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T phoneme /t/
/t/ is a consonant phoneme that occurs in English as 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 T phoneme after the letter T, or tuh after its sound when initial. It occurs twice in several words such as tat, tart, tit, tot, tort, tut, etc.
Classification[edit | edit source]
This can be classified as Consonant phoneme > Plosive phoneme > Alveolar plosive phoneme.
Phonotactics[edit | edit source]
/t/ forms part of consonant clusters. Initial consonant clusters include:
- Initial consonant cluster /st/
- Initial consonant cluster /str/
- Initial consonant cluster /sw/
- Initial consonant cluster /tr/
- Initial consonant cluster /tw/
Final consonant clusters include:
- Final consonant cluster /ft/
- Final consonant cluster /fts/
- Final consonant cluster /kst/
- Final consonant cluster /ksts/
- Final consonant cluster /kt/
- Final consonant cluster /kts/
- Final consonant cluster /mpt/
- Final consonant cluster /mpts/
- Final consonant cluster /mt/
- Final consonant cluster /pt/
- Final consonant cluster /pts/
- Final consonant cluster /skt/
- Final consonant cluster /spt/
- Final consonant cluster /st/
- Final consonant cluster /sts/
- Final consonant cluster /ts/
- Final consonant cluster /ŋkt/
- Final consonant cluster /ʃt/
- Final consonant cluster /ʧt/
Pronunciation[edit | edit source]
Standard pronunciation of this is as an aspirated voiceless alveolar plosive [tʰ]. After /s/ it assimilates due to assimilation by /s/ to become a voiceless alveolar plosive [sd].
In many accents, /t/ in medial position is pronounced as alveolar flap [ɾ].
Elision of /t/ is also very common. It may be replaced by a glottal stop [ʔ], or just dropped completely.
Spelling[edit | edit source]
Spelling is consistently ⟨t⟩, ⟨tt⟩, ⟨tte⟩; or sometimes ⟨th⟩.
Phonogram | Words | Notes |
---|---|---|
⟨t⟩ | ||
⟨tt⟩ | ||
⟨tte⟩ | ||
⟨th⟩ | Anthony (BrE), Esther, Neanderthal, Thailand, Thames, Theresa, Thomas, Thompson, Thomson, thyme. | |
⟨tw⟩ | two | Sightword. |
⟨pt⟩ | pterodactyl, pterosaur, ptarmigan | |
⟨bt⟩ | debt, doubt, subtle | |
⟨ct⟩ | Connecticut, indict, victual |