips forward. The lips are slightly rounded. In case of an error such as the Russian vowel /у/, which is an open sound, we monitor the position of the tongue, ensuring that the sound is closed and do not stretch the lips forward. (closed, short)
/b/	They practically correspond to the Russian sound /b/, but when pronounced at the end of a word, unlike the Russian sound, it is practically not deafened. Compare "oak" - /dup/ and "Bob" - /bob/.
/p/	It is similar to the Russian sound /p/, but is pronounced more dull. The dull sound is produced as a result of aspiration. That is, the opening of the lips seems to be exhaled, and does not occur with an explosion. The sound is a bit like /pf/ or /ph/. In addition, at the end of words, English /p/ sounds strong, and does not weaken like Russian /p/.
/g/	It is similar to the Russian sound /g/, but sounds less sonorous at the beginning of words and is practically not deafened at the end of words.
/k/	Similar to the Russian sound /k/, but sounds more energetic and is pronounced with aspiration. The sound is a bit like /kf/ or /kh/.
/d/	We pronounce the Russian sound /d/, but at the same time we do not touch the upper teeth with the tip of the tongue, but place it on the alveoli (tubercles on the hard palate, behind the upper teeth). Unlike the Russian consonant /d/, the English /d/ at the end of words is partially deafened.
/t/	We pronounce the Russian sound /t/, but at the same time we do not touch the upper teeth with the tip of the tongue, but place it on the alveoli (tubercles on the hard palate, behind the upper teeth). The English voiceless consonant /t/ is stronger than the Russian /t/ and is pronounced aspirated. The resulting sound is a bit like /tf/ or /th/.
/n/	We pronounce the Russian sound /n/, but at the same time we do not touch the upper teeth with the tip of the tongue, but place it on the alveoli (tubercles on the hard palate, behind the upper teeth).
/h/	It resembles the Russian sound /х/, but is not pronounced energetically with an explosion, but is only a light exhalation. Occurs only before vowels. If you make an error like Russian /х/, you should weaken the consonant until you exhale lightly.

pig, pet, put, pot, pan - /pɪɡ/, /pet/, /ˈpʊt/, /pɒt/, /pæn/

big, ben, book, bog, ban - /bɪɡ/, /ben/, /bʊk/, /bɒɡ/, /bæn/

dig, den, hood, dog, bad - /dɪɡ/, /den/, /hʊd/, /dɒɡ/, /bæd/

tip, ten, took, top, tap - /ˈtɪp/, /ten/, /tʊk/, /tɒp/, /tæp/

get, gig, good, god, gap - /ˈɡet/, /ɡɪɡ/, /ɡʊd/, /ɡɒd/, /ɡæp/

kit, Ken, cook, cod, cap - /kɪt/, /ken/, /kʊk/, /kɒd/, /kæp/

Nick, net, nook, not, Nat - /nɪk/, /net/, /nʊk/, /nɒt/, /næt/

hit, hen, hook, hot, ham - /hɪt/, /hen/, /hʊk/, /hɒt/, /hæm/

Don't try to work through everything at once. Yes, you won’t be able to do this, since the amount of work with sounds is designed for several astronomical hours, at a minimum. Work through the theory in blocks, be sure to complete the exercises at the end of the block. The main thing in learning a language is regularity. It is better to work 15-20 minutes every day than 2-3 hours once a week.

Pay attention to the pronunciation of long vowel sounds and the pronunciation of consonant sounds, which have no analogues in the Russian language.

