Examkin

Question

Difficulty: HardSilent Letters

Unlike their root forms where certain consonant letters are silent, some derivative words require the consonant sound to be articulated. In which of the following words is the consonant letter 'g' pronounced?

  1. A
    paradigm
  2. B
    diaphragm
  3. resignationAnswer
  4. D
    phlegm

Answer

The word 'resignation' is the correct choice because the letter 'g' is voiced as /ɡ/ in its pronunciation (/ˌrɛzɪɡˈneɪʃn/).
The correct option is 'resignation'. Although the base verb 'resign' has a silent letter 'g', the derivative noun 'resignation' articulates the letter 'g' as the voiced consonant sound /ɡ/ (/ˌrɛzɪɡˈneɪʃn/).

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the phonetic pronunciation of each given word containing the spelling letter 'g'.
Identify whether 'g' represents a silent letter or an articulated consonant sound in each word.
English spelling includes words where specific consonants become voiced only in certain derivative grammatical forms.
2
Evaluate 'paradigm', 'diaphragm', and 'phlegm'.
All three words feature a silent 'g' preceding the final nasal consonant 'm' (/m/).
The spelling pattern '-gm' at the end of root words renders the letter 'g' unarticulated.
3
Examine 'resignation' alongside its root verb 'resign'.
While 'g' is silent in 'resign' (/rɪˈzaɪn/), the addition of the suffix '-ation' causes the 'g' to be explicitly pronounced as /ɡ/ (/ˌrɛzɪɡˈneɪʃn/).
Morphological derivation can shift syllable stress and cause previously unpronounced letters to become articulated consonants.

Key Concept

Alternation between silent and articulated consonants across morphological derivatives
Estimated Time:1m 15s
Rate this question

Topics

Silent Letters

More questions from this topic