1 Prof Francisco Zabala 2012 Comparison between the English and Spanish Consonants The following list will help you compare the sounds of English and Spanish This is useful because we, Spanish-speakers, tend to transfer our pronunciation habits into our spoken English The phonemes are listed according to the English system, which is the content of this course Voiceless Plosives: The greatest difficulties in this group are: The aspiration of syllable-initial, stressed o+ s+ j when a vowel follows The devoicing and fricativation effect of stressed o+ s+ j on a following k+ q+ v+ i The absence of word-final o+ s+ j in Spanish The different place of articulation of s.+ which is dental ZsŒ\ in Spanish but alveolar Zs\ in English Phoneme o VOICELESS PLOSIVES English Spanish Phonemic status: Phonemic Phonemic status: Phonemic Description: fortis bilabial voiceless plosive Zo\ Distribution: full Distribution: restricted (not word final) Pen – appeal – up Pan – Copa Main allophones: Main allophones: Fully aspirated in stressed syllable-initial There’s no aspiration in Spanish position when a vowel follows pass Z!oç@9r\ – impose ZHl!oç?Ty\ Its full aspiration turns a following k+ q+ v+ i into a voiceless fricative ZJ+ ¢fi+ V+ B\ please Z!oJh9y\ – prayZ!o¢fidH\ – pukeZ!oBt9j\ Unaspirated after r.Unaspirated in all contexts (English pan Z!oçzm\ Vs Spanish pan Z!o=`m\) spin Z!ro=Hm\ – disposeZcH!ro=?Ty\ No audible-release in stop clusters and No audible-release in stop clusters apto Z!`o´sŒn\ – capta Z!j`o´sŒ`\ probably before silence apt Z!zo´s\ – jumped Z!cYUlo´s\ rap Z!¢zo´{{\ Glottal reinforcement There’s no glottal reinforcement or Loop Z!kt9>˛o\ replacement in Spanish Glottal replacement Soap powder Z!r?T> !o`Tc?\ Spelling and distribution: Straightforward rules ripe, upper Tip: Make sure you aspirate it fully when needed Think about the devoicing effect it has on k+ q+ v+ i Rating: Difficult 2 Prof Francisco Zabala 2012 Phoneme s VOICELESS PLOSIVES English Spanish Phonemic status: Phonemic Phonemic status: Phonemic Description: fortis alveolar voiceless plosive Description: fortis dental voiceless plosive Zs\ ZsŒ\ Distribution: full Distribution: restricted (not word final) Teen – Install – Goat Tez – Gata Main allophones: Main allophones: Fully aspirated in stressed syllable-initial There’s no aspiration in Spanish position when a vowel follows tall Z!sçN9k\ – canteen Zjzm!sçh9m\ Its full aspiration turns a following q+ v+ i into a voiceless fricative Z¢fi+ V+ B\ twin Z!sVHm\ – trod Z!s¢fiPc\ – tube Z!sBt9a\ Unaspirated after r.Unaspirated in all contexts = = (English tan Z!sçzm\ Vs Spanish tan Z!sŒ=`m\) stood Z!rs Tc\ – mistakeZlH!rs dHj\ No audible-release in stop clusters and probably before silence at times Z?s´ !s`Hly\ – plait Zokzs´{{\ great jeep Z!fqdHs´ !cYh9o\ Glottal reinforcement There’s no glottal reinforcement or fat Z!ez>˛s\ replacement in Spanish Glottal replacement Sit down Z!rH> !c`Tm\ Spelling and distribution: Straightforward rules tart, matter Few exceptions (e.g Anthony, Theresa, Thames, Tompson, etc.) Tip: Remember that Spanish s has a different place of articulation Make sure you aspirate it fully when needed Think about the devoicing effect it has on k+ q+ v+ i Rating: Very difficult 3 Prof Francisco Zabala 2012 Phoneme j VOICELESS PLOSIVES English Spanish Phonemic status: Phonemic Phonemic status: Phonemic Description: fortis velar voiceless plosive Zj\ Distribution: full Distribution: restricted (not word final) Kill – accuse – rock Caso – pacto Main allophones: Main allophones: Fully aspirated in stressed syllable-initial There’s no aspiration in Spanish position when a vowel follows king Z!jçHM\ – record Zq?!jçN9c\ Its full aspiration turns a following k+ q+ v+ i into a voiceless fricative ZJ+ ¢fi+ V+ B\ clown Z!jJ`Tm\ – Christ Z!j¢fi`Hrs\ cuteZ!jBt9s\ – quick Z!jVHj\ Unaspirated after r.Unaspirated in all contexts (English can Z!jçzm\ Vs Spanish can Z!j=`m\) school Z!rj=t9k\ – unskilled Z$Um!rj=Hkc\ No audible-release in stop clusters and No audible-release in stop clusters acto Z!`j´sŒn\ – cactus Z!j`j´sŒtr\ probably before silence act Z!zj´s\ – cooked Z!jTj´s\ flock Z!ekPj´{{\ Glottal reinforcement There’s no glottal reinforcement or luck Z!kU>˛j\ replacement in Spanish Glottal replacement Rock concert Z!qP> $jPmr?s\ Spelling and distribution: Straightforward rules Mainly come, kick, quest, architect Tip: Make sure you aspirate it fully when needed Think about the devoicing effect it has on k+ q+ v+ i Rating: Difficult 4 Prof Francisco Zabala 2012 Voiced Plosives: The greatest difficulties in this group are: Spanish a+ c+ f are realized as approximant in most phonetic environments The infrequent occurrence of word-final a+ c in Spanish The different place of articulation of c.