Some General Guidelines for correct pronunciation Silent consonant letters

Some General Guide lines for correct pronunciation Silent Consonant Letters 1) b is silent in the spelling sequences mb and bt occurring in the word-final positions Examples: Comb, bomb, limb, plumb, tomb…etc. b is also silent in plumber, bomber, subtle …etc. 2) d is silent in the spelling sequence dj: Examples: Adjective, adjust, adjoin, adjourn…etc.

3) G is silent in the spelling sequence gm or gn: Example: Gnaw, sign, consign, assign..etc. However, g is not silent in certain derivatives formed from such words Example: Signature, malignant, resignation…etc.

4) h is silent in the spelling sequence gh and in the word-initial positions: Examples: Ghost, ghetto, aghast…etc Note: h is also silent in John, Thames, Thomas. 5) k is silent in the word-initial spelling sequence kn Examples: Knee, know,knock, knowledge, knife, etc…

Exercises: Transcribe the following words phonemically and make corrections bt looking up the dictionary : Ghost, limb, comb, womb, gnat, doubt, debt, knob, assign, knob, knight, climb, knee.

6) l is silent before k and m in the word-final spelling sequence lk and lm in some words such as the following: Examples: Walk, talk, calm, folk, stalk…etc. 7) n is silent in the word-final spelling sequence mn: Examples: Autumn, column, damn, hymn( religious song)…etc.

However, n is not silent in derivatives formed from such words: Hymnal, damnable, autumnal… etc. 8) p is silent in the word-initial spelling sequences pn,ps,pt Examples: Pneumonia,psychology, psyche, psalm.

9) t is always silent when it occurs between s and l,s and en Examples: castle, wrestle,listen, fasten, bristle...etc 10) w is silent in three positions-a) in the final position, b) initial spelling sequence wr, and c) sometimes initial spelling sequence wh: Examples: Saw, flow, wreath,whistle, wrestle, whose,who,where…etc.

11) s is silent before l in the following words: Examples: Aisle, island,isle

Write the word into the gap where you do not pronounce one or more consonants. Example: pencil, hour, cousin - ____ Answer: pencil, hour, cousin - hour 1) Maths, clothes, law 2) skirt, memory, woman 3) pound, bus, whole 4) tin, sign, dish 5) duty, foreign, gun 6) doubt, music, step 7) major, salary, know 8) fight, tree, write 9) peanut, dumb, leave 10) honor, brilliant, competence -

EXERCISES: Psalm, damn, hustle, aisle, hymn, whole,wrap, knot, die, buy, rhyme,bowl,mount,friend, foreign,bride, dye, owl, eel, tree, bargain, money, leopard, boat, soul, own, either, isle, aisle, island, sleep,leave,live, field,

12) In RP, the letter is silent unless it is followed by a vowel.Thus: A) It is silent in the following words, where no vowel follows it: Car, art, store, park, metre, meter B) It is not silent in the following words, where a vowel follows it: Radio,carry,write, hearing…etc.

Similarly, r is not silent when it is used in connected speech,where it is followed by a vowel: Silent r Far Near A car mechanic The car was stolen R not silent Far off Four apples the car is stolen A car electrician

EXERCISES: Lord, girl, reason, ear, father,poor, tomb, guess,comb,warm,could,shoe, wool, water, red, write, laugh, says, out, health, mother.