Language Structure Problems

Feature Practice

Write this joke and its answer in standard English orthography. Note that the joke has spaces between words. When you hear speech, however, you do not hear breaks between words. So, to spice it up a bit, the answer to the joke does not give you the word boundaries. I put some spaces in to help you keep your place, but these resulting groups do not correspond to word boundaries. In both cases, I have given you the vowels in transcription. Enjoy!

The Question

1. voiced labio-velar glide
V
voiceless alveolar stop

2. voiced alveolar stop
I
voiced alveolar stop

3. voiced interdental fricative
@

4. voiceless glottal fricative
[
voiceless alveolar stop

5. voiceless alveolar fricative
ej

6. voiceless alveolar stop
u

7. voiced interdental fricative
@

8. voiceless alveolar fricative
voiceless velar stop
a
voiced palatal or retroflex () liquid
voiceless labio-dental fricative

The answer

9. voiced palatal glide
u
voiced alveolo-palatal affricate
V
voiceless alveolar fricative

10. voiceless alveolar stop
voiceless glottal fricative
{
voiced velar nasal
@

11. voiced palatal or retroflex () liquid
aw
voiced alveolar nasal
voiced alveolar stop
{

12. voiced alveolar nasal
voiced alveolar stop
aj
voiced alveolar (lateral) liquid
voiced velar stop
13. ow
O
voiced alveolar nasal
@
voiceless glottal fricative

14. E
voiced alveolar stop