ENGLISH PLOSIVES

What is a plosive sound?

• A sound produced by a continuous airflow

• A sound produced by blocking and releasing air

• A nasal sound

• A sound produced only with the lips

Which of the following is NOT a phase of plosive production?

• Closure

• Compression

• Expansion

• Release

Which of the following is a voiceless plosive?

• /b/

• /d/

• /g/

• /t/

What are the three places of articulation for plosives in English?

• Bilabial, Alveolar, Velar

• Labiodental, Palatal, Uvular

• Nasal, Glottal, Velar

• Fricative, Bilabial, Alveolar

What happens when a plosive is aspirated?

• The sound becomes nasalized

• There is an explosion of air after the release

• The vocal cords vibrate more

• The sound is completely silent

Which of the following plosives are always voiceless?

• /p, t, k/

• /b, d, g/

• /m, n, ŋ/

• /f, s, h/

What is the effect of /s/ before a plosive, as in 'sp' or 'st'?

• Makes the plosive silent

• Eliminates aspiration

• Converts the plosive into a fricative

• Makes the plosive nasal

In final position, plosives generally...

• Are always completely voiced

• Have a strong aspiration

• Are often weak or silent

• Are always nasalized

True or False: The most important distinction between /p, t, k/ and /b, d, g/ is the vibration of the vocal cords

• True

• False

Which of these words contains an aspirated plosive?

• Spin

• Tall

• Sky

• Desk