MLAT Phonetic Spelling Clues 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A phonetic key shows the word 'fayt'. Which English word does this represent?
- fat
- fate (Correct answer)
- fought
- feat
Correct answer: fate
The long 'a' sound followed by 't' corresponds to 'fate', where the silent 'e' lengthens the vowel.
Question 2: In an MLAT phonetic key, which symbol most commonly represents the sound in the word 'ship' (the 'sh' sound)?
- s
- sh
- ʃ (Correct answer)
- c
Correct answer: ʃ
The IPA symbol ʃ represents the voiceless palato-alveolar sibilant, the 'sh' sound in 'ship'.
Question 3: A key gives: 'dʒ = the sound in jump'. The phonetic spelling 'dʒentle' represents which word?
- dental
- gentle (Correct answer)
- mental
- rental
Correct answer: gentle
The 'dʒ' sound is the voiced affricate heard at the start of 'gentle', making 'dʒentle' = gentle.
Question 4: Which phonetically spelled word matches 'caught'?
- kawt (Correct answer)
- kot
- kaut
- kowt
Correct answer: kawt
'Caught' is pronounced with the 'aw' vowel sound, so 'kawt' is the correct phonetic rendering.
Question 5: A phonetic spelling guide lists 'ŋ' for the sound at the end of 'sing'. The phonetic form 'riŋ' represents which word?
- rin
- ring (Correct answer)
- rink
- rim
Correct answer: ring
The ŋ symbol stands for the velar nasal, the final sound in 'ring', so 'riŋ' = ring.
Question 6: In phonetic clues, an unstressed vowel often becomes a schwa (ə). Which syllable in 'banana' contains a schwa?
- The first syllable only
- The second syllable only
- The first and third syllables (Correct answer)
- No syllable; all vowels are full
Correct answer: The first and third syllables
In 'ba-NA-na', the first and third syllables are unstressed and contain the schwa sound (bə-NA-nə).
Question 7: A phonetic key shows 'θ = the sound in thin'. What does 'θiŋk' represent?
- sink
- think (Correct answer)
- drink
- link
Correct answer: think
θ is the voiceless dental fricative (as in 'thin'), and ŋ is the nasal; together 'θiŋk' = 'think'.
MLAT Phonetic Spelling Clues 2
A phonetic key shows the word 'fayt'.
Which English word does this represent?