The 2 Affricate Sounds | tʃ & dʒ | English Pronunciation

Summary

This video discusses affricate sounds in English, focusing on two main ones: 'ch' (unvoiced) and 'j' (voiced). It explains how affricates are formed by combining a plosive (like 't' or 'd') and a fricative ('sh' or 'zh'), resulting in a new sound. The video provides detailed articulation techniques for both sounds, shares examples of common words, and explores spelling patterns associated with them. It also highlights voiced vs. unvoiced affricates and provides minimal pairs to practice, emphasizing the importance of correct pronunciation in avoiding misunderstandings.

Takeaways

• 🗣️ English has two affricate sounds: 'ch' (unvoiced) and 'j' (voiced).
• 📢 Affricates are consonant sounds formed by combining a plosive and a fricative.
• 🎯 The unvoiced 'ch' is formed by first producing the plosive 't' and then adding the fricative 'sh'.
• 🔊 The voiced 'j' is created by combining the plosive 'd' and the fricative 'zh', with vocal cords engaged.
• 💥 Affricates begin with a plosive (stop sound), followed by a fricative, and form a new, singular sound.
• 👅 The 'ch' sound is produced by placing the tongue on the alveolar ridge and releasing the closure for a sharp sound.
• 🎓 The voiced 'j' sound requires vocal cord vibration and is also formed with the tongue positioned near the alveolar ridge.
• 📖 Common spelling patterns for 'ch' include 'ch' (child, chicken) and 'tch' (catch, match).
• 📝 The 'j' sound is often spelled with 'j' (jump, juice), 'g' (age, large), or 'dg' (bridge, judge).
• ⚖️ Minimal pairs (rich vs. ridge, sheep vs. jeep) highlight the importance of distinguishing 'ch' and 'j' sounds to avoid changing word meanings.

Q & A

What are affricate sounds in English?

Affricate sounds in English are a combination of a plosive (stop) followed by a fricative, creating a new sound. The two main affricates in English are 'ch' (unvoiced) and 'j' (voiced).

How is the unvoiced affricate 'ch' formed?

The unvoiced affricate 'ch' is formed by first creating a plosive sound ('t') where the tongue touches the alveolar ridge behind the teeth, followed by a fricative sound ('sh') as air escapes through a narrow passage in the mouth.

What is the main difference between voiced and unvoiced affricates?

The main difference is that voiced affricates, like 'j', involve using the vocal cords, whereas unvoiced affricates, like 'ch', do not.

What are some common words that contain the 'ch' sound?

Common words with the 'ch' sound include child, chicken, beach, catch, match, picture, and nature.

How is the voiced affricate 'j' formed?

The voiced affricate 'j' is formed by first creating the plosive sound 'd' (using the vocal cords), followed by the fricative sound 'ʒ', similar to the 'sh' sound but voiced.

What are some common words that contain the 'j' sound?

Words containing the 'j' sound include jump, juice, just, major, enjoy, age, large, and judge.

What spelling patterns can represent the 'ch' sound in English?

The 'ch' sound is typically represented by 'ch' or 'tch' in words like child and match. In some cases, the sound is represented by 't' as in picture and nature.

What spelling patterns can represent the 'j' sound in English?

The 'j' sound can be spelled with 'j' (jump, juice), 'g' (age, large), or 'dg' (bridge, judge). It can also be represented by 'd' followed by 'u' or 'dj' in fast speech, like in education or graduate.

What are minimal pairs, and how do they relate to affricates?

Minimal pairs are words that differ by only one sound, and for affricates, this could mean pairs like 'rich' and 'ridge' or 'sheep' and 'jeep'. Incorrectly pronouncing the affricate sound could change the meaning of the word.

Why is it important to distinguish between voiced and unvoiced affricates in English?

It is important because voiced and unvoiced affricates can create different words with distinct meanings, as in the case of minimal pairs like 'cherry' and 'Jerry'. Proper pronunciation affects meaning and clarity in communication.