/ɑː/	We pronounce the Russian sound /a/, but at the same time we pull the tip of the tongue away from the lower teeth as far back as possible, without straining our lips. If you make an error like Russian /a/, you should pull your tongue back and lengthen the vowel somewhat and not open your mouth too wide. (open, long)
/ɔː/	We pronounce the Russian sound /o/, but at the same time we pull the tip of the tongue away from the lower teeth as far back as possible, without straining our lips or pulling them forward. If you make an error like Russian /o/, you should strive for a more open pronunciation and do not pull your lips forward. Compared to English /ɑː/, the /ɔː/ sound is less open. (open, long)
/uː/	We pronounce the Russian sound /у/, but at the same time we do not stretch our lips forward, we round our lips, but do not tense them. In the process of pronouncing the sound /u:/, we pull the tip of the tongue away from the lower teeth as far back as possible. In case of an error like Russian /у/, you should first of all ensure that the lips are rounded, but not pulled forward. (closed, long)
/l/	We pronounce the Russian sound /l/, but at the same time we place the tip of the tongue on the alveoli (tubercles on the hard palate). The English sound /l/ has two sounds: hard (at the end of words and before consonants) sounds softer than hard Russian /l/ soft (before vowels and before the consonant /j/) sounds harder than the soft Russian /l"/
/m/	We pronounce the Russian sound /m/, but at the same time we tense our lips more.
/r/	We are preparing to pronounce the Russian sound /zh/, but at the same time we are trying to pronounce the Russian sound /r/. To pronounce the sound correctly, we make sure that the tip of the tongue is behind the alveoli (tubercles on the hard palate), but does not touch them, remains tense and motionless.
/w/	There is no similar sound in the Russian language. Vaguely similar to the Russian sound /ua/. To correctly pronounce this sound, we stretch our lips forward as for pronouncing the Russian sound /у/, while the lips are tense and rounded, in this position we try to quickly pronounce the Russian sound /v/. In case of an error like Russian /v/, make sure that the lower lip does not come into contact with the upper teeth and upper lip. In case of an error like Russian /ы/, we strain and round our lips even more.
/ŋ/	There is no similar sound in the Russian language. To pronounce this sound correctly, we press the back of the tongue against the soft palate and try to pronounce the Russian sound /n/. In case of an error like Russian /n/, open your mouth wider and make sure that the tip of the tongue does not touch the upper teeth or alveoli, but is located at the roots of the lower teeth.
/v/	Almost corresponds to the Russian sound /v/. English /v/ sounds weaker than Russian /v/, but at the end of words it is practically not deafened.
/f/	Almost corresponds to the English sound /f/. English /f/ sounds stronger than Russian /f/, especially at the end of words
/z/	Almost corresponds to the Russian sound /z/. But it sounds weaker. At the end of words there is almost no deafening.
/s/	Almost corresponds to the Russian sound /s/. But it sounds much more energetic.
/ð/	There is no similar sound in the Russian language. In order to pronounce this sound correctly, we place the tip of the tongue between the upper and lower front teeth and try to pronounce the Russian sound /z/. At the end of words, this English voiced consonant is almost unvoiced. In case of an error like Russian /з/, we make sure that the tip of the tongue does not hide behind the teeth. In case of an error like Russian /d/, make sure that the tongue is not pressed against the upper teeth; there should be a small gap between the tip of the tongue and the upper teeth. In case of an error like Russian /v/, make sure that the lower lip is lowered.
/θ/	There is no similar sound in the Russian language. In order to pronounce this sound correctly, we place the tip of the tongue between the upper and lower front teeth and try to pronounce the Russian sound /s/. In case of an error like Russian /s/, make sure that the tip of the tongue does not hide behind the teeth. In case of an error like Russian /t/, make sure that the tongue is not pressed against the upper teeth; there should be a small gap between the tip of the tongue and the upper teeth. In case of an error like Russian /f/, make sure that the lower lip is lowered.

lark, look, lips, last - /lɑːk/, /lʊk/, /lɪps/, /lɑːst/

mood, moon, mask, mast - /muːd/, /muːn/, /mɑːsk/, /mɑːst/
rude, red, rock, room - /ruːd/, /red/, /rɒk/, /ruːm/
what, when, well, wool - /ˈwɒt/, /wen/, /wel/, /wʊl/
sing, sink, wink, pink - /sɪŋ/, /sɪŋk/, /wɪŋk/, /pɪŋk/
zip, zink, zing, zoo - /zɪp/, /ˈzɪŋk/, /zɪŋ/, /zuː/
silky, swim, sick, soon - /ˈsɪlki/, /swɪm/, /sɪk/, /suːn/
vase, voodoo, vest, vast - /vɑːz/, /ˈvuː.duː/, /vest/, /vɑːst/
farm, fool, food, fast - /fɑːm/, /fuːl/, /fuːd/, /fɑːst/
thin, think, threat, theft - /θɪn/, /ˈθɪŋk/, /θret/, /θeft/
this, the, then, them - /ðɪs/, /ði:/, /ðen/, /ðəm/
four, store, fork, door - /fɔː/, /stɔː/, /fɔːk/, /dɔː/

