Question

Difficulty: HardConsonant Sounds

Complete the statement below by filling in the correct phonetic symbol representing the consonant sound produced by the underlined letter(s).

Answer:In the word 'exaggerate', the letter 'x' is phonetically realized as the voiced consonant sequence 【/gz/】.

Answer

The phonetic realization of the letter 'x' in 'exaggerate' is the consonant sound sequence /ɡz/.
In the word 'exaggerate', the letter 'x' represents the voiced consonant cluster /ɡz/ because it occurs immediately before an accented vowel sound.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Examine the phonetic transcription of the target word 'exaggerate'.
The word 'exaggerate' is transcribed phonetically as /ɪɡˈzædʒəreɪt/.
Determining the correct IPA transcription reveals the exact consonant sound cluster produced.
2
Analyze the sound pattern rule for orthographic 'x'.
When 'x' precedes a stressed vowel sound (as in 'exaggerate', 'examine', or 'exert'), it produces the voiced cluster /ɡz/.
The voicing assimilates to the surrounding voiced vowel sounds, contrasting with voiceless environments where 'x' is pronounced /ks/.

Key Concept

Phonetic Realization of Orthographic 'x'
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