"Phonetics " self-study
practice exercises
1. Distinguishing Sounds
2. Identifying phonetic
symbols
3. Transcription practice
4.
Definitions
5. Interactive transcription practice
6.
A real-time Flash
animated articulatory diagram of each consonant and vowel of English
(Developed by the University of Iowa)Exercise # 1 (Distinguishing
Sounds)
Then click the answer button to see the correct
answer.
How many sounds does this word have?
"finish "
B. 5
C. 6
D. 3
Answer
b
How many sounds does this word have?
"America "
A. 6
B. 5
C. 8
D. 7
Answer
d
How many sounds does this word have?
"books"
A. 4
B. 5
C. 3
D. 6
Answer
a
How many sounds does this word have? "straighten
"
A. 10
B. 7
C. 9
D. 8
Answer
b
How many sounds does this word have? "Bike "
A. 5
B. 4
C. 3
D. 2
Answer
c
How many sounds does this word have? "town "
A. 2
B. 4
C. 4
D. 3
Answer
d
7. How many sounds does this word have? "radio "
A. 5
B. 6
C. 7
D. 4
E. 8
Answer
a
8. How many sounds does this word have? "shy "
A. 4
B. 3
C. 2
D. 5
E. 1
Answer
c
9. How many sounds does this word have? "establishment "
A. 10
B. 13
C. 9
D. 12
E. 14
Answer
d
10. How many sounds does this word have? "sociology "
A. 7
B. 9
C. 10
D. 8
E. 11
Answer
b
11. How many sounds does this word have? "desert "
A. 8
B. 4
C. 5
D. 6
E. 7
Answer
c
12. How many sounds does this word have? "system "
A. 5
B. 7
C. 4
D. 8
E. 6
Answer
e
13. How many sounds does this word have? "earthquake "
A. 6
B. 10
C. 9
D. 11
E. 5
Answer
a
14. How many sounds does this word have? "pliers "
A. 6
B. 5
C. 7
D. 4
E. 8
Answer
b
15. How many sounds does this word have? "hammer "
A. 6
B. 5
C. 4
D. 7
E. 8
Answer
c
16. How many sounds does this word have? "screwdriver "
A. 11
B. 9
C. 10
D. 7
E. 8
Answer
b
17. How many sounds does this word have? "kitchen"
A. 4 or 5
B. 5 or 6
C. 6 or 7
D. 7 or 8
E. 3 or 4
Answer
b
18. How many sounds does this word have? "strength "
A. 7
B. 10
C. 6
D. 9
E. 8
Answer
c
19. How many sounds does this word have? "notebook"
A. 4
B. 5
C. 7
D. 6
E. 8
Answer
d
20. How many sounds does this word have? "Florida"
A. 8
B. 7
C. 6
D. 9
E. 5
Answer
b
Exercise 2 (Identifying
phonetic symbols )
Which of these symbols is not used in the IPA?
A. [ c ]
B. [i ]
C. [z]
D. [l]
Answer
a
Which of these symbols is not used in the IPA?
A. [ § ] glottal stop
B. [j ]
"j"
C. [ ] theta
D. [ ]
flap
Answer
b
Which of these symbols is not used in the IPA?
A. [ ] wedge or stressed
schwa
B. [q] "q"
C. [e ]
epsilon "e"
D.
[ ] ash
Answer
b
Which of these symbols is not used in the IPA?A. [oy]
dipthong "oy"
B.
