K Sound - AHD Symbol /k/
G Sound - AHD Symbol /g/
G Sound - AHD Symbol /g/
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The Sounds k and g
To pronounce /k/, bring the back of the tongue to the velum, stop the air completely, then release it with a voiceless sound.
* At the beginning of words, release /k/ with a puff of air. To make sure the puff of air is strong enough, hold a small piece of paper in front of your mouth as you say the following words. The paper should move considerably.
cat
cost
clean
crazy
kettle
khaki
* Make the same puff of air when a word ends in another consonant plus /k/.
frank
ink
work
fork
ask
mosque
talk
walk
* Do NOT make the puff of air when /k/ is followed by the sound /w/.
quick
queen
question
quite
* Do NOT make the puff when /k/ occurs in the middle of a word before a vowel sound.
lanky
asking
monkey
sticky
tickle
wicked
uncle
chocolate
lacquer
saccharine
* When /k/ occurs just after the sound /s/, there is NO puff of air.
skin
skate
basket
scrape
school
schedule
* When /k/ occurs just before another consonant, bring the back of the tongue to the velum, stop the air briefly, but do not release it; then make the next sound.
asks
likes
bakes
asked
liked
baked
action
actor
picture
anxious
1. Pick the music up tomorrow.
2. Look at the black bike over there.
3. I'll make a cake in the morning.
4. Did Rick rake the leaves?
5. Luke fell off his bike and scraped his skin.
* When /k/ is the last sound in a word or sentence, pronounce it with or without the puff of air. There is no difference in meaning.
With the puff / Without the puff
Don't look!
That's a fake.
I have a stomachache.
Practice
1. Can you cut the cake for me?
2. Carolyn couldn't come to the concert.
3. His wicked uncle has no scruples.
4. Mike and Jack can work quickly.
5. He walks to the bank every day.
6. They talked and asked questions.
* About the letters k and c
The letter k is not pronounced in the following words.
know
knew
knowledge
knee
knife
blackguard
The letter c is silent in the following word
indict
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The Sound /g/
To make the sound /g/, bring the back of the tongue to the velum, stop the air briefly, then release it with a voiced sound.
game
glad
grade
egg
eggs
bigger
rugged
ghost
Practice
1. Go get your grandmother's glasses.
2. Peggy begged to go to the art gallery.
3. Gloria gives gracious get-togethers.
4. Please give me eight gallons of gas.
5. Maggie bagged all the groceries.
6. Gayle dragged the rugged luggage through the gate.
Contrasting Sound Practice
Compare /g/ and /k/
cot / got
cane / gain
came / game
come / gum
clean / glean
curl / girl
rack / rag
back / bag
pick / pig
hawk / hog
bicker / bigger
sacked / sagged
tacked, tact / tagged
Recognition Practice
1. Gary got a clean rag.
Gary got a clean rack.
2. He is just like a hawk.
He is just like a hog.
3. We need the glue.
We need the clue.
4. Please put it in the back.
Please put it in the bag.
* The letter g after the letter n has the sound /ng/
* The sound g is not pronounced in the following words.
phlegm
diaphragm
sign
champagne
lasagna
caught, taught
bought, brought
through
though
height
weight, eight
might, light
campaign
reign
Answers:
1. Gary got a clean rag.
2. He is just like a hawk.
3. We need the glue. Please put it in the back.
