Phonetics Quiz
Questions: 16 · 10 minutes
1. A learner changes the place of articulation of /t/ from the alveolar ridge to the velum while preserving its voiceless plosive manner. Which sound results?
/p/
/d/
/s/
/k/
2. In a broad transcription of a common English pronunciation, the first vowel in “about” is often represented by which symbol?
Schwa [ə], representing a commonly unstressed central vowel
Open back vowel [ɑ], as used for a low back quality
Near-open front vowel [æ], as often heard in the TRAP lexical set
Close back rounded vowel [u], as used for a high back quality
3. Which broad IPA transcription best matches English “ship” in an accent using the KIT vowel [ɪ]?
/sɪp/
/ʃiːp/
/ʃɪp/
/tʃɪp/
4. A speaker produces a fricative by bringing the lower lip close to the upper teeth. What is its place of articulation?
Dental
Bilabial
Alveolar
Labiodental
5. A vowel becomes partly nasalized before a following nasal consonant, as may happen to [æ] in “man.” What articulatory change causes this?
The lips form a complete closure before the vowel ends.
The velum lowers early, allowing some airflow through the nose during the vowel.
The vocal folds stop vibrating during the vowel.
The tongue tip moves to the alveolar ridge throughout the vowel.
6. How is the consonant /p/ classified in articulatory phonetics?
Voiced alveolar fricative
Voiceless labiodental fricative
Voiceless bilabial plosive
Voiced bilabial nasal
7. In many English accents, the initial /p/ in “pin” is aspirated. Which narrow transcription represents this pronunciation?
[bɪn], beginning with a voiced bilabial plosive
[pɪn], showing a plain voiceless plosive without an aspiration diacritic
[p̚ɪn], marking the initial plosive as having no audible release
[pʰɪn], marking aspiration after the initial voiceless plosive
8. Which statement best distinguishes phonetics from phonology?
Phonetics examines the physical production, transmission, and perception of speech sounds, while phonology examines how sounds pattern and function within a language.
Phonetics studies sentence structure, while phonology studies the historical origins of words.
Phonetics studies only written symbols, while phonology studies only spoken conversation.
Phonetics describes meaning differences, while phonology measures the loudness of individual sounds.
9. Place two fingers lightly on your throat while alternating between /s/ and /z/. You feel stronger regular vibration during /z/. What does this demonstrate?
/z/ is voiced, whereas /s/ is voiceless.
/z/ is nasal, whereas /s/ is oral.
/z/ is a plosive, whereas /s/ is a fricative.
/z/ is bilabial, whereas /s/ is alveolar.
10. A consonant begins with a complete oral closure and releases directly into frication at approximately the same place of articulation. Which manner best describes it?
Approximant
Affricate
Nasal
Trill
11. On a spectrogram of a vowel, several dark horizontal bands appear at different frequencies. What do these bands most commonly represent?
Individual written letters in the spoken word
Separate closures made by the lips and tongue
Formants associated with vocal-tract resonances
Periods when the vocal folds have stopped vibrating
12. How is the IPA sound [j], heard at the beginning of English “yes,” typically classified?
Voiceless palatal fricative
Voiced alveolar lateral approximant
Voiced velar nasal
Voiced palatal approximant
13. What physical event normally distinguishes a voiced sound from a voiceless sound?
Air stops moving through the vocal tract during the voiced sound.
The tongue touches the teeth during the voiced sound.
The vocal folds vibrate regularly during the voiced sound.
Air leaves through the nose during the voiced sound.
14. Which comparison correctly describes the typical IPA vowel qualities [i] and [u]?
Both are close vowels; [i] is front and unrounded, while [u] is back and rounded.
[i] is open and front, while [u] is open and back.
Both are mid vowels; [i] is rounded, while [u] is unrounded.
[i] is back and rounded, while [u] is front and unrounded.
15. Which description matches the IPA symbol /ŋ/, as in the final sound of English “sing”?
Voiced alveolar nasal
Voiced velar nasal
Voiced palatal approximant
Voiceless velar plosive
16. In an IPA transcription, where is the primary-stress mark [ˈ] placed?
Immediately after the vowel carrying primary stress
Immediately before the syllable carrying primary stress
At the end of the word containing primary stress
Directly beneath the consonant beginning the stressed syllable