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Difficulty: HardSilent Letters

Identify the unarticulated consonant letters in the specified English words to complete the statement below.

Answer:In standard English pronunciation, the word *indict* contains a silent letter 【c】, whereas the word *cupboard* contains an unpronounced letter 【p】.

Answer

The silent letter in *indict* is c, and the silent letter in *cupboard* is p.
In standard Received Pronunciation, *indict* is pronounced /ɪnˈdaɪt/, leaving the letter 'c' unarticulated. Similarly, *cupboard* is pronounced /ˈkʌbəd/, where the letter 'p' is silent.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the phonetic transcription of the word *indict*.
The word *indict* is transcribed as /ɪnˈdaɪt/. The letter 'c' is not pronounced.
Although retained in spelling due to its Latin origin, the consonant sound /k/ is silent.
2
Analyze the phonetic transcription of the word *cupboard*.
The word *cupboard* is transcribed as /ˈkʌbəd/. The letter 'p' is unarticulated.
Through phonetic assimilation before the voiced plosive /b/, the bilabial plosive 'p' remains completely silent.

Key Concept

Silent Letters in English Phonology
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Topics

Silent Letters

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