Speech Sound Basics
A speech sound can be described through observable properties such as airflow, vocal-fold activity, and the position of the articulators. The aim is accurate description across languages and accents, not a verdict about which way of speaking is correct.
Onset, Nucleus and Coda: Read a Syllable Diagram
The onset comes before a syllable’s nucleus, and the coda comes after it. The nucleus is usually a vowel; either edge can be empty.
Voiced vs. Voiceless Sounds: What Changes?
A voiced sound involves vocal-fold vibration during the relevant part of its production; a voiceless sound does not.
What Is a Minimal Pair? A Sound-by-Sound Check
A segmental minimal pair consists of two words in the same language variety with different meanings and the same sound sequence except at one position.