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Question

Difficulty: MediumConsonant Sounds

Complete the statement below by supplying the correct phonetic symbol for the consonant sound represented by the digraph in each word.

Answer:In the word 'character', the digraph 'ch' produces the consonant sound 【/k/】, whereas in the word 'charlatan', 'ch' produces the consonant sound 【/ʃ/】.

Answer

blank_1: /k/; blank_2: /ʃ/
The digraph 'ch' has different consonant pronunciations based on word origins: in 'character' (Greek origin), it represents the voiceless velar plosive /k/, while in 'charlatan' (French origin), it represents the voiceless postalveolar fricative /ʃ/.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the phonetic pronunciation of the digraph 'ch' in 'character'
The word 'character' is pronounced /ˈkærəktə(r)/, where 'ch' represents the voiceless velar plosive sound /k/.
In words of Greek origin such as 'character', 'chorus', and 'chemistry', the digraph 'ch' typically sounds as /k/.
2
Identify the phonetic pronunciation of the digraph 'ch' in 'charlatan'
The word 'charlatan' is pronounced /ˈʃɑːlətən/, where 'ch' represents the voiceless post-alveolar fricative sound /ʃ/.
In words borrowed from French such as 'charlatan', 'chef', and 'chiffon', the digraph 'ch' is pronounced as /ʃ/.

Key Concept

Phonetic Variations of Digraph 'ch' (/k/ vs /ʃ/)
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Consonant Sounds

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