Soft consonants in the word understood. Consonants and letters

In Russian, voiced and voiceless consonants differ in the participation / non-participation of the voice in the formation of a consonant.

The following consonants are voiced: [b], [b'], [c], [c'], [g], [g'], [e], [d'], [g], [h], [h'], [ d'], [l], [l'], [m], [m'], [n], [n'], [p], [p'].

The voiced sound is also [zh ’], found in the speech of individuals in the words yeast, reins and some others.

The following consonants are deaf: [ k], [k'], [n], [n'], [s], [s'], [t], [t'], [f], [f'], [x], [x '] [c], [h'], [w], [u'].

To remember which consonants are deaf, there is a mnemonic rule (rule for remembering): in the phrase “Styopka, do you want a shetz?” - "Fi!" contains all voiceless consonants.

There are 11 pairs of consonants opposed by deafness / voicedness: [b] - [p], [b '] - [p '], [c] - [f], [c '] - [f '], [g] - [k], [g '] - [k '], [d] - [t], [d '] - [t '], [s] - [s], [s '] - [s '], [g] - [w]. The listed sounds are, respectively, either voiced pairs or deaf pairs.

The remaining consonants are characterized as unpaired. Voiced unpaired ones include [d '], [l], [l '], [m], [m '], [n], [n '], [p], [p '], to deaf unpaired - sounds [x], [x'], [c], [h'], [u'].

But the appearance of a voiceless or voiced sound can be predetermined by its position in the word. Such deafness / voicedness turns out to be dependent, “forced”, and the positions in which this occurs are considered weak in terms of deafness / voicedness.

Voiced pairs are deafened (or rather, they change to deaf ones)

1) at the absolute end of the word: pond [rod];

2) in front of the deaf: booth [butka].

Deaf paired consonants before voiced ones, except [v], [v'], [d'], [l], [l'], [m], [m'], [n], [n'], [p], [p '], are voiced, that is, they change to voiced: threshing [malad'baʹa].

Consonants can be soft or solid. For example, in the word "hand" one hears hard consonant[p], and in the word "river" - soft. On the softness of consonants may influence vowels and soft sign. In the word "chalk" consonant[l] sounds hard, but in the word "stranded" - softly.

The softness of the consonant denoted by adding a character to its notation " , for example: [p"].

How to distinguish a soft consonant from a hard one? When pronouncing soft consonant sound the tongue rises more towards the palate and narrows the passage through which the air passes than during pronunciation hard consonant sound. For example, in the word "break" when pronouncing the first consonant sound [p "], the air passes through a narrower gap than when pronouncing the second consonant sound [p].

Always soft sounds: [th '], [h '], [u '].

Always solid sounds: [g], [w], [c].

Other sounds are soft if they are immediately followed by vowels e, e, i, u, i or b, and solid if they are followed by other vowels and consonants.

CHECK YOURSELF

However, these rules there are exceptions:

1) Consonants sounds [h], [s] can soften before soft [n '], [d '], [t '], for example: "grasshopper", "bullfinch", "lead", "everywhere".

2) In some foreign words included in the Russian language, the consonant is pronounced firmly, but after the letter denoting it, still spelled e, not e as it sounds. For example, in the words: "computer", "test", "tempo".

The speech of a person, especially a native speaker, should be not only correct, but also beautiful, emotional, expressive. Voice, diction, and consistent orthoepic norms are important here.

The ability to pronounce sounds correctly consists of practical exercises (voice training: volume, timbre, flexibility, diction, etc.) and knowledge of when this or that sound pronunciation is appropriate (orthoepic norms).

Before talking about letters that denote soft consonant phonemes, we should recall the basic phonetic concepts and terms.

Phonetics: sounds and letters

Let's start with the fact that there are no soft consonants in the words of the Russian language. Since sound is what we hear and pronounce, it is elusive, it is an indivisible part of speech, which is obtained as a result of human articulation. A letter is just a graphic symbol denoting a particular sound. We see and write them.

There is no complete correspondence between them. In one word, the number of letters and sounds may not match. The Russian alphabet consists of thirty-three letters, and in speech there are forty-seven sounds.

When reading or writing, there are two ways to indicate soft consonants.

If a soft consonant ends a word or comes before another consonant, then it is denoted by "ь". For example: a blizzard, a stolnik, etc. Important: when writing, the softness of a consonant is determined by "b" only if it stands in the same root words before both the soft and the hard consonant in different cases (flax - flax). Most often, when two soft consonants stand side by side, after the first "b" is not used in writing.
If a soft consonant is followed by a vowel, then it is determined by letters i, yu, i, yo, e. For example: carried, sat down, tulle, etc.