+ which is dental ZcŒ\ in Spanish but alveolar Zc\ in English Phoneme a VOICELESS PLOSIVES English Spanish Phonemic status: Phonemic Phonemic status: Phonemic Description: lenis bilabial voiced plosive Description: lenis bilabial voiced approximant Za\ ZA”\ Distribution: full Distribution: full (final only in loan words) boot – abound – pub van – rabo – club Main allophones: Main allophones: In rapid or casual speech it can be It is mostly an approximant sound It weakened to a lenis bilabial fricative becomes a plosive after a nasal sound and Foreigners shouldn’t attempt this sometimes after silence about Z?!A`Ts\ – lobby Z!kPAh\ Plosive Za\: Ben Z!adm\ – viento Z!aidmŒsŒn\ Fully voiced especially between voiced sounds ambos Z!`lanr\ – en Brasil Zdl a3`!rhk\ about Z?!a`Ts\ – Cambridge Z!jdHla¢HcY\ un vino Ztl !ahmn\ Partially or fully devoiced before silence or a voiceless sound Approximant ZA”\: Gibson Z!fHafirmÿ\ – grab two Z!f¢zafi !st9\ avión Z`!A”inm\ – ubico Zt!A”hjn\ pub Z!oUafi{{\ albino Z`k!A”hmn\ – árbol Z!`3A”nk\ Labiodental ZaŒ\ before e+ u+ o+ a+ E obvious Z!PaŒuh?r\ – Rob Finch Z!¢PaŒ eHmsR\ No audible-release in stop clusters and No audible-release in stop clusters (if the probably before silence speaker makes it plosive in self-conscious clubbed Z!jkUa´c\ – cab Z!jza´{{\ speech) obtenga Zna´!sŒdMf` ~ nA”!sŒdMf`\ lab practice Z!kza´ $o¢fizjsHr\ Spelling and distribution: Straightforward rules Bobby Tip: Make sure you always realize it as a plosive sound Focus on producing a complete closure by pressing your lips Remember to distinguish between English a and u.- In Spanish, letters and are pronounced ZA” ~ a\ Rating: Difficult 5 Prof Francisco Zabala 2012 Phoneme c VOICELESS PLOSIVES English Spanish Phonemic status: Phonemic Phonemic status: Phonemic Description: lenis dental voiced Description: lenis alveolar voiced plosive approximant Zc\ ZC”\ Distribution: full Distribution: full (final only in few words in self-conscious speech) gland – India – blood dan – radio – juventud Main allophones: Main allophones: In rapid or casual speech it can be It is mostly an approximant sound It becomes a plosive after a nasal or lateral weakened to a lenis dental fricative Foreigners shouldn’t attempt this sound Sometimes it is plosive after silence muddy Z!lUy“h\ – Adam Z!zy“?l\ Plosive ZcŒ\: den Z!cŒdm\ – duende Z!cŒvdmŒcŒd\ Fully voiced especially between voiced sounds Andes Z!`mŒcŒdr\ – un día ZtmŒ !cŒh`\ adore Z?!cN9\ – London Z!kUmc?m\ Aldo Z!`kŒcŒn\ – del dato ZcdkŒ !cŒ`sŒn\ Partially or fully devoiced before silence or a voiceless sound Approximant ZC”\: sandstone Z!rzmcfirs?Tm\ – toad Z!s?Tcfi{{\ adhiero Z`!C”id3n\ – nudo Z!mtC”n\ bed time Z!adcfis`Hl\ audaz Z`v!C”`r\ – Abdul Z`A”!C”tk\ Labiodental ZaŒ\ before e+ u+ o+ a+ E Approximant ZC”\ or zero: advice Z?aŒ!u`Hr\ – godfather Z!fPaŒe@9C?\ ciudad Zrit!C”`'C”(\ – usted Ztg!sŒd'C”(\ No audible-release in stop clusters and No audible-release in stop clusters (if the probably before silence speaker makes it plosive in self-conscious bedclothes Z!adc´jk?TCy\ – mad Z!lzc´{{\ speech) adquiere Z`cŒ´!jid3d ~ `C”!jid3d\ Spelling and distribution: Straightforward rules Daddy Tip: Make sure you always realize it as a plosive sound Focus on producing a complete closure by pressing the tip of the tongue against the alveolar ridge Remember to distinguish between English C and c.- In Spanish, letter can be ZC” ~ cŒ\ This means that it is always pronounced at a different place of articulation (i.e dental) and is sometimes an approximant Rating: Very difficult 6 Prof Francisco Zabala 2012 Phoneme f VOICELESS PLOSIVES English Spanish Phonemic status: Phonemic Phonemic status: Phonemic Description: lenis velar voiced approximant Description: lenis velar voiced plosive Zf\ Z•\ Distribution: full Distribution: restricted (not word-final) goose – ago – fog gas – ruego Main allophones: Main allophones: In rapid or casual speech it can be It is mostly an approximant sound It weakened to a lenis bilabial fricative becomes a plosive after a nasal sound and Foreigners shouldn’t attempt this sometimes after silence ago Z?!F?T\ – logging Z!kPFHM\ Plosive Zf\: gol Z!fnk\ – grasa Z!f3`r`\ Fully voiced especially between voiced sounds ángulo Z!