2.2.8 Longer consonant sequences

In phrases one word may end with a consonant cluster and the next word may begin with another consonant cluster, so that longer sequences quite commonly occur. These may be clusters of three (help mJ), four (fIfT flL), five (Its splendId), six (nekst sprIN) and even seven consonants as for example in /Dq teksts stjHpId/. As always there is a smooth passage from each consonant to the next, with no pause, no gap between them. The influence of consonants on each other still remains and it is the same as it was described above in two-consonant clusters.

3. Lab works

3.1 Lab work 8 Consonant clusters

Exercise 1 Devoicing of [l, r, w, j]

When [l, r, w, j] follow [p, t, k] in syllable-initial position they are produced as voiceless, slightly fricative sounds. Listen and repeat:

pleI play	treI tray	klIq clear
preI pray	twIn twin	kraI cry
pjH pew	tjHn tune	kjH queue

Exercise 2 Repetition of initial clusters

Listen and repeat:

Two consonants		Three consonants
spPt spot	plaV plough	spleI splay
stqVn stone	twIst twist	spreI spray
skeIt skate	krJm cream	spjH spew
sfIq sphere	pjVq pure	streI stray
smaIl smile	fleIm flame	stjH stew
snqV snow	SrINk shrink	skrH screw
slxm slam	vjH view	skwPS squash
swIC switch	TwLt thwart	skjH skew

Exercise 3 Final plosive-plus-plosive clusters

a) Listen and repeat:

pxkt packed	rIgd rigged
bxgd bagged	dAkt duct
drPpt dropped	lept leapt
rPbd robbed	grxbd grabbed

b) It is difficult to hear the difference between, for example, ‘dropped back’ and ‘drop back’, since in the normal pronunciation only the last plosive of the cluster is audibly released. The main difference is that the three-consonant cluster is longer. Listen and repeat:

A	B
grxbd bqVT grabbed both	grxb bqVT grab both
laIkt Dqm liked them	laIk Dqm like them
hPpt bxk hopped back	hPp bxk hop back
lVkt fLwqd looked forward	lVk fLwqd look forward
pegd daVn pegged down	peg daVn peg down
wIpt krJm whipped cream	wIp krJm whip cream

Exercise 4 Recognition

Look at the items of Exercise 3(b) above. When you hear one of them, say “A” if you hear an item from the left-hand column, or “B” if you hear one from the right-hand column. You will then hear the correct answer and the item will be said again for you to repeat (1…6).

Exercise 5 Final clusters of three and four consonants

Listen and repeat:

helps helps	twelfTs twelfths	rJCt reached
sIksT sixth	nekst next	teksts texts
TxNkt thanked	reInGd ranged
eGd edged	rIsks risks

Exercise 6 Pronouncing consonant clusters

When you hear the number, say the word. You will then hear the correct pronunciation which you should repeat.

1. skreIpt	3. klqVDz	5. krAnCt	7. plAnGd
2. grAGd	4. skrIpts	6. TrqVnz	8. kwenC