Question 1

Consonant Neutralization

Accepted Answer

The name for the loss of contrast between two phonemes.  In Spanish, it always takes place in the syllable-final position (before another consonant or a pause).  Using t or d (at-lan-ti-ko or ad-lan-ti-ko)

Question 2

Regressive Assimilation

Accepted Answer

The process in which the FOLLOWING sound influences the preceding sound, causing it to take on some of its characteristics.  Eg: enviar (the b sound of v, makes the n sound nasal, like m)

Question 3

Progressive Assimilation

Accepted Answer

The process in which the PRECEDING sound influences the following, or second, sound.  Eg: the m sound in hombre makes the b sound be a stop (true "b", like in ball).

Question 4

Mutual (Reciprocal) Assimilation

Accepted Answer

When adjacent sounds exercise an influence on each other in both directions.

Question 5

Hyper-Correction

Accepted Answer

When educated speakers make their speech "correct" by replacing seemingly incorrect forms with those deemed to be correct.  Eg: giving "v" its English pronunciation (vase).

Question 6

LLeismo

Accepted Answer

pronouncing the "ll", instead of giving it the "y" sound.

Question 7

Yeismo

Accepted Answer

instead of pronouncing the l's in "ll", using the "y" sound (as in yellow)

Question 8

Zeismo

Accepted Answer

instead of pronouncing the "ll" like a "y", using the palatal groove fricative "z" (as in measure)

Question 9

Sibilants

Accepted Answer

ALSO "GROOVE FRICATIVE".  A whistling or hissing sound produced as the airstream passes through a narrow, elongated groove or rill in the tongue tip or blade, which is pressed against the upper teeth, alveolar ridge, or palate.

Question 10

Seseo

Accepted Answer

The speech mode heard in many parts of Spain, particularly Andalusia, and throughout all of Spanish America, in which the "th" sound is absent, being replaced with /s/

Question 11

Distincion

Accepted Answer

In Castilian Spanish, when the /s/ is pronounced as a /th/

Question 12

Ceceo

Accepted Answer

lisping; making the /th/ sound for every /s/ and /z/ (not using distinction, as is the case with seseo).

Question 13

Homorganic

Accepted Answer

The term used to describe two or more sounds that are articulated in exactly the same place in the vocal tract, usually due to regressive assimilation.

Question 14

Plus Juncture

Accepted Answer

A boundary feature of English that prevents certain phonological processes from taking place or, conversely,causes them to take place.  English does not turn /n/ to /ng/ before stop consonants, as in "income".  Shown as in /+/ kum.

Question 15

"Dark" L

Accepted Answer

The /l/ sound heard in syllable-final position in English, articulated with little or no contact between the tongue and the upper articulators.

Question 16

"Dark" R

Accepted Answer

Also called 'retroflex' r.  The mistake English speakers make with the r where we make it sound like the growl(rrr).  In Spanish, the r actually comes out sounding like a combination of a "t" and a "d"

Question 17

Defective Distribution

Accepted Answer

The distribution of a phoneme that does not occur in certain expected environments, like /r/ in Spanish, which never occurs at the beginning of a word.

Question 18

Linking (Enlace)

Accepted Answer

The most important consonant + vowel (CV) combination in Spanish.  It occurs across word boundaries. Eg: Las aves sounds just like la sabes.  Enlace obscures word boundaries in normal speech.

Question 19

Problem Area 1

Accepted Answer

There are sounