p
Examples (released stop): speak, open, spoil, despite, spy, sport,
Examples (unreleased stop): keep [kʰʲip̚], stop [stɑp̚], map, shape,
Examples (aspirated): pet, post, Peter [ˈpʰiɾɚ], park,
b
Examples (released stop): boy, baby, big, about, back, banana /bəˈnænə/,
Examples (unreleased stop): job [dʒɑb̚], web [wɛb̚],
t
Examples (released stop): stop, still [stɪɫ], star,
Examples (unreleased stop): light, cat [kʰæt̚],
Examples (aspirated): time, ten [tʰɛn], today [tʰəˈdeɪ],
d
Examples (released stop): day, dollar [ˈdɑlɚ],
Examples (unreleased stop): good [gʊd̚], need, bed [bɛd̚], add [æd̚],
k
Examples (released stop): key, car, clear, keep,
Examples (aspirated): cat [kʰæt̚], cut, skate, skill, scar, mosquito [məˈskit̬oʊ],
Examples (unreleased stop): look, lake, back, music [ˈmʲjuzɪk̚],
ɡ
Examples (released stop): game, great, give, garden, gone, green, guy,
Examples (unreleased stop): dog, big, egg, flag, pig,
t̬
Examples: city, water, better, body, edit, title, writer, greater, little, metal, beauty, data, duty, party, later, matter, hospital, notice, writing,
ʔ
Examples: britain /ˈbrɪʔn̩/, curtain, button /ˈbʌʔn̩/, certain, brighten, kitten, cotton, forgotten, important, Latin, mountain, written,
Aspiration
Aspiration is the little puff of air you feel when you correctly say words like ‘pig,’ ‘top,’ or ‘cat’ (it happens in the letters p, t, k)
Try saying them with your hand in front of your mouth (you’ll feel the air).
Movement
“P” and “B” → Lips press together (like popping a bubble!).
- Example: “Pop”, “Bubble”
“T” and “D” → Tongue tip taps the roof of your mouth (just behind your teeth).
- Example: “Tap”, “Dog”
“K” and “G” → Back of tongue presses up against the soft back roof (near your throat).
- Example: “Kite”, “Go!”
ʔ → Vocal cords snap shut like a trapdoor.
- Example: The pause in “uh-oh!” or saying “button” like “bu’n”.
It’s like your mouth has different “doors” (lips, tongue spots, vocal cords) that click or pop air shut for a second.
To feel it, say “P-T-K-ʔ” slowly—you’ll feel the “stops” move from front (lips) to back (throat) of your mouth.