Aspiration. The English voiceless plosive consonants [p], [t], [k] are pronounced with aspiration
before a stressed vowel.
Aspiration is a slight puff of breath that is heard after the plosion of a voiceless plosive
consonant before the beginning of the vowel immediately following.
When a voiceless plosive aspirated consonant is pronounced before a stressed vowel in
English, the pressure of the air against the obstruction is rather strong as the glottis is open.
In the pronunciation of the English consonants [p], [t], [k] there can be distinguished 3
degrees of aspiration.
a)
it is strongest when [p], [t], [k] are followed either by a long vowel or by a diphthong.
pass [pa:s]
tall [t
:l]
cause [k
:z]
pair [pe
ə
]
tear [te
ə
]
care [ke
ə
]
b)
aspiration becomes weaker when [p], [t], [k] are followed by short vowels
pull [pul]
took [tuk]
cut [k
t]
pot [p
t]
top [t
p]
cot [k
t]
c)
when [p], [t], [k] are preceded by the consonant [s] they are pronounced with no
aspiration.
park [pa:k]
spark [spa:k]
tie [ta
ɪ
]
sty [sta
ɪ
]
cool [ku:l]
school [sku:l]
