Part B2 Cantonese finals (Characteristics)

Vowel Sounds

• Importance of Vowel Sounds

  • Vowel sounds can vary in length; some are pronounced longer, and others are shorter.

  • Example: The difference between double vowels, contrasting short and long sounds.

• Examples of Vowel Variations

  • Double 'a' and single 'a':

    • I, I, ao, ao, an, an, a, a, a, a, a, a.

Syllable Lengths

• Selected Words and Their Syllable Lengths

  • My my: Long and short

  • I a: Long and short

  • An an: Short and long

  • Gam gam: Long and short

  • Hop hop: Short and long

Voiceless Plosives

• Introduction to Voiceless Plosives

  • Voiceless plosives are consonants that do not involve vocal cord vibration and include: p, t, k.

  • Voiceless plosives can occur in syllable final positions.

• Classification of Plosives

  • P: Bilabial stop

    • Formed by closing the lips, air remains without release (example: closed sound in "top" vs. released sound).

  • T: Alveolar stop

  • K: Velar stop

• Characteristics of Plosives

  • Important note: They are unreleased when occurring at the end of syllables.

Syllabic Words

• Identifying Words with Plosive Endings

  • Examination of various syllabic words:

  • Is there syllable ending with p, t, or k?

    • Examples examined: Him, Ho, Up.

    • Confirmed no p, t, k endings.

  • Upkntyau lai: No p, t, k.

  • Lo k: No clear examples noted.