`Mftkn\ – en Güinea ZdM fh!md`\ ago Z?!f?T\ – English Z!HMfkHR\ Partially or fully devoiced before silence Approximant Z•\: or a voiceless sound agudo Z`!•tCn\ – algo Z`k!•n\ drugstore Z!c¢“Uf‡rsN9\ – big sum Z!aHf‡ !rUl\ rasguño Zq`r!•tIn\ Greg Z!f¢df‡{{\ No audible-release in stop clusters and No audible-release in stop clusters (if the probably before silence speaker makes it plosive in self-conscious clogged Z!jkPf´c\ – drag Z!c¢“zf´{{\ speech) Magdalena Zl`f´cŒ`!kdm` ~ l`•cŒ`!kdm`\ log cabin Z!kPf´ !jzaHm\ Spelling and distribution: Straightforward rules go, beggar Tip: Make sure you always realize it as a plosive sound Focus on producing a complete closure by pressing the back of the tongue against the soft palate Remember that is silent in the ending M and m Compare: sing rHM sign r`Hm.Rating: Difficult 7 Prof Francisco Zabala 2012 Affricates: The greatest difficulties in this group are: Although sR exists in Spanish in words like chancho, this sound is shorter in the River Plate area Some River Plate speakers tend to produce a weak R element, so their sR phoneme becomes ZsR\, which sounds like a fully affricated s (=Zsr\) to an English ear Tip: Can you show a distinction between two and chew? If you can’t, you should aim at an extra long fricative element, i.e aim at ZsRRR\ Most River Plate Spanish speakers not have a cY sound The same problem mentioned above affects the realization of English cY in their speech Make sure your cY does not sound like ZcY\, which the English ear takes as Zcy\ Tip: Can you show a distinction between dust and just? If you can’t, you should aim at an extra long fricative element, i.e aim at ZcYYY\ In Spanish, we simplify consonant-clusters, especially those at the end of words Make sure you articulate both instances of sR and cY in phrases such as these: a .sR + sR.: much cheaper !lUsR !sRh9o? not *.!lU !sRh9o?.b .sR + cY.: Mitch Jones !lHsR !cY?Tmy not *.!lH !cY?Tmy c .cY + cY.: village judge !uHkHcY !cYUcY not *.!uHkH !cYUcY d .cY + sR.: large jeep !k@9cY !cYh9o not *.!k@9 !cYh9o AFFRICATES Phoneme English Spanish Phonemic status: Phonemic Phonemic status: Phonemic Description: fortis palato-alveolar voiceless affricate ZsR\ Distribution: full Distribution: restricted (not word final) chain – Inches – beach Chile – macho Main allophones: Main allophones: There’s no glottal reinforcement or Glottal reinforcement replacement in Spanish teach Z!sh9>˛sR\ Glottal replacement teach Z!sh9>R\ Spelling and distribution: Pretty straightforward rules chain, watch, question, actual, cello Tip: Remember to keep a long period of friction Aim at ZsRRR\ to produce a proper sR Avoid ZsR\ Rating: Not difficult .sR Phoneme Prof Francisco Zabala 2012 AFFRICATES English Spanish Phonemic status: Phonemic Phonemic status: Allophonic Not frequent Description: lenis palato-alveolar voiced affricate ZcY\ Distribution: full Distribution: restricted (not word final) Jane – engine – manage Yo – inyección Main allophones: Main allophones: This is an allophone of R Some upper Fully voiced when surrounded by voiced sounds: class people use if after silence or after a Bridget Z!a¢HcYHs\ – manage it Z!lzmHcY Hs\ nasal Yo Z{{ cYn\ Cónyuge Z!jnmcYtwd\ Full or partial devoicing before voiceless sounds or silence Sponge ZroUmcY‡\ George Smith Z!cYN9cY‡ !rlHS\ .cY Spelling and distribution: Pretty straightforward rules judge, bridge, George, soldier, adjunct Tip: Remember to keep a long period of friction Aim at ZcYYY\ to produce a proper cY Avoid ZcY\- Do not confuse cY with R Rating: Extremely difficult Fricatives: The greatest difficulties in this group are: Spanish does not exploit fricatives as much as English English has fricative phonemes e+ u+ S+ C+ r+ y+ R+ Y+ g while Spanish has only e+ r+ R+ w Unlike English, Spanish does not allow certain consonants to occur in syllable final position Spanish speakers who learn English tend to simplify final consonant clusters in un-English ways E.g.: laughs k@9er., lives kHuy., myths lHSr., etc River Plate Spanish systematically aspirates r (i.e .r becomes Zg\) when it is followed by a consonant This is a serious mistake in English, since final r is loaded with a lot of information: it indicates plural nouns, nouns in the genitive and the verb inflection for the third person singular in the simple present tense Compare: mismo Z!lhgln\ vs