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G phoneme /ɡ/
The G phoneme /ɡ/ is a consonant phoneme that’s one of the standard English phonemes.[1]
Naming[edit | edit source]
Naming this phoneme, like other consonant phonemes, is somewhat difficult. It could be called the G phoneme after the letter G, though that is pronounced /ʤi:/ so doesn’t include /ɡ/, or alternatively as guh /ɡə/ after its sound when initial. It appears twice in words like gag, gig, etc.
Representation[edit | edit source]
In phonemic notation using the International Phonetic Alphabet, the G phoneme is represented by lowercase opentail G, ⟨ɡ⟩ as its IPA symbol. As an alternative, the IPA permits looptail g, (image) has also been officially acceptable since 1993, and was common before this. This symbol has the IPA number 104. In SAMPA and X-SAMPA, the standard lowercase G, g is also used (fonts vary on whether this is opentail G or looptail G). In IPA Braille, ⠛ (1245) is used, which is also used for letter G in standard Braille.
Phonotactics[edit | edit source]
/g/ may be initial or final.
/g/ forms consonant clusters. Initial consonant clusters include:
Final consonant clusters include:
/g/ influences a ⟨ng⟩ preceding to become a ng phoneme.
Pronunciation[edit | edit source]
Standard pronunciation of this is as a voiced velar plosive [ɡ].
It has a voiceless counterpart, phoneme /k/.
Spelling[edit | edit source]
Spelling is ⟨g⟩, ⟨gg⟩, ⟨gu⟩, ⟨gue⟩, and sometimes ⟨gh⟩ (ghost).
⟨x⟩ can be pronounced /ɡz/.