Even when applying the syllabic principle, there are problems with e before a consonant, they are so deep that they turn into orthoepy. Some scholars believe that a necessary condition for euphony is the ban on writing e after hard consonants, because this grapheme defines soft consonants and interferes with the correct pronunciation of hard ones. I have a suggestion to replace e to unambiguous uh. Before the introduction, unified spelling of syllables e - e in 1956, the paired spelling of such words (adequate - adequate) was actively and legally practiced. But the unification did not solve the main problem. Replacing e with uh after hard consonants, obviously, will not be an ideal solution either, new words in Russian appear more and more often, and in which case to write this or that letter remains debatable.

Orthoepy

Let's go back to where we started - our speech - it is due to orthoepy. On the one hand, these are the developed norms for the correct pronunciation, and on the other hand, it is a science that studies, substantiates and establishes these norms.

Orthoepy serves the Russian language, blurs the lines between dialects, so that it is easier for people to understand each other. So that, communicating with each other, representatives of different regions think about what they are saying, and not about how this or that word sounded from the interlocutor.

The foundation of the Russian language and, consequently, pronunciation is the Moscow dialect. It was in the capital of Russia that sciences began to develop, including orthoepy, so the norms prescribe us to speak - to pronounce sounds like Muscovites.

Orthoepy gives one correct way of pronunciation, rejecting all others, but at the same time sometimes allows options that are considered correct.

Despite clear, understandable and simple rules, orthoepy notes many features, nuances and exceptions in how letters are pronounced, denoting a soft consonant sound and a hard ...

Orthoepy: soft and hard consonants

What letters are soft consonants? H, w, th In no case should you pronounce hard sounds instead of soft sounds. But this rule is violated, falling under the influence of the Belarusian language and even Russian dialects, reprimands. Remember how the word sounds in this Slavic group more, for example.

L- this is a paired consonant sound, respectively, standing directly before the consonant or at the end of the word, it should sound solid. Before oh, a, uh, uh, s also (tent, corner, skier), but in some words that came to us more often from foreign languages, whose speakers live mainly in Europe, and which are proper names, l pronounced almost softly (La Scala, La Rochelle, La Fleur).

The last consonants in the prefix in front of a hard sign, even if letters denoting a soft consonant sound follow, are pronounced firmly (entrance, announcement). But for consonants With and h this rule is not in full force. Sounds With and h in this case, they can be pronounced in two ways (congress - [s "] rides - [s] rides).

The rules of orthoepy state that you cannot soften the final consonant in a word, even if they merge with the next word starting with e (in this, to the equator, with emu). If such a consonant softens in speech, this indicates that a person communicates through a colloquial style.

"b" also belongs to the list of "soft consonants" and the sounds before it should be pronounced softly, even sounds m, b, p, c, f in words such as seven, eight, hole, shipyard, etc. Pronounce soft sounds firmly in front of " b"is unacceptable. Only in the words eight hundred and seven hundred m may not have a soft, but a hard sound.

What letters denote soft consonants, you need to remember clearly - e, yu, yo, i, and.

So, in many foreign words before e the consonant sound is not softened. This often happens with lips. m, f, c, b, p. P- Chopin, coupe; b- Bernard Show; in- Solveig; f- auto-da-fé; m- reputation, consommé.

Much more often than these consonants, firmly before e dental consonants sound r, n, z, s, d, t. R- Reichswehr, Roerich; n- pince-nez, tour; h- chimpanzee, Bizet; With- highway, Musset; d- dumping, a masterpiece; t- pantheon, aesthetics.

Thus, letters of soft consonants have a fairly definite composition, but fall under a number of exceptions.

Today, almost all children know the letters and the alphabet already in early childhood. However, it is recommended to learn letters without naming the letters as they sound in the alphabet. Letters must be learned with sounds. Speaking of the letter "B", it is necessary to call it [b], and not "be". This is necessary in order to make it easier for the child to combine letters into syllables and words.

However, the world of sounds is not limited to this. And when the baby grows up, he will have to master such concepts as vowels, hard, soft, paired, deaf and voiced consonants. I invite you to talk today about such different sounds. We will talk about this in a fairy-tale form, in the form closest to children's perception. I invite you to phonetic tale . This is an expanded version of the fairy tale about sounds, presented in.

So, friendly letters live in a hospitable. And the sounds created a great Kingdom called Phonetics.

