Question 50
GCE_MODEL_QUESTIONS_VOL1
•
2021
•
ENGLISH_LANGUAGE
•
objective
For each of the following words, give the phonetic transcription in Received Pronunciation (RP) using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). Then, identify one phoneme that differs between RP and General American (GA) for each word, and briefly explain why the phonological process of "flapping" does not occur in RP for the word "butter".
Words: water, butter, thought, through.
Answer Options
Correct Answer
A.
RP transcriptions and RP‑GA differences:\n\n1. water - RP: /ˈwɔːtə/ ; GA: /ˈwɑːtɚ/ - differing phoneme: vowel /ɔː/ (RP) vs /ɑː/ (GA).\n2. butter - RP: /ˈbʌtə/ ; GA: /ˈbʌɾɚ/ - differing phoneme: the medial consonant is a clear alveolar stop /t/ in RP, whereas GA often uses a flap /ɾ/.\n3. thought - RP: /θɔːt/ ; GA: /θɔt/ - differing phoneme: RP uses the long vowel /ɔː/ while GA uses the short /ɔ/.\n4. through - RP: /θruː/ ; GA: /θru/ - differing phoneme: RP has a long vowel /uː/ versus GA's short /u/.\n\nWhy flapping does not occur in RP for "butter": Flapping is a phonological process characteristic of General American where the alveolar stop /t/ becomes a voiced alveolar flap /ɾ/ when it appears between two vowel‑like sounds (as in "butter"). RP does not employ this process; the /t/ remains a voiceless alveolar stop, giving the pronunciation /ˈbʌtə/. Consequently, the word retains a clear /t/ sound in RP, unlike the flapped /ɾ/ in GA.
B.
RP transcriptions and RP‑GA differences:
1. water - RP: /ˈwɔːtə/ ; GA: /ˈwɔːtɚ/ - differing phoneme: final rhotic /ɚ/ in GA.
2. butter - RP: /ˈbʌtə/ ; GA: /ˈbʌdɚ/ - differing phoneme: GA uses /d/ instead of /t/.
3. thought - RP: /θɔːt/ ; GA: /θɒt/ - differing phoneme: vowel quality reversed.
4. through - RP: /θruː/ ; GA: /θruː/ - no difference.
Why flapping does not occur in RP for "butter": RP regularly flaps intervocalic /t/ in casual speech, but the flap is realized as a voiceless stop, so the word sounds like /ˈbʌtɚ/.
C.
RP transcriptions and RP‑GA differences:
1. water - RP: /ˈwɔːtə/ ; GA: /ˈwɑːtɚ/ - differing phoneme: consonant /w/ vs /v/.
2. butter - RP: /ˈbʌtə/ ; GA: /ˈbʌɾɚ/ - differing phoneme: same as correct.
3. thought - RP: /θɔːt/ ; GA: /θɔːt/ - no difference.
4. through - RP: /θruː/ ; GA: /θruː/ - no difference.
Why flapping does not occur in RP for "butter": Flapping is absent in RP because the language lacks the alveolar flap phoneme entirely, so /t/ remains a stop.
D.
RP transcriptions and RP‑GA differences:
1. water - RP: /ˈwɒtə/ ; GA: /ˈwɑːtɚ/ - differing phoneme: vowel /ɒ/ (RP) vs /ɑː/ (GA).
2. butter - RP: /ˈbʊtə/ ; GA: /ˈbʌɾɚ/ - differing phoneme: vowel /ʊ/ (RP) vs flap /ɾ/ (GA).
3. thought - RP: /θɒːt/ ; GA: /θɔt/ - differing phoneme: vowel /ɒː/ (RP) vs /ɔ/ (GA).
4. through - RP: /θruː/ ; GA: /θru/ - differing phoneme: same as correct.
Why flapping does not occur in RP for "butter": In RP the /t/ is realized as a glottal stop /ʔ/ between vowels, so flapping is not applicable.
Correct Answer
A
Correct Option:
RP transcriptions and RP‑GA differences:\n\n1. water - RP: /ˈwɔːtə/ ; GA: /ˈwɑːtɚ/ - differing phoneme: vowel /ɔː/ (RP) vs /ɑː/ (GA).\n2. butter - RP: /ˈbʌtə/ ; GA: /ˈbʌɾɚ/ - differing phoneme: the medial consonant is a clear alveolar stop /t/ in RP, whereas GA often uses a flap /ɾ/.\n3. thought - RP: /θɔːt/ ; GA: /θɔt/ - differing phoneme: RP uses the long vowel /ɔː/ while GA uses the short /ɔ/.\n4. through - RP: /θruː/ ; GA: /θru/ - differing phoneme: RP has a long vowel /uː/ versus GA's short /u/.\n\nWhy flapping does not occur in RP for "butter": Flapping is a phonological process characteristic of General American where the alveolar stop /t/ becomes a voiced alveolar flap /ɾ/ when it appears between two vowel‑like sounds (as in "butter"). RP does not employ this process; the /t/ remains a voiceless alveolar stop, giving the pronunciation /ˈbʌtə/. Consequently, the word retains a clear /t/ sound in RP, unlike the flapped /ɾ/ in GA.
About This Question
This is
Gce Model Questions Vol1
2021
English Language
Question 50.
It is one of the
objective
questions from the
2021
Gce Model Questions Vol1
English Language
examination.
Difficulty level:
Medium
.