Business English Sound Contrasts – All Consonants
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Stops /p b t d k g/
Voicing contrasts (meetings, ops, finance).
Affricates /tʃ dʒ/
Clear onset contrasts (cheap/jeep, choke/joke) in sales & product.
Fricatives /f v θ ð s z ʃ ʒ h/
Voicing and place contrasts; includes /θ/–/ð/ and /ʃ/–/ʒ/.
Nasals /m n ŋ/
(plan/planning, ban/bang).
Liquids /l r/
L/R articulatory contrast
Glides /w j/ (“y”)
/w/ vs /v/ and /j/ (y) vs /dʒ/ or /g/ contrasts.
Clusters Common clusters
/s/ vs /st/, /pr/ vs /br/, /pl/ vs /bl/, /tr/ vs /dr/.
Tip: Coach A→B, then B→A. Yellow highlights show the consonant or cluster to feel with lips, tongue, or teeth.