Exercises Nasals
1 Classify /m/, /n/ and /N/.
2 Describe how each of these sounds is articulated.
3 In what way do nasals resemble plosives and in what way do they differ from them?
4 What mistakes are Spanish speakers likely to make when pronouncing the English nasals? Explain the possible cause in each case and propose ways to correct the mistake.
5 Pronounce the following words in pairs. Be sure you make a distinction between them.
|
/n/ |
/N/ |
/n/ |
/N/ |
|
done |
dung |
thin |
thing |
|
gone |
gong |
sin |
sing |
|
ban |
bang |
kin |
king |
|
fan |
fang |
pin |
ping |
|
clan |
clang |
ton |
tongue |
|
ran |
rang |
run |
rung |
|
tan |
tang |
sun |
sung |
|
bin |
bing |
stun |
stung |
|
din |
ding |
lawn |
long |
6 Practice reading the following mini-dialogue aloud with another student. Pay particular attention to medial and final /m/ and /N/. Exchange roles.
Student A: I thought nasals were lengthened in words like connotation, immigration and immediately.
Student B: Well, now you know they are not. I didn’t know myself that autumn, hymn and column are pronounced with a bilabial nasal at the end. Does this ring your bell: "Letter n is silent when it appears after m in the same syllable"?
Student A: Uh/Oh??? I think I’ll go over this section again.
Student B. I’ll do the same as soon as I get home.
7 Transcribe the following words and phrases into phonemic writing. Be ready to read them aloud.
Being, bring, bringing, bring up, bring out, finger, bungle, cling, ganging up, hang around, hanger, hangar, hangover, King Alfred, hunger, longing, long ago, longer, Long Island, prolonging, singer, single, Song of Songs, singing a song, sting, stinger, stinging, stringy, strong enough, strong as steel, wrongly, young and old alike, King of England, bringing up a new angle, English singer, dancing a tango, seemingly stronger.
Repeat sentences. "Write the sentences from the box next to the pictures to describe what Nick is doing in each. Then repeat the sentences and check your answers.
Work in pairs. Study the pictures for one minute and then close your book. Try to remember what Nick likes doing and what he doesn’t like doing. Report to you partner", who will check your answers.