mystery Z!lHrsqh\; mis perros Z!lHg !oDqnr\ vs Miss Perry Z!lHr !odqh\ 9 Prof Francisco Zabala 2012 Phoneme e FRICATIVES English Spanish Phonemic status: Phonemic Phonemic status: Phonemic Description: fortis labio-dental voiceless fricative Ze\ Distribution: full Distribution: restricted (not word-final) faint – refuse – sniff fe – afuera Main allophones: This sound does not present any major allophones Spelling and distribution: Straightforward rules foam, fluff, graphic, laugh, life Tip: In Spanish this sound is not found in final position This means that sometimes, learners of English drop it when it is not possible: E.g life problems !k`He oqPak?ly (not * !k`H oqPak?ly.) Also, it seems to be articulated in a stronger manner in English Rating: Easy Problematic in word final position, though FRICATIVES Phoneme u English Spanish Phonemic status: Phonemic Phonemic status: Allophonic Description: lenis labio-dental voiced fricative Zu\ Distribution: exceptional cases where e is Distribution: full vice – convey - live voiced Dafne Main allophones: Main allophones: Fully voiced when surrounded by voiced This sound is not a phoneme in Spanish It sounds: can be heard under two circumstances, Evening Z!h9umHM\ – love them Z!kUu Clÿ\ though: In the speech of people who labiodentalize because they have protruding Full or partial devoicing before voiceless teeth E.g.: Mi bebé ZEh ud!ud\ sounds or silence Five Ze`Hufi{{\ Some speakers voice /f/ when surrounded Live concert Z!k`Hufi !jPmr?s\ by voiced sounds: Dafne Z!cŒ`umd\ Spelling and distribution: Straightforward rules vile, savvy, Clive Tip: Produce a e sound and add voice to it Always remember to bite your lower lip, but not too strongly A feeble contact will produce greater friction Rating: Very difficult Students find it hard to articulate and also they forget to distinguish a from u.- 10 Prof Francisco Zabala 2012 FRICATIVES Phoneme S English Phonemic status: Phonemic Spanish Phonemic status: Phonemic in Castillian Non-existent in River Plate Spanish (lisp) Description: fortis labio-dental voiceless fricative ZS\ Distribution: full Distribution: full three – enthusiasm – bath zorra – canción - voraz Main allophones: This sound does not present any major allophones Spelling and distribution: Straightforward rules think, enthral, through Tip: Make sure you not confuse S with r The word something !rUlSHM typically presents difficulties, because River Plate Spanish speakers tend to confuse these phonemes In clusters, go slowly: This theory CHr !SH?qh., Maths !lzSr Rating: Difficult, especially in clusters FRICATIVES Phoneme C English Phonemic status: Phonemic Description: lenis dental voiced fricative ZC\ Distribution: full vice – convey - live Main allophones: Fully voiced when surrounded by voiced sounds: either Z!`HC?\ – love them Z!kUu Clÿ\ Full or partial devoicing before voiceless sounds or silence Breathe Za¢h9Cfi{{\ With care Z!vHCfi !jd?\ Spanish Phonemic status: Allophone of c Description: lenis dental voiced approximant ZC”\ Distribution: full (final only in few words in self-conscious speech) dan – radio – juventud Main allophones: This sound is not a phoneme in Spanish It is the most frequent realization of c in all contexts except in the clusters ZmŒcŒ\ and [kŒcŒ\, or after silence adhiero Z`!C”id3n\ – nudo Z!mtC”n\ audaz Z`v!C”`r\ – Abdul Z`A”!C”tk\ Approximant ZC”\ or zero: ciudad Zrit!C”`'C”(\ – usted Ztg!sŒd'C”(\ Spelling and distribution: Straightforward rules they, blithe Tip: Remember that when you see in the spelling, you should stick your tongue out and produce lots of friction Rating: Very difficult Students find it hard to articulate it with friction, because it is an approximant in Spanish Also they forget to distinguish C from c.- 11 Phoneme r Prof Francisco Zabala 2012 FRICATIVES English Spanish Phonemic status: Phonemic Phonemic status: Phonemic Description: fortis alveolar voiceless fricative Zr\ Distribution: full Distribution: full son – oyster – price sal – canción - voraz Main allophones: Main allophones: This sound does not present any major This sound is the one that shows the greatest allophones variability in River Plate Spanish It is Zr\ before vowels, semivowels and silence SusanaZrt!r`m`\ – siempre Z!ridlo3d\ sueño Z!rvdIn\ – dos ZcŒnr\ It is aspirated, i.e it becomes Zg\ before consonants a It can be either Zg\ or Zé\ before a+ c+ f esboza Zdg!A”nr`+ dé!A”nr` \ desde Z!cŒdgC”d+ !cŒdéC”d\ esgrima Zdg!