If you are reading these lines, it means you have worked through the first two blocks and you have successfully mastered as much as 50% of this difficult topic. Please accept my congratulations and let me praise you for your diligence, hard work and patience! After all, these are precisely the qualities that will lead you to triumph on the path to mastering the English language. Starting work on the third block English sounds in the table, do not forget that “repetition is the mother of learning.” Therefore, be sure to return to the completed blocks and do not be lazy to repeat them!

Pay attention to the pronunciation of the neutral sound /ə/, long vowels, and diphthongs.

/ə/	There is no similar sound in the Russian language. We pronounce the Russian words “mint”, “guys”, “Volodya”, the sound of the letter “ya” in these words vaguely resembles the English sound /ə/, only it sounds unstressed, weak, unclear, almost imperceptible. In case of an error such as the Russian unstressed /a/ as in the word “summer” - /l"`et A/, raise the entire tongue to the hard palate. (medium open, short)
/ɜː/	There is no similar sound in the Russian language. We pronounce the Russian words “plait”, “bloom”, “chalk”, the sound of the letter “ё” in these words vaguely resembles the English sound /з:/. When pronouncing this sound, we make sure that the tip of the tongue is at the lower teeth, the distance between the upper and lower teeth is kept small, we do not stretch our lips, we achieve their neutral position. (medium open, long)
/iː/	It vaguely resembles the Russian sound of “ii” in the words “strong”, “marked”, “rare”. Two-level sound, i.e. sounds heterogeneous in the initial and final positions. In the initial position, the tongue is in the front of the mouth, the tip of the tongue touches the lower teeth, the middle part of the tongue is raised high to the hard palate, the lips are somewhat stretched. During the pronunciation process, the tongue moves from a lower and pushed back position to a higher and forward position. (closed, long)
/eɪ/	It’s a bit reminiscent of the Russian sound of “hey” in the words “bolder”, “more cheerful”, “warm up”. The core of the diphthong is the mid-open, short vowel sound /e/. After pronouncing the nucleus, the tongue makes a slight upward movement in the direction of the sound /ɪ/, without, however, achieving its complete formation. Pronunciation of a sound like Russian /th/ should not be allowed. (diphthong)
/aʊ/	A bit reminiscent of the Russian sound of “ay” in the words “round”, “bounty”. In case of an error like Russian /ay/ we make sure that the second element sounds unstressed and weakened. (diphthong)
/eə/	The core of the diphthong is the English mid-open short vowel /e/, the second element is the unstressed English vowel /ə/. (diphthong)
/ʒ/	We pronounce the Russian sound /zh/ but at the same time soften its sound.
/ʃ/	We pronounce the Russian sound /sh/ but at the same time soften its sound.
/j/	It is similar to the Russian sound /й/, but has a weaker pronunciation.

pleasure, treasure, measure, leisure - /ˈpleʒə/, /ˈtreʒə/, /ˈmeʒə/, /ˈleʒə/
should, shake, shame, shirt - /ʃʊd/, /ʃeɪk/, /ʃeɪm/, /ʃɜːt/
yes, yet, you, your - /jes/, /jet/, /ju/, /jə/
world, work, heard, word, bird - /wɜːld/, /ˈwɜːk/, /hɜːd/, /ˈwɜːd/, /bɜːd/
never, ever, fever, river - /ˈnevə/, /ˈevə/, /ˈfiːvə/, /ˈr.və/
sea, eat, beef, these, beans - /siː/, /iːt/, /biːf/, /ðiːz/, /biːnz/
stay, hey, play, hate, game - /steɪ/, /heɪ/, /ˈpleɪ/, /heɪt/, /ɡeɪm/
how, now, about, round, ground - /ˈhaʊ/, /naʊ/, /əˈbaʊt/, /ˈraʊnd/, /ɡraʊnd/
wear, hair, player, repair, theirs - /weə/, /heə/, /ˈpleɪə/, /rɪˈpeə/, /ðeəz/

Hooray! You have to master the last block English sounds in the table. This means that very soon you will begin to easily read the transcription of English words in the dictionary and begin working with them independently in our word library, which was created so that you develop and expand your vocabulary.