[U] capital "u"
C. [ay] diphong "ay"
D. [x]
regular "x"
Answer
d
5. The letter "X" in the word
"box" is represented phonetically as
A. [s]
B. [ks]
C. [x]
D. [k]
Answer
b
7. The letter "q"
in the word "quiet" is represented phonetically as
A. [q]
B. [kay]
C. [kw]
D. [ke]
Answer
c
8. The letter
"c" in the word "cinema" is represented phonetically as
A. [s]
B. [k]
C. "c" hacek
D. [z]
Answer
a
Exercise Three (Transcription
practice )
[baksi ]
A. boxing
B. boxed in
C. back sign
D. vaccine
Answer
a
gate
A. [gat]
B. [get]
C. [gete]
D. [geat]
Answer
b
car
A. [ca]
B. [kare]
C. [car]
D. [kar]
Answer
d
bright ice
A. [brit ic]
B. [brayt ayz]
C [brayt ays]
D. [bret ice]
Answer
c
thin
A. [ In]
B. [thin]
C. [thIn]
D. [ ayn]
Answer
a
[toy]
A. tie
B. tolley
C. toe
D. toy
Answer
d
crumbs
A. [kr mz]
"wedge"
B. [krumz]
C. [crumz]
D. [krc mbs]
"schwa"
Answer
a
resign
A. [resin]
B. [rizayn]
C. [risayn]
D. [rezan]
Answer
b
[dawt]
A. doubt
B. dot
C. dos
D. dripped
Answer
a
10. Founda tion
A. [ i ] little "i"
B. [ I ] capital "i"
C. [ e ] little "e"
D. [ Є ] epsilon "e"
E. [ u ] little "u"
F. [ U ] capital "u"
G. [ o ] "o"
H. [] ash
I. [ a ] typewriter "a"
J. [ Λ ] wedge or stressed schwa
k . [ ∂ ] schwa
L. [ ay ] diphthong
M. [ oy ] diphthong
N. [ aw ] diphthong
Answer
c
11. a sked
A. [ i ] little "i"
B. [ I ] capital "i"
C. [ e ] little "e"
D. [ Є ] epsilon "e"
E. [ u ] little "u"
F. [ U ] capital "u"
G. [ o ] "o"
H. [] ash
I. [ a ] typewriter "a"
J. [ Λ ] wedge or stressed schwa
k . [ ∂ ] schwa
L. [ ay ] diphthong
M. [ oy ] diphthong
N. [ aw ] diphthong
Answer
h
12. mi rage
A. [ i ] little "i"
B. [ I ] capital "i"
C. [ e ] little "e"
D. [ Є ] epsilon "e"
E. [ u ] little "u"
F. [ U ] capital "u"
G. [ o ] "o"
H. [] ash
I. [ a ] typewriter "a"
J. [ Λ ] wedge or stressed schwa
k . [ ∂ ] schwa
L. [ ay ] diphthong
M. [ oy ] diphthong
N. [ aw ] diphthong
Answer
b
13. le sson
A. [ i ] little "i"
B. [ I ] capital "i"
C. [ e ] little "e"
D. [ Є ] epsilon "e"
E. [ u ] little "u"
F. [ U ] capital "u"
G. [ o ] "o"
H. [] ash
I. [ a ] typewriter "a"
J. [ Λ ] wedge or stressed schwa
k . [ ∂ ] schwa
L. [ ay ] diphthong
M. [ oy ] diphthong
N. [ aw ] diphthong
Answer
d
14. sco undrel
A. [ i ] little "i"
B. [ I ] capital "i"
C. [ e ] little "e"
D. [ Є ] epsilon "e"
E. [ u ] little "u"
F. [ U ] capital "u"
G. [ o ] "o"
H. [] ash
I. [ a ] typewriter "a"
J. [ Λ ] wedge or stressed schwa
k . [ ∂ ] schwa
L. [ ay ] diphthong
M. [ oy ] diphthong
N. [ aw ] diphthong
Answer
n
15. a bility
A. [ i ] little "i"
B. [ I ] capital "i"
C. [ e ] little "e"
D. [ Є ] epsilon "e"
E. [ u ] little "u"
F. [ U ] capital "u"
G. [ o ] "o"
H. [] ash
I. [ a ] typewriter "a"
J. [ Λ ] wedge or stressed schwa
k . [ ∂ ] schwa
L. [ ay ] diphthong
M. [ oy ] diphthong
N. [ aw ] diphthong
Answer
k
16. hou se
A. [ i ] little "i"
B. [ I ] capital "i"
C. [ e ] little "e"
D. [ Є ] epsilon "e"
E. [ u ] little "u"
F. [ U ] capital "u"
G. [ o ] "o"
H. [] ash
I. [ a ] typewriter "a"
J. [ Λ ] wedge or stressed schwa
k . [ ∂ ] schwa
L. [ ay ] diphthong
M. [ oy ] diphthong
N. [ aw ] diphthong
Answer
n
17. fini sh
A. [ i ] little "i"
B. [ I ] capital "i"
C. [ e ] little "e"
D. [ Є ] epsilon "e"
E. [ u ] little "u"
F. [ U ] capital "u"
G. [ o ] "o"
H. [] ash
I. [ a ] typewriter "a"
J. [ Λ ] wedge or stressed schwa
k . [ ∂ ] schwa
L. [ ay ] diphthong
M. [ oy ] diphthong
N. [ aw ] diphthong
Answer
b
18. stree t
A. [ i ] little "i"
B. [ I ] capital "i"
