Vowel and consonant sounds and clusters | B.ED HONS, PART - I, SEMESTER - II | TEACHINGTOOLBOX1

 

Vowels and consonants are the building blocks of spoken language, and understanding the difference between them is key to pronunciation and spelling. Here's a breakdown:

Vowels:

• Vowel sounds are created with an open vocal tract, allowing air to flow freely.

• They form the core of syllables and carry the pitch of our voice.

• In English, there are typically around 20 vowel sounds, even though we only have 5 vowel letters (a, e, i, o, u).

• For example, the letter "i" can make different sounds in "rip" (short i) and "mine" (long i).

Consonants:

• Consonant sounds are created by some kind of obstruction in the mouth. This could be complete blockage (like with "p" or "b") or partial blockage (like with "f" or "v").

• They typically work with vowels to create syllables and define the beginning, middle, or end of a spoken word.

• English has 21 consonant letters, but depending on your accent, there can be up to 24 consonant sounds.

Consonant Clusters:

• Consonant clusters are groups of two or more consonant sounds appearing together without a vowel sound in between.

• Examples include "str" in "string" or "sh" in "shop."

• The longest consonant clusters in English appear at the beginning of words (like "splash") with three sounds, and at the end of words (like "twelfths") with four sounds.

Here are some additional points to consider:

• The letter "y" can act as both a vowel and a consonant depending on the word. In "yellow," it's a consonant, but in "my," it's a vowel.

• Phonics instruction often focuses on vowel and consonant sounds, as they are the foundation of sounding out words.