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Question

Difficulty: MediumSilent Letters

While the consonant letter 'b' is silent in several English words following 'm' or preceding 't', it is fully voiced in others. In which of the following words is the letter 'b' articulated?

  1. A
    plumber
  2. timberAnswer
  3. C
    succumb
  4. D
    subtle

Answer

The letter 'b' is fully articulated in the word 'timber'.
In the word 'timber', the letter 'b' forms an articulated consonant sound /b/ between the syllables (/ˈtɪm-bər/). Unlike derivatives formed by adding suffixes to silent '-mb' roots (such as 'plumb' + '-er'), 'timber' is a distinct root word where the 'b' is voiced.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the silent 'b' rule in English phonology.
The letter 'b' is typically silent when it appears at the end of a root word following 'm' (e.g., comb, dumb, lamb, plumber) or before 't' in certain Latinate derivations (e.g., subtle, debt, doubt).
Understanding the environments where silent letters occur allows accurate identification of exceptions.
2
Examine the phonetic transcription of each given option.
'plumber' is pronounced /ˈplʌmər/ (silent 'b'), 'succumb' is pronounced /səˈkʌm/ (silent 'b'), 'subtle' is pronounced /ˈsʌtl/ (silent 'b'), and 'timber' is pronounced /ˈtɪmbər/ (articulated 'b').
Verifying the presence of the voiced bilabial plosive /b/ sound isolates the correct word.

Key Concept

Articulated versus Silent Consonant Patterns
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Topics

Silent Letters

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