C. [ e ] little "e"
D. [ Є ] epsilon "e"
E. [ u ] little "u"
F. [ U ] capital "u"
G. [ o ] "o"
H. [] ash
I. [ a ] typewriter "a"
J. [ Λ ] wedge or stressed schwa
k . [ ∂ ] schwa
L. [ ay ] diphthong
M. [ oy ] diphthong
N. [ aw ] diphthong
Answer
a
19. cale ndar
A. [ i ] little "i"
B. [ I ] capital "i"
C. [ e ] little "e"
D. [ Є ] epsilon "e"
E. [ u ] little "u"
F. [ U ] capital "u"
G. [ o ] "o"
H. [] ash
I. [ a ] typewriter "a"
J. [ Λ ] wedge or stressed schwa
k . [ ∂ ] schwa
L. [ ay ] diphthong
M. [ oy ] diphthong
N. [ aw ] diphthong
Answer
d
20. fi ghter
A. [ i ] little "i"
B. [ I ] capital "i"
C. [ e ] little "e"
D. [ Є ] epsilon "e"
E. [ u ] little "u"
F. [ U ] capital "u"
G. [ o ] "o"
H. [] ash
I. [ a ] typewriter "a"
J. [ Λ ] wedge or stressed schwa
k . [ ∂ ] schwa
L. [ ay ] diphthong
M. [ oy ] diphthong
N. [ aw ] diphthong
Answer
L
21. su perman
A. [ i ] little "i"
B. [ I ] capital "i"
C. [ e ] little "e"
D. [ Є ] epsilon "e"
E. [ u ] little "u"
F. [ U ] capital "u"
G. [ o ] "o"
H. [] ash
I. [ a ] typewriter "a"
J. [ Λ ] wedge or stressed schwa
k . [ ∂ ] schwa
L. [ ay ] diphthong
M. [ oy ] diphthong
N. [ aw ] diphthong
Answer
e
22. a nswers
A. [ i ] little "i"
B. [ I ] capital "i"
C. [ e ] little "e"
D. [ Є ] epsilon "e"
E. [ u ] little "u"
F. [ U ] capital "u"
G. [ o ] "o"
H. [] ash
I. [ a ] typewriter "a"
J. [ Λ ] wedge or stressed schwa
k . [ ∂ ] schwa
L. [ ay ] diphthong
M. [ oy ] diphthong
N. [ aw ] diphthong
Answer
h
23. belo ng
A. [ i ] little "i"
B. [ I ] capital "i"
C. [ e ] little "e"
D. [ Є ] epsilon "e"
E. [ u ] little "u"
F. [ U ] capital "u"
G. [ o ] "o"
H. [] ash
I. [ a ] typewriter "a"
J. [ Λ ] wedge or stressed schwa
k . [ ∂ ] schwa
L. [ ay ] diphthong
M. [ oy ] diphthong
N. [ aw ] diphthong
Answer
g, l
24. maratho n
A. [ i ] little "i"
B. [ I ] capital "i"
C. [ e ] little "e"
D. [ Є ] epsilon "e"
E. [ u ] little "u"
F. [ U ] capital "u"
G. [ o ] "o"
H. [] ash
I. [ a ] typewriter "a"
J. [ Λ ] wedge or stressed schwa
k . [ ∂ ] schwa
L. [ ay ] diphthong
M. [ oy ] diphthong
N. [ aw ] diphthong
Answer
i
25. analy ze
A. [ i ] little "i"
B. [ I ] capital "i"
C. [ e ] little "e"
D. [ Є ] epsilon "e"
E. [ u ] little "u"
F. [ U ] capital "u"
G. [ o ] "o"
H. [] ash
I. [ a ] typewriter "a"
J. [ Λ ] wedge or stressed schwa
k . [ ∂ ] schwa
L. [ ay ] diphthong
M. [ oy ] diphthong
N. [ aw ] diphthong
Answer
L
26. go ing
A. [ i ] little "i"
B. [ I ] capital "i"
C. [ e ] little "e"
D. [ Є ] epsilon "e"
E. [ u ] little "u"
F. [ U ] capital "u"
G. [ o ] "o"
H. [] ash
I. [ a ] typewriter "a"
J. [ Λ ] wedge or stressed schwa
k . [ ∂ ] schwa
L. [ ay ] diphthong
M. [ oy ] diphthong
N. [ aw ] diphthong
Answer
g
27. stu dying
A. [ i ] little "i"
B. [ I ] capital "i"
C. [ e ] little "e"
D. [ Є ] epsilon "e"
E. [ u ] little "u"
F. [ U ] capital "u"
G. [ o ] "o"
H. [] ash
I. [ a ] typewriter "a"
J. [ Λ ] wedge or stressed schwa
k . [ ∂ ] schwa
L. [ ay ] diphthong
M. [ oy ] diphthong
N. [ aw ] diphthong
Answer
j
28. ange l
A. [ i ] little "i"
B. [ I ] capital "i"
C. [ e ] little "e"
D. [ Є ] epsilon "e"
E. [ u ] little "u"
F. [ U ] capital "u"
G. [ o ] "o"
H. [] ash
I. [ a ] typewriter "a"
J. [ Λ ] wedge or stressed schwa
k . [ ∂ ] schwa
L. [ ay ] diphthong
M. [ oy ] diphthong
N. [ aw ] diphthong
Answer
d
29. too k
A. [ i ] little "i"
B. [ I ] capital "i"
C. [ e ] little "e"
D. [ Є ] epsilon "e"
E. [ u ] little "u"
F. [ U ] capital "u"
G. [ o ] "o"
H. [] ash
