Affricate Sounds — (10 Marks)
What is an Affricate Sound?
An affricate is a complex consonant produced in two stages: it begins as a stop (plosive) — with a complete closure of the vocal tract — and is released as a fricative — where air is forced through a narrow channel producing audible friction. Both parts share the same place of articulation and together form a single phoneme in English.
Three‑Term Description of English Affricates
In standard English there are two commonly recognised affricates, both produced at the post‑alveolar region.
| Sound (IPA) | Voicing | Place of Articulation | Manner | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| /tʃ/ | Voiceless | Post‑alveolar | Affricate (stop + fricative) | chair, match, feature |
| /dʒ/ | Voiced | Post‑alveolar | Affricate (stop + fricative) | jam, bridge, judge |
Detailed Mechanism
The Voiceless Affricate /tʃ/
The /tʃ/ sound combines a voiceless alveolar stop /t/ followed by the voiceless post‑alveolar fricative /ʃ/. The tongue first forms a closure at the alveolar ridge, then slides back very slightly to release air through a narrow gap that generates friction, producing the characteristic /tʃ/ sound.
The Voiced Affricate /dʒ/
The /dʒ/ sound combines the voiced alveolar stop /d/ with the voiced post‑alveolar fricative /ʒ/. Vocal fold vibration is maintained through both the stop and fricative phases, giving /dʒ/ its voiced quality (e.g., judge, jungle).
Key Points (Quick Summary)
- Affricates are single phonemes formed by a stop released into a fricative at the same place of articulation.
- English has two common affricates: /tʃ/ (voiceless) and /dʒ/ (voiced).
- They require precise tongue movement and coordinated voicing (for voiced affricates).
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