This document summarizes a phonetic study on the pronunciation of /t/ and /d/ sounds in English. It provides orthographic rules for how the /t/ and /d/ sounds are represented by letters initially, medially, and finally in words. It includes exercises with words containing /t/ or /d/ for students to practice identifying the sounds. The document was authored by three students for their 8th semester phonetic and phonology class at the University of Carabobo School of Education department of modern languages.

1. UNIVERSITY OF CARABOBO
SCHOOL OF EDUCATION
MODERN LANGUAGES
DEPARMENT
PHONETICS AND PHONOLOGY
8TH SEMESTER
Authors:
Mariana Henríquez
Geromar Ramos
Jeanfrank Gutierrez
July, 2012

2. A.- Orthographic Relationship of /t/ sound
The / t/ sound is represented in writing by:
INITIAL MEDIAL FINAL
LETTER
POSITION POSITION POSITION
t task, tell, time hotel,student, boat, rest,
late dentist
tt acquittance, boycott, mitt,
Ø
attack, butter scuttlebutt
th Thailand, Thai,
Ø Ø
Thomas

3. The particle “th” can also sound as the voiceless dental
fricative /Ø/
E.G: athlete, theft, depth

4. B.- Orthographic Relationship of /d/ sound
The /d/ sound is represented in writing by:
INITIAL MEDIAL FINAL
LETTER
POSITION POSITION POSITION
d day, dear,die ride, order, lady kind, ended, red
added, cheddar, add,missadd
dd Ø cuddle

5. The “d and –ed ending” can have three different
pronunciations depending on the sound that comes before
the inflection: /t/, /d/or /ǝd/.
WORD ENDINGS PRONUNCIATION
(without the inflection “d (With the inflection “d or
or ed”) ed”)
Voiceless sounds except /t/
/t/ sound
Voiced sounds (including /d/
vowel sounds) except /d/
sound
/t/ or /d/ ending sounds /ǝd/

6. 0. maid
1. tie
2. Eddy
3. attach
4. hand
5. day
6. tell
7. deep
8. melt

7. EXERCISE 2
0. S D
1. S D
2. S D
3. S D
4. S D
5. S D
6. S D
7. S D
8. S D

8. EXERCISE 2B
0. (a. ten b. den)
1. (a. cart b. card)
2. (a. cite b. side)
3. (a. warts b. wards)
4. (a. “Beats” b. “Beads”)
5. (a. mate b. maid)
6. (a. site b. side)
7. (a. tress b. dress)
8. (a. tram b. dram)

9. EXERCISE 3
A: I just met Ted. He looked terrible! and he was sweating a lot, too.
What’s wrong with him? Do you know?
B: I just talked to him, too. He told me that he had a bad cold and a
sore throat. He said he ached all over. He has an appointment with
his doctor tomorrow morning.
A: Oh my God. That is so bad. Well, I called Ted during my dinner
and he said he was outside and it was raining so he is really down
B: Well, I hope the doctor makes him feel better. He missed classes
yesterday.
A: Yes, our semester is about to finish. We are stressed out!