Kingdom of Sounds - Phonetics

In the kingdom of the sounds of the Russian language Phonetics lived together - fared vowels and consonants sounds. Each sound had its own home. The houses of vowels were painted red, while those of consonants were painted blue. But the roofs of all the houses were white and changed by themselves when the sounds went to visit each other.

Total in the kingdom 42 inhabitants: 6 vowels [a], [e], [o], [y], [i], [s] and 36 consonants. They lived together and often visited each other. And every time they visited each other, magic happened: as soon as they held hands, new sounds for new words were obtained.

Vowel sounds loved to sing. Therefore, music always sounded in their houses. But the consonant sounds did not work at all. But they were very malleable and always and in everything "agreed" with vowels. However, they could become hard or soft . For example, the sound [p]. In the word "saw" sounds soft, but in a word "dust"- firmly. And all because the sound [and] softened [p], and the sound [s], on the contrary, gave it hardness.

This is how consonants, holding hands with vowels, become soft or hard at their request.

However, there were also “naughty” sounds in the kingdom. And although they lived in blue houses and were called consonants, they did not want to change in any way. And it happened on the day when, sitting idly on the benches, they argued who is more important: vowels or consonants. And the sounds [and],[w] and [c] decided to become independent and not obey anyone, especially vowels. They proclaimed themselves to be hard sounds that would never, under any circumstances, become soft! And as proof of their firm decision, they painted the white roofs of their houses in dark blue.

But compliant and non-conflict sounds [sch],[th] and [h] they were very upset and afraid that the balance of the ratio of sounds would be disturbed in the kingdom and decided to remain soft forever. And so that all the inhabitants of Phonetics knew about this, they painted the roofs of their houses green.

However, soon 2 more inhabitants appeared in the kingdom of Phonetics - soft and hard signs. But they did not violate the unity of the sound world. The soft sign helped the consonants to become soft, and the hard sign helped them to become hard. They built themselves white houses and all lived peacefully and amicably.

But the inhabitants of the Kingdom of Phonetics were famous not only for their hard and soft characters. Many of them had and still have their own special preferences. Some sounds loved the sound of falling leaves, while others loved the sound of rain. They even built separate quarters for themselves so that in one - the bell always rings loudly, and in the other - as if under a dome - deaf and noisy ... So voiced and voiceless consonants . A river flows between the quarters.

So the sounds [r], [l], [m], [n], [d], [b], [g], [c], [d], [g], [s] settled in the quarter with the bell . And in a quiet quarter - [p], [f], [t], [w], [s], [k], [x], [c], [h], [u]. And some letters became so friendly that they connected their houses with bridges. So there is a bridge between the sounds p-b, f-v, t-d, sh-zh, s-z and k-g. it paired consonants .

This is how the amazing Kingdom of Phonetics lives. Sounds go to visit each other, change, adjust, make noise, shout, sing ... They have fun. And in this fun words are born, from them sentences that make up our speech. By the way, it happens ... But by the way, we'll talk about this another time.

How to learn soft and hard consonants

These are the complex relationships between sounds. To make it easier for my son to draw phonetic word patterns, we made very convenient clouds with him. It is very easy to determine the hardness or softness of consonant sounds from them.

Read about how we learned hard and soft consonants with the help of clouds.

How to distinguish between voiced and voiceless consonants

And a very simple technique helped us to make it easier for the child to distinguish between voiced and deaf consonants. Naming the sound, press your palm to your neck. If the sound is sonorous, then vibration (trembling) of the vocal cords is felt. If the sound is muffled, there will be no vibration.

For the same purposes, we used the picture with houses and bridges across the river, which you saw above.

Enjoy your acquaintance with the world of Phonetics!

All the best!

We invite you to watch a fascinating video on our video channel "Workshop on the Rainbow"

Letter "y": hard or soft? This question is often asked by students who need to parse a word according to all the rules of phonetics. You will get the answer to it a little further.

General information

Before talking about what the letter “y” is (soft or hard), you should find out why the letters of the Russian alphabet are generally divided according to such criteria.

The fact is that each word has its own sound shell, which consists of separate sounds. It should be noted that the sound of this or that expression is fully consistent with its meaning. At the same time, different words and their forms have completely different sound design. The sounds themselves don't matter. However, they play an important role in the Russian language. After all, thanks to them, we can easily distinguish words. Here's an example:

[house] - [lady´] - [do´ma];
[m'el] - [m'el'], [volume] - [there], [house] - [volume].