•3hl`+ dé!•3hl`\ b It can be either Zg\ or ZR\ before R los llevo Zkng !RdA”n+ knR !RdA”n\ c It can be either Zg\ or assimilated before r+ w+ e los sobres Zkng !rnA”3dr+ knr !rnA”3dr\ los jarros Zkng !w`qnr+ knw !w`qnr\ fósforo Z!engen3n+ !engen3n\ d It can be either It can be either Zg\ or Zw\ before j asco Z!`gjn+ !`wjn\ e The sequence hr can be either Zhg\ or ZhB\ before a consonant misterio Zlhg!sŒd3in+ lhB!sŒd3in\ Spelling and distribution: There are some rules, but the spellings can also be y some, miss, ceiling, science, tense Tip: Make sure you neither drop nor aspirate pre-consonantal r in English Rating: Very difficult Students tend to confuse r with y., aspirate it or drop it 12 Prof Francisco Zabala 2012 FRICATIVES Phoneme y Phoneme R English Spanish Phonemic status: Phonemic Phonemic status: Allophonic (not in Riv Pl.) Description: lenis alveolar voiced fricative Zy\ Distribution: full Distribution: restricted (before voiced consonants) zoo – easy – because desde – los guantes Main allophones: Main allophones: Fully voiced when surrounded by voiced This sound is not a phoneme in Spanish It sounds: can be heard in many varieties of Spanish crazy Z!j¢fidHyh\ – as though Z?y !C?T\ before voiced consonants In the River Plate area, we not use Zy\ because we aspirate Full or partial devoicing before voiceless r sounds or silence Desde Z!cŒdyC”d\ Please Zokh9yfi{{\ Musgo Z!lty•n\ These shows Z!Ch9yfi !R?Tyfi{{\ Los lados Zkny !k`C”nr\ Spelling and distribution: There are some rules, but the spellings can also represent r zinc, buzz, craze, easy, ease, scissors Tip: Do not aspirate y Rating: Very difficult Students sometimes find it hard to articulate and also they forget to distinguish y from r.FRICATIVES English Spanish Phonemic status: Phonemic Phonemic status: Phonemic Description: fortis palatoalveolar voiceless fricative ZR\ Distribution: full Distribution: restricted (not final) she – mission – fish yendo – calle Main allophones: Main allophones: This sound does not present any major Traditionally, this sound used to be voiced, i.e ZY\ However, ZR\ is found in the allophones speech of most middle and working class people, and some upper-class speakers too The elderly of all classes tend to keep ZY\ Some upper-class people also use ZcY\ after silence or a nasal Yo Z{{cYn\ – en llamas Zdm !cY`l`r\ Spelling and distribution: Straightforward rules shame, chef, schedule, nation, excruciate, sure Tip: Make sure you neither drop it in clusters Rating: Relatively easy 13 Phoneme Y Prof Francisco Zabala 2012 FRICATIVES English Spanish Phonemic status: Phonemic Phonemic status: Allophonic Description: lenis palato-alveolar voiced fricative ZY\ Distribution: full Distribution: restricted (not final) genre – usual – garage Yendo – calle Main allophones: Main allophones: Fully voiced when surrounded by voiced This sound is found in the speech of the sounds: elderly or in the upper-classes usual Z!it9Yt?k\ Yendo Z!Ydmcn\ – calle Z!j`Yd\ Full or partial devoicing before voiceless sounds or silence garage Z!fz¢@9Y‡{{\ beige paint Z!adHY‡ !odHms\ Spelling and distribution: This is a sound found mostly in foreign words vision, usual, genre Tip: Make sure you can contrast Y with R Rating: This does not seem to be very difficult, it is of infrequent occurrence FRICATIVES Phoneme g English Phonemic status: Phonemic Spanish Phonemic status: Phonemic w.- 'Allophonic Zg\ can stand for preconsonantal r., see above) Description: voiceless glottal fricative Description: fortis velar voiceless fricative Zg\ Zw\ Distribution: restricted (not final) Distribution: full ham - behind Juan – ajo - reloj Main allophones: Main allophones: Zg\ is voiceless provided it is not Zw\ is found especially in the vicinity of back vowels, i.e .n+ t and ` intervocalic here ZgH?\ – at homeZ?s !g?Tl\ jarro Z!w`qn\ – ojo Z!nwn\ – lujo Z!ktwn\ Voiced Zé\ occurs in intervocalic position ZB\ can be found in the vicinity of front ahead Z?!édc\ vowels, i.e .d+ h.