Lecture on the phonetics of the letter C in terms of spelling, reading and pronunciation

1. Sane English for KGU
Students
Rowan E Wagner
The Letter ‘C’

2. Rule 1: C always softens to /s/ when followed by E,I or
Y
Otherwise, C says /k/
/s/
city nice rice ice race face science force
muscle
/k/
came doctor balcony coat secret clap cat cut
arc

3. Both /s/ and /k/ in words to make your
vocabulary sexy
• Concise - (kun – SISE) adj. using few words in speaking or
writing
• Complacent – (kum – PLACE – snt) adj. self-satisfied; smug
• Cliché – (klee – SHAY) noun, an idea or expression that
becomes stale due to over use,
• Recalcitrant – (rih – KAL – suh – trunt) adj. stubborn,
disobedient; defiant

4. References
• Uncovering the LOGIC of English; A Common-Sense
Approach to Reading, Spelling and Literacy by Denise Eide
• LANE’S ENGLISH Pronunciation Guide by Richard R. Lane,
PhD
• HOT WORDS for the SAT (5th Ed.) by Linda Carnevale, M.A.