Definition, [f,3] are constrictive fricative, forelingual, apical, palate-alveolar, bicentral; [Ã] is strong and voiceless, [3] is weak <md voiced, in final position it is partially devoiced.
Articulation. 1.The tip of the tongue is close to the back port of the teeth ridge forming a flat narrowing.
2. The front part of the tongue is raised towards the hard palate, forming the front secondary focus, thus palatalizing the sounds.
3. The lips are neutral or slightly rounded.
4. The vocal cords do not vibrate when [f] is pronounced, for (ç! they vibrate when it occurs before vowels, eg pleasure.
Recommendations.1. Start with Articulation exercises II, 7; 111, 5—9.
2. Start from [s], then put the tip of the tongue a bit backwards. Draw the breath inwards to check that the tip is in the right place. Keep this position and then raise the rest of the tongue to say the vowel [1], slightly round the lips and push the breath through strongly.
For If) the friction is strong, stronger than for [f, â], but less noisy than for [s]. For [3] the friction is weak.
Allophones.Partially devoiced [3] occurs in word final positions, eg prestige, rouge.
Comparison with the Russian |ø, ø æ].These Russian fricatives are articulated in the same way, only they are dorsal, i.e. the blade of the tongue is close to the back part of the teeth ridge, [ø'] is produced with the front part of the tongue raised very high, eg ùè, ù¸êè.
Possible Mistakes. 1. Learners of English may pronounce the Russian [ø, æ] instead of the English [Ã,ç]. Òî avoid it they must remember that the apical articulation is advisable and that for the English sounds the friction should be stronger.
2. If the Russian [ø'] is heard one must take care not to raise the front part of the tongue too high.
3. Sometimes Russian learners of English devoice the final (3] (a phonological mistake). They must remember that it should be only partly devoiced in this position.
[h] occurs in word initial and word medial positions, spelt "h, wh", eg how, hat, who, ahead, behave, manhood.
Definition,[h] is constrictive fricative, glottal, voiceless. As [h] occurs only in pre-vocalic positions it is the soundp of breath