- fije Z!ehBd\ – elegir Zdkd!Bh3\ Spelling and distribution: Straightforward rules here, who Tip: Make sure you not use Spanish w instead of English g Rating: Difficult for some speakers who tend to produce w or W 14 Prof Francisco Zabala 2012 Nasals: The greatest difficulties in this group are: The occurrence of pre-vocalic M The production of final m+ l., which is neutralized in Spanish: e.g Miriam, Mirian NASALS Phoneme M English Phonemic status: Phonemic Description: voiced velar nasal Spanish Phonemic status: Allophonic ZM\ Distribution: restricted (not initial) Distribution: restricted (medial, before j+ f.) anger - sing hongo - banco Main allophones: Main allophones: This sound is an allophone of m It occurs This sound does not present major allophones in the clusters ZMj+ Mf\ tanque Z!sŒ`Mjd\ - tanga Z!sŒ`Mf`\ This allophone can occur when /n/ is in final position bien Z!aidm+ !aidM+ !aidl\ Spelling and distribution: Straightforward rules or when followed by ring, longer, monkey Tip: Make sure you not change the point of articulation of prevocalic M to an alveolar Zm\ Rating: Very difficult when followed by a vowel NASALS Phoneme English Phonemic status: Phonemic Description: voiced bilabial nasal Spanish Phonemic status: Phonemic Zl\ Distribution: full (final in foreign words) mal – amo - Miriam Main allophones: This sound may become m when it is word-final Miriam Z!lh3i`l+ !lh3i`m\ Distribution: full mist – amend - whim Main allophones: This sound can become labiodental before e+ u comfort Z!jUEe?s\ Sam Vince Z!rzE !uHmr\ Spelling and distribution: Straightforward rules man, mummy, come, bomb, hymn Tip: Make sure you not change the point of articulation of final l E.g Where are you from? Z!vd?¢ ? it !e¢Pl\ not *Z!vd?¢ ? it !e¢Pm\ Rating: Easy, except for some speakers when it is in final position l 15 Prof Francisco Zabala 2012 NASALS Phoneme English Phonemic status: Phonemic Description: voiced alveolar nasal Distribution: full net – annoy - seen Main allophones: This sound can become labiodental ZE\ before e+ u inflame ZHE!ekdHl\ inventory Z!HEu?ms¢fih\ m Spanish Phonemic status: Phonemic Zm\ Distribution: full no – andes - san Main allophones: This sound can become labiodental ZE\ before e infame ZHE!e`ld\ This sound becomes dental ZmŒ\ before dental ZsŒ+ cŒŒ\ ando Z!`mŒcŒn\ - canto Z!j`mŒsŒn\ This sound becomes bilabial l before o+ a+ l amplio Z!`lokin\ - en Brasil Zdl !a3`rhk\ This sound becomes velar ZM\ before j+ f hongo Z!nMfn\ - manco Z!l`Mjn\ Spelling and distribution: Straightforward rules no, beginning, wine, reign Tip: Make sure you not change the point of articulation of final m unless it can be assimilated phonemically or allophonically E.g.: seen Zrh9m\ not *Zrh9l+ rh9M\ Rating: Easy, except for some speakers when it is in final position 16 Prof Francisco Zabala 2012 Lateral: The greatest difficulties in here are: The occurrence of dark or velarized Z4\ in English The devoicing effect of stressed o+ s+ j on k., which also makes it fricative ZJ\ Phoneme k LATERAL APPROXIMANT English Spanish Phonemic status: Phonemic Phonemic status: Phonemic Description: voiced alveolar lateral approximant Zk\ Distribution: full Distribution: full loot – gloomy - stool lazo – ala - sal Main allophones: Main allophones: k is always clear Zk\ This sound is clear when followed by a vowel or i Loco Z!knjn\ – alma Z!`kl`\ – sol Zrnk\ Late ZkdHs\ – William Z!vHki?l\ k can be dentalized ZkŒ\ before ZsŒ+ cŒ\ A velarized Z4\ is used before consonants, alto Z!`kŒsŒn\ – falda Z!e`kŒcŒ`\ silence and v held Zgd4c\ – always Z!N94vdHy\ – full ZeT4\ A fully voiceless and fricative ZJ\ is used after stressed o+ s+ j This is the result of the aspiration of these voiceless plosives Clear ZjJH?\ – apply Z?oJ`H\ A partially devoiced Zkfi\ is used after unstressed o+ s+ j the sequences ro+ rs+ rj and after e+ r Deeply Z!ch9okfih\ – Aptly Z!zoskfih\ Buckle Z!aUjkfi\ Mostly Z!l?Trskfih\ – Exclaim ZHj!rjkfidHl\ Splash ZrokfizR\ Fly Zekfi`H\ – Sly Zrkfi`H\ Spelling and distribution: Straightforward rules lice, hilly, vile Tip: Try to blow a lot of air when you produce ZJ\- If you find it difficult to produce a velarized Z4\ you can vocalize it and produce Zn+ T\ Compare: table Z!sdHan\, peopleZ!oh9on\ Rating: Clear k is easy Dark k is harder for some people ZJ\ is difficult 17 Prof Francisco Zabala 2012 Approximant /r/: The greatest difficulties in here are: The fact that RP English is non-rhotic, so /r/ is not pronounced before silence or consonants The devoicing effect of stressed o+ s+ j on q., which also makes it fricative Z¢fi\ Phoneme approximant /r/ English Spanish Phonemic status: Phonemic Phonemic status: Phonemic Description: There are two phonemes in Description: voiced post-alveolar approximant Spanish: a) the voiced alveolar trill or roll Z¢\ q in rey qdh., perro.!odqn b) the voiced alveolar tap or in trazo !s3`rn., pero !od3n Distribution: Distribution: