In which word are all the consonants representing only voiceless sounds - cat, mouse? - briefly
The word "cat" contains only voiceless consonants. Specifically, the consonants 'c' and 't' are voiceless sounds, whereas the word "mouse" includes voiced consonants such as 'm' and 's'.
In which word are all the consonants representing only voiceless sounds - cat, mouse? - in detail
To determine which word contains only voiceless consonants, it is essential to understand the phonetic properties of the consonants in the words "cat" and "mouse." Voiceless sounds are produced without vibration of the vocal cords, whereas voiced sounds involve vocal cord vibration.
First, let us examine the word "cat." The consonants in "cat" are:
- 'c' as in 'cat' which is pronounced as /k/
- 't'
Both /k/ and /t/ are voiceless consonants. The sound /k/ is produced by a complete closure of the airflow in the mouth, followed by a sudden release, without vocal cord vibration. Similarly, /t/ is produced by a complete closure of the airflow at the alveolar ridge, followed by a sudden release, also without vocal cord vibration. Therefore, all consonants in the word "cat" are voiceless.
Next, consider the word "mouse." The consonants in "mouse" are:
- 'm'
- 's'
- 'w'
Among these, 's' is a voiceless consonant. The sound /s/ is produced by forcing air through a narrow channel created by the tongue and the roof of the mouth, without vocal cord vibration. However, 'm' and 'w' are voiced consonants. The sound /m/ involves vibration of the vocal cords, as air is released through the nose with the lips closed. The sound /w/ also involves vocal cord vibration, produced by rounding the lips and allowing air to flow around the sides of the tongue.
In summary, the word "cat" contains only voiceless consonants, while the word "mouse" includes both voiced and voiceless consonants.