Transcription

Why do we need information about what the letter "y" is (hard or soft)? During a word, it is very important to correctly display the transcription that describes its sound. In such a system, it is customary to use the following symbols:

This designation is called They must be put to designate transcription.

[´] is an accent. It is placed if the word has more than one syllable.

[b '] - a kind of comma is placed next to the consonant letter and indicates its softness.

By the way, during phonetic parsing of words, the following symbol is often used - [j]. As a rule, they denote the sound of the letter “y” (sometimes a symbol such as [y] is also used).

Letter "y": consonant or vowel?

As you know, in Russian all sounds are divided into consonants and vowels. They are perceived and pronounced differently.

Vowel sounds are those sounds during the pronunciation of which air passes easily and freely through the mouth, without encountering any obstacles in its path. Moreover, they can be pulled, with the help of them you can scream. If you put your palm to your throat, then the work of the cords (voice) during the pronunciation of vowels can be quite easily felt. There are 6 stressed vowels in Russian, namely: [a], [e], [u], [s], [o] and [i].
Consonant sounds are those sounds during the pronunciation of which the air meets an obstacle in its path, namely a bow or a gap. Their appearance determines the nature of the sounds. As a rule, a gap is formed when pronouncing [s], [w], [h] and [g]. In this case, the tip of the tongue approaches the upper or lower teeth. The presented consonants can be drawn (for example, [zh-zh-zh], [z-z-z]). As for the bow, such a barrier is formed due to the closing of the organs of speech. The air, or rather its flow, abruptly overcomes it, due to which the sounds are energetic and short. That is why they are called explosive. By the way, it is impossible to pull them (try it yourself: [p], [b], [t], [e]).

In addition to the above consonants, the Russian language also has the following: [m], [d], [c], [f], [g], [l], [p], [h], [c], [x] . As you can see, there are many more than vowels.

Silent and voiced sounds

By the way, many consonants form between pairs of deafness and sonority: [k] - [g], [b] - [n], [h] - [c], [d] - [t], [f] - [c], etc. In total, there are 11 such pairs in Russian. However, there are sounds that do not have pairs on this basis. These include: [th], [p], [n], [l], [m] are unpaired voiced, and [h] and [c] are unpaired voiceless.

Soft and hard consonants

As you know, consonants differ not only in sonority or, conversely, deafness, but also in softness and hardness. This property is the second most important feature of sounds.

So, the letter "y": hard or soft? To answer this question, you should consider each feature separately:

During the pronunciation of soft consonants, the entire tongue moves slightly forward, and its middle part rises slightly.
During the pronunciation of hard consonants, the entire tongue is literally pulled back.

It should be especially noted that many consonants form pairs among themselves according to such characteristics as softness and hardness: [d] - [d ’], [p] - [p ’], etc. There are 15 such pairs in total. However, there are also sounds that do not have pairs on this basis. What letters of solid consonants are unpaired? These include the following - [w], [g] and [c]. As for unpaired soft ones, these are [u '], [h '] and [y '].

Designation on the letter

Now you know the information about whether the letter "y" is hard or soft. But here a new question arises: "How is the softness of such sounds indicated in writing?" For this, completely different methods are used:

The letters "e", "u", "ё", "i" after the consonants (not counting "zh", "sh", and "c") indicate that these consonants are soft. Let's give an example: uncle - [d'a´d'a], aunt - [t'o´t'a].
The letter "i" after the consonants (not counting "zh", "sh", and "c") indicates that these consonants are soft. Let's give an example: cute - [m'i´ly '], sheet - [l'ist], no´tki - [n'i´tk'i].
The soft sign ("ь") after consonants (not counting "zh" and "w") is an indicator of grammatical form. It also indicates that consonants are soft. Examples example: distance - [gave '], stranded - [m'el '], request - [proz'ba].

As you can see, the softness of consonant sounds in writing is conveyed not by individual letters, but by their combinations with the vowels "e", "yu", "ё", "ya", as well as a soft sign. That is why when experts recommend paying attention to neighboring characters.

As for the vowel "y", it is always soft. In this regard, in transcription it is usually denoted as follows: [th ']. That is, the comma symbol, indicating the softness of the sound, must always be set. [u '], [h '] obey the same rule.

Summing up

As you can see, there is nothing difficult in making any word correctly. To do this, you just need to know what vowels and consonants are, deaf and voiced, as well as soft and hard. For a better understanding of how it is necessary to arrange transcription, we will give several detailed examples.