In which word are consonant letters denoting only voiceless sounds contained: cat, mouse, lamp, geese? - briefly
The word "lamp" contains consonant letters that exclusively denote voiceless sounds. These sounds are represented by the letters 'l', 'm', and 'p'.
In which word are consonant letters denoting only voiceless sounds contained: cat, mouse, lamp, geese? - in detail
To determine which word among "cat," "mouse," "lamp," and "geese" contains only voiceless consonant sounds, it is essential to analyze the phonetic properties of each consonant in these words. Voiceless sounds are produced without vibrations of the vocal cords, unlike voiced sounds, which require vocal cord vibration.
Let's examine each word individually:
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Cat:
- C: This sound is voiceless, represented phonetically as /k/.
- T: This sound is also voiceless, represented phonetically as /t/.
Therefore, the word "cat" contains only voiceless consonant sounds.
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Mouse:
- M: This sound is voiced, represented phonetically as /m/.
- S: This sound is voiceless, represented phonetically as /s/.
Since "mouse" contains a voiced consonant (/m/), it does not meet the criteria.
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Lamp:
- L: This sound is voiced, represented phonetically as /l/.
- M: This sound is voiced, represented phonetically as /m/.
- P: This sound is voiceless, represented phonetically as /p/.
The presence of voiced consonants (/l/ and /m/) disqualifies "lamp."
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Geese:
- G: This sound is voiced, represented phonetically as /ɡ/.
- S: This sound is voiceless, represented phonetically as /s/.
The voiced consonant (/ɡ/) in "geese" means it does not qualify.
Based on this analysis, the word that contains only voiceless consonant sounds is "cat." The consonants /k/ and /t/ in "cat" are both voiceless, making it the correct answer. This detailed examination underscores the importance of phonetic understanding in identifying voiceless consonant sounds within words.