Pay attention to the pronunciation of the short sound /ʌ/, diphthongs, consonants, which have no analogues in the Russian language.

/dʒ/	There is no similar sound in the Russian language. A bit reminiscent of the Russian sound "dzh". In order to avoid mistakes like the Russian “j”, we make sure that both components sound together and not separately as in the words “jam”, “jazz”. Prepare to pronounce the Russian sound /ch/, but at the same time pronounce “dzh”.
/tʃ/	It resembles the Russian sound /ch/, but sounds harder.
/ʌ/	Pronounce the Russian sound /a/, but at the same time pull your tongue back, keep your mouth half open and your lips neutral. In case of an error like Russian /a/, the language should be reversed. English /ʌ/ sounds shorter than Russian /a/. (open, short)
/aɪ/	A bit reminiscent of the Russian sound of “ai” in the words “paradise” and “boycott”. In case of an error like Russian /ai/, we make sure that the second element sounds unstressed and weakened. (diphthong)
/ɔɪ/	A bit reminiscent of the Russian sound of “oy” in the words “fight”, “hero”. The nucleus of a diphthong is something between a long /ɔː/ and short /ɒ/. In case of an error like /oy/, the first element of the diphthong should be made more open, and the second element weakened. (diphthong)
/əʊ/	There is no similar sound in the Russian language. The diphthong core is close in sound to English /з:/. After pronouncing the nucleus, the tongue makes a slight upward movement and moves back in the direction of articulation [ʊ]. In case of an error like Russian /оу/, we do not extend our lips forward. In case of an error like Russian /eu/, we do not stretch our lips, we round them. (diphthong)
/ɪə/	There is no similar sound in the Russian language. The core of the diphthong is the short vowel /ɪ/. After pronouncing the nucleus, the tongue moves towards the center in the direction of /ə/. To avoid mistakes like Russian /ia/, we make sure that the second element of the diphthong sounds weakened. (diphthong)
/ʊə/	There is no similar sound in the Russian language. The core of the diphthong is the short vowel /ʊ/. After pronouncing the nucleus, the tongue moves towards the center in the direction of /ə/. To avoid mistakes like the Russian /ua/, we do not round or protrude our lips forward, and make sure that the second element of the diphthong sounds weakened. (diphthong)

jug, jog, gem, general, jeep - /dʒʌɡ/, /dʒɒɡ/, /dʒem/, /ˈdʒenrəl/, /dʒiːp/
chest, chair, chain, choose, cheap - /tʃest/, /tʃeə/, /tʃeɪn/, /tʃuːz/, /tʃiːp/
why, tie, buy, fly - /waɪ/, /taɪ/, /baɪ/, /flaɪ/
boy, toy, joy, voice, employ - /ˌbɔɪ/, /tɔɪ/, /dʒɔɪ/, /vɔɪs/, /ɪmˈplo.ɪ/
near, dear, beer, here, gear - /nɪə/, /dɪə/, /bɪə/, /hɪə/, /ɡɪə/
pure, sure, tour, cure, lure - /pjʊə/, /ʃʊə/, /tʊə/, /kjʊə/, /lʊə/
cup, nut, mug, sun, bud - /kʌp/, /nʌt/, /mʌɡ/, /sʌn/, /bʌd/

Congratulations on your successful completion English sounds in the table! Now you can move on to mastering the second stage in learning English phonetics. Namely, learn the rules of word stress, the rules of copula and reduction of sounds, which will be discussed in our next article