I. [ a ] typewriter "a"
J. [ Λ ] wedge or stressed schwa
k . [ ∂ ] schwa
L. [ ay ] diphthong
M. [ oy ] diphthong
N. [ aw ] diphthong
Answer
f
30. mi ghty
A. [ i ] little "i"
B. [ I ] capital "i"
C. [ e ] little "e"
D. [ Є ] epsilon "e"
E. [ u ] little "u"
F. [ U ] capital "u"
G. [ o ] "o"
H. [] ash
I. [ a ] typewriter "a"
J. [ Λ ] wedge or stressed schwa
k . [ ∂ ] schwa
L. [ ay ] diphthong
M. [ oy ] diphthong
N. [ aw ] diphthong
Answer
L
Exercise # 4 ( Definitions )
Click the answer button to see the correct answer.
A speakers-often unconscious- knowledge of
language that allows him/her to produce grammatical utterances.
This knowledge includes the following: phonetics, phonology,
morphology, syntax, and semantics.
A. Linguistic competence
B.
Linguistic performance
Answer
a
The speakers realization of the potential to use a
language.
A. Linguistic performance
B. Linguistic competence
Answer
a
The verb often
agrees according to the closest noun to which it
refers: Every one of the girls are going to the party
tonight.
A. Prescriptive
B. Descriptive
Answer
b
Subject and verb must always be in agreement.A. Prescriptive
B. Descriptive
Answer
a
Adjectives precedes the nouns they modify.A. Prescriptive
B. Descriptive
Answer
b
To avoid wordiness, avoid using repetitive adjectives in writing.A. Prescriptive
B. Descriptive
Answer
a
Typically, linguists concern themselves with what...A. Prescriptive
B. Descriptive
Answer
b
In Appalachian English, double negatives are used for added emphasis: I
dont want nothing.A. Prescriptive
B. Descriptive
Answer
b
Most prescriptive rules in English are a direct result of the rise of the
middle class as a new social group (1600s-1800s), along with the social
insecurity typical of new social groups.
A. True
B. False
Answer
a
The study of speech sounds.
A.
Phonetics
B. Articulatory phonetics
C. Acoustic phonetics
D. Auditory phonetics
Answer
a
The study of the transmission and the physical properties of
speech sounds.
A.
Phonetics
B. Articulatory phonetics
C. Acoustic phonetics
D. Auditory phonetics
Answer
c
The study of the production of speech sounds.
A.
Phonetics
B. Articulatory phonetics
C. Acoustic phonetics
D. Auditory phonetics
Answer
b
The study of the perception of speech sounds.
A.
Phonetics
B. Articulatory phonetics
C. Acoustic phonetics
D. Auditory phonetics
Answer
d
The most intense, audible sounds in speech.
A. Vowels
B. Phones
C. Consonant
Answer
a
Speech sounds produced with a narrowing somewhere in the vocal
tract.
A. Vowels
B. Phones
C. Consonant
Answer
c
Speech sounds.
A. Vowels
B. Phones
C. Consonant
Answer
b
Which of the following is not a characteristic of a
consonant?
A. Is the sound voiced or voiceless?
B. Where is the air stream constricted?
C. How is the airstreams constricted?
D. Raising or lowering the body of the tongue.
Answer
d
Which of the following is not a characteristic which best
describes a vowel sound?
A. Advancing or retracting the body of the tongue.
B. Rounding or not rounding the lips
C. How is the airstreams constricted?
D. Making these movements with a tense or lax gesture
Answer
c
In relation to language, this term is used to refer to the
fact that a words meaning is not predictable from its linguistic form nor is
its form dictated by its meaning.
A. Linguistic sign
B. Arbitrariness
Answer
b
The combination of linguistic form and meaning.
A. Linguistic sign
B. Arbitrariness
Answer
a