DISCOVERY

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Volume 59, Issue 332, August 2023

Discerning the correlation between spellings and consonant sounds in English words

Lok Raj Sharma

Associate Professor of English, Makawanpur Multiple Campus, Hetauda, Nepal

ABSTRACT

Understanding the relationship between spellings and consonant sounds is essential for developing effective pronunciation skills and language proficiency. This study aims to discern the correlation between the consonant spellings and their corresponding consonant sounds in English words. By analyzing a diverse corpus of words, this research sheds light on the patterns and irregularities that exist in English spelling conventions. The research study employed a qualitative research approach and gathered secondary data, such as spellings, words, and sounds, from relevant literature sources including books and journal articles. A large corpus of English words was collected by covering various lexical categories and encompassing different phonetic contexts. The data as consonant sounds underlying with diverse spellings in words reflect the regularities, and exceptions within the relationship between spellings and consonant sounds. The findings reveal both consistent and inconsistent correlations between spellings and corresponding consonant sounds. Certain consonant sounds display a high degree of predictability as their corresponding spellings and tend to follow specific patterns. However, the study also uncovers numerous irregularities and exceptions where the same consonant sound can be represented by different spellings or different consonant sounds can be represented by the same spelling patterns. The implications of these findings extend to language instruction, curriculum design, and literacy interventions. The research provides insights into the complexity of English spelling conventions, emphasizing the need for explicit teaching strategies and phonics-based approaches to enhance phonological awareness and spelling proficiency among learners.

Keywords: Consonant, English words, letter, pronunciation, spelling