restricted (not final) a .q is restricted (not final) room – marry red – carro b .3 is restricted (not initial) aro – amor Main allophones: Unless followed by o+ s+ j+ c., this is a voiced post-alveolar approximant Z¢\ green Zf¢h9m\ – road Z¢?Tc\ q A fully voiceless and fricative Z¢“‡\ is used after stressed o+ s+ j This is the result of the aspiration of these voiceless plosives Cream Zj¢“‡h9l\ – price Zo¢‡“`Hr\ Attract Z?!s¢‡“zjs\ A voiced fricative Z¢“\ is used after c Dry Z!c`H\ – Children Z!sRHkc¢“mÿ\ Main allophones: may have different qualities, the tap being the most frequent one An approximant Z¢”\ softer than the English variant can be heard, especially in the speech of the young, especially before consonants Irma Z!h3l`+ !h¢”l`\ ir bien Zh3 !A”idm+ h¢” !A”idm \ There seems to be a neutralization in final position Some speakers use Zq\ while others use Z3\or Z¢”\ amar Z`!l`3+ `!l`¢”+ `!l`q\ vivir Zah!A”h3{{ ah!A”h¢”{{ ah!A”hq\ Spelling and distribution: Straightforward rules red, marry, wrist, rhetoric Tip: Make sure you not touch your palate, which is what we in Spanish (once for and many times for q.) Also, you should be able to produce both fricatives variants, the voiced Zc¢“\ and voiceless Zo¢‡“+ s¢‡“+ j¢‡“\ Rating: Very difficult Some speakers have trouble even in Spanish and they substitute q for ZQ\ and for ZC”\ among other possibilities Some people tend to use the Spanish trill or tap in English Most learners, however, are able to use the approximant variant Z¢\ without problems The sounds that are more problematic are the fricative variants, especially in the combination Zc¢“\- 18 Prof Francisco Zabala 2012 Semivowels: The greatest difficulties in here are: Not be tempted to pronounce ZR\ instead of Zi\ in words such as yes, mayor, York The devoicing effect of stressed o+ s+ j on i+ v., which also makes them fricative ZB+ V\ The distribution of these sounds when they are not evident in the spelling E.g.: hue, quite SEMIVOWEL Phoneme English Phonemic status: Phonemic Description: voiced palatal approximant Distribution: restricted (followed by vowels, so it cannot be final) you – avenue Main allophones: This sound is fully voiced unless it is preceded by a voiceless consonant, especially g+ o+ s+ j yellow Z!idk?T\ – William Z!vHki?l\ i Spanish Phonemic status: Phonemic Zi\ Distribution: restricted (followed by vowels, so it cannot be final) hierve – cielo Main allophones: There are no major allophonic variants in River Plate Spanish A fully voiceless and fricative ZB\ is used after stressed o+ s+ j This is the result of the aspiration of these voiceless plosives cute ZjBt9s\ – tube ZsBt9a\ computer Zj?l!oBt9s?\ A fully voiceless and fricative ZB\ results after the merging of the sequence gi.Hugh ZBt9\ – human Z!Bt9l?m\ A partially devoiced Zi‡\ is used after unstressed o+ s+ j the sequences ro+ rs+ rj and after e+ r copular Z!jPoi‡?k?\ – attitude Z!zsHsi‡t9c\ accurate Z!zji‡?¢?s\ stew Z!rsi‡t9\ – excuse ZHj!rji‡t9r\ dispute ZcH!roi‡t9s\ few Zei‡t9\ – consume Zj?m!ri‡t9l\ Spelling and distribution: Straightforward rules you, universe, beautiful Tip: Try to blow a lot of air when you produce ZB\- This sound is present in Spanish as an allophone of r in words such as misterio ZlhB!sŒd3in\ Rating: The voiced variant Zi\ is easy However, ZB\ is difficult 19 Phoneme Prof Francisco Zabala 2012 SEMIVOWEL English Spanish Phonemic status: Phonemic Phonemic status: Phonemic Description: voiced labio-velar approximant Zv\ Distribution: restricted (followed by Distribution: restricted (followed by vowels, vowels, so it cannot be final) so it cannot be final) when – always huebo – risueño Main allophones: Main allophones: This sound is fully voiced unless it is There are no major allophonic variants in preceded by a voiceless consonant, River Plate Spanish especially o+ s+ j Walter Z!vPks?\ – rewind Z$¢h9!v`Hmc\ A fully voiceless and fricative ZV\ is used after stressed o+ s+ j This is the result of the aspiration of these voiceless plosives quick ZjVHj\ – Dupuytren ZcT!oVh9s¢“mÿ\ twist ZsVHrs\ .v A partially devoiced Zvfi\ is used after unstressed o+ s+ j the sequences ro+ rs+ rj and after r upward Z!Uovfi?c\ – Gatwick Z!fzsvfiHj\ awkward Z!N9jvfi?c\ Westwood Z!vdrsvfiTc\ – squat Z!rjvfiPs\ Swiss ZrvfiHr\ Spelling and distribution: Straightforward rules web, when, quite Tip: Try to blow a lot of air when you produce ZV\- Rating: The voiced variant Zv\ is easy However, ZV\ is difficult 20 Prof Francisco Zabala 2012 COMPARISON: GRAPHICS These charts have been adapted from “Phonetics: the sounds of spoken language”, a cite created by the University of Iowa Retrieved 27 february 2012 http://www.uiowa.edu/~acadtech/phonetics/# Spanish ZsŒ\ and ZcŒ\ English Zs\ and Zc\ Spanish ZC”\ English ZC\ Spanish ZA”\ English and Spanish Za\ 21 Prof Francisco Zabala 2012 Spanish Z•\ English and Spanish Zf\ Spanish Zw\ English and Spanish Zg\ Spanish Zq+ 3\ English Z¢\ [...]... the University of Iowa Retrieved 27 february 2012 http://www.uiowa.edu/~acadtech/phonetics/# Spanish ZsŒ\ and ZcŒ\ English Zs\ and Zc\ Spanish ZC”\ English ZC\ Spanish ZA”\ English and Spanish Za\ 21 Prof Francisco Zabala 2012 Spanish Z•\ English and Spanish Zf\ Spanish Zw\ English and Spanish Zg\ Spanish Zq+ 3\ English Z¢\ ... Zah!A”h3{{ ah!A”h¢”{{ ah!A”hq\ Spelling and distribution: Straightforward rules red, marry, wrist, rhetoric Tip: Make sure you do not touch your palate, which is what we do in Spanish (once for 3 and many times for q.) Also, you should be able to produce both fricatives variants, the voiced Zc¢“\ and voiceless Zo¢‡“+ s¢‡“+ j¢‡“\ Rating: Very difficult Some speakers have trouble even in Spanish and they substitute... is not a phoneme in Spanish It sounds: can be heard in many varieties of Spanish crazy Z!j¢fidHyh\ – as though Z?y !C?T\ before voiced consonants In the River Plate area, we do not use Zy\ because we aspirate Full or partial devoicing before voiceless r sounds or silence Desde Z!cŒdyC”d\ Please Zokh9yfi{{\ Musgo Z!lty•n\ These shows Z!Ch9yfi !R?Tyfi{{\ Los lados Zkny !k`C”nr\ Spelling and distribution: There... elegir Zdkd!Bh3\ Spelling and distribution: Straightforward rules here, who Tip: Make sure you do not use Spanish w instead of English g Rating: Difficult for some speakers who tend to produce w or W 14 Prof Francisco Zabala 2012 Nasals: The greatest difficulties in this group are: 1 The occurrence of pre-vocalic M 2 The production of final m+ l., which is neutralized in Spanish: e.g Miriam, Mirian... in here are: 1 The fact that RP English is non-rhotic, so /r/ is not pronounced before silence or consonants 2 The devoicing effect of stressed o+ s+ j on q., which also makes it fricative Z¢fi\ Phoneme approximant /r/ English Spanish Phonemic status: Phonemic Phonemic status: Phonemic Description: There are two phonemes in Description: voiced post-alveolar approximant Spanish: a) the voiced alveolar... Zlhg!sŒd3in+ lhB!sŒd3in\ Spelling and distribution: There are some rules, but the spellings can also be y some, miss, ceiling, science, tense Tip: Make sure you neither drop nor aspirate pre-consonantal r in English Rating: Very difficult Students tend to confuse r with y., aspirate it or drop it 12 Prof Francisco Zabala 2012 FRICATIVES Phoneme y Phoneme R English Spanish Phonemic... Zo¢‡“+ s¢‡“+ j¢‡“\ Rating: Very difficult Some speakers have trouble even in Spanish and they substitute q for ZQ\ and 3 for ZC”\ among other possibilities Some people tend to use the Spanish trill or tap in English Most learners, however, are able to use the approximant variant Z¢\ without problems The sounds that are more problematic are the fricative variants, especially in the combination Zc¢“\- 18 Prof... River Plate Spanish A fully voiceless and fricative ZB\ is used after stressed o+ s+ j This is the result of the aspiration of these voiceless plosives cute ZjBt9s\ – tube ZsBt9a\ computer Zj?l!oBt9s?\ A fully voiceless and fricative ZB\ results after the merging of the sequence gi.Hugh ZBt9\ – human Z!Bt9l?m\ A partially devoiced Zi‡\ is used after unstressed o+ s+ j the sequences ro+ rs+ rj and after... consume Zj?m!ri‡t9l\ Spelling and distribution: Straightforward rules you, universe, beautiful Tip: Try to blow a lot of air when you produce ZB\- This sound is present in Spanish as an allophone of r in words such as misterio ZlhB!sŒd3in\ Rating: The voiced variant Zi\ is easy However, ZB\ is difficult 19 Phoneme Prof Francisco Zabala 2012 SEMIVOWEL English Spanish Phonemic status: Phonemic... devoicing before voiceless sounds or silence garage Z!fz¢@9Y‡{{\ beige paint Z!adHY‡ !odHms\ Spelling and distribution: This is a sound found mostly in foreign words vision, usual, genre Tip: Make sure you can contrast Y with R Rating: This does not seem to be very difficult, it is of infrequent occurrence FRICATIVES Phoneme g English Phonemic status: Phonemic Spanish Phonemic status: Phonemic