2.6: Voiced and Unvoiced Consonants

Watch the Video

Accent Diet

Phonemic Chart

Review the consonant sounds on the Phonemic Chart or the Interactive American IPA Chart. Which sounds are voiced and which sounds are unvoiced?

Practice

Are the Consonants Voiced or Unvoiced?

Which of these sounds is voiced and which is unvoiced? Write "voiced" or "unvoiced" on the line.

EXAMPLE: The "th" in "thumb." unvoiced

1. The "th" in "mother." _________________
2. The "b" in "bag." _________________
3. The "p" in "pack." _________________
4. The "d" in "ride." _________________
5. The "t" in "right." _________________
6. The "ng" in "singing." _________________
7. The "y" in "yacht." _________________
8. The "s" in "sea." _________________
9. The "z" in "zoo." _________________
10. The "l" in "let." _________________
11. The "r" in "read." _________________
12. The "h" in "home." _________________

Rules to Remember 1

Listen to each word pair. How are the vowel sounds different in these word pairs? Rules to Remember 1.m4a

The final consonant sound is unvoiced.	The final consonant sound is voiced.
rope	robe
coat	code
pick	pig
leaf	leave
price	prize

Rule

Vowels before final voiced consonants sound longer than vowels before unvoiced consonants.

Rules to Remember 2

Read each of these words out loud. Put your hand on your throat. Do you feel a vibration when you say the final sound of each word? Are the final sounds voiced or unvoiced?

• play
• go
• die
• knee

Rule

All the words above end with a vowel sound. Vowel sounds are always voiced.

Practice

Long or Short Vowel Sound?

Do you hear a long or short vowel sound? Circle the word you hear. Practice - Long or Show Vowel Sound? .m4a

1. lap / lab
2. seat / seed
3. coat / code
4. rack / rag
5. buck / bug
6. tack / tag
7. leaf / leave
8. proof / prove
9. peace / peas
10. price / prize

AnswerS - Practice - Long or Short Vowel Sound?.docx

Choose the correct reply

Listen to the speaker say sentence a or b. Put an X next to the correct reply. Voiced or unvoiced - choose the corrects reply.m4a

Number	Listen. Do you hear sentence a or b?	Put an X next to the correct reply.
1	a. Did you see the price? b. Did you see the prize?	____ Yes! It's very expensive! ____ Yes! Congratulations on winning!
2	a. He gave me a buck! b. He gave me a bug!	____ He gave you a dollar? Why? ____ He gave you an insect? Why?
3	a. We need peace. b. We need peas.	____ Yes. War is bad for everyone. ____ Ok. I will go to the store.
4	a. Can you get me a rack? b. Can you get me a rag?	____ Do you want something to hang clothes on? ____ Why? Do you need to clean something?
5	a. Get him a seat. b. Get him a seed.	____ Does he need to sit down? ____ What is he planting? Fruit or vegetables?
6	a. He bought a pick. b. He bought a pig.	____ Does he play the guitar? ____ Why did he buy an animal?

AnswerS - Choose the correct reply.docx​​​​​​​

Check

Check your answers with the class. Then listen and repeat both sentences and replies.

Picture Dictionary

Do you know these words? Work with a partner to match the words with the pictures.

• pick
• rag
• rack
• seed

Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): Photos by MAYANK D on Unsplash, Matthew Dockery on Unsplash, Photo by Joshua Lanzarini on Unsplash, and Photo by Artificial Photography on Unsplash

Practice Speaking

Work with a partner. Look again at each sentence. Student a, say sentence a or b. Student b, say the correct reply. Then switch roles.

Notice Sounds in Real-World English

Watch the video of Andy's interview. Remember to click the CC button so you can read the subtitles. Find at least 3 words with an unvoiced consonant ending and 3 words with a voiced consonant ending. Write them in the table below.

Voiced Consonant Ending	Unvoiced Consonant Ending
Example: name	Example: ask

More Practice 1: Voiced or Unvoiced?

Are the final sounds of each word voiced or unvoiced?

Query \(\PageIndex{1}\)

More Practice 2: Voiced or Unvoiced?

Are the final consonants of each word voiced or unvoiced?

Query \(\PageIndex{1}\)

Recording: Voiced and Unvoiced Consonants

Read each of the sentences below. Remember to make the vowel sound before a voiced consonant long and clear. Make the vowel before an unvoiced consonant shorter.

____ / 12 points

1. a. Did you see the price?
   • b. Did you see the prize?
2. a. He gave me a buck!
   • b. He gave me a bug!
3. a. We need peace.
   • b. We need peas.
4. a. Can you get me a rack?
   • b. Can you get me a rag?
5. a. Get him a seat.
   • b. Get him a seed.
6. a. He bought a pick.
   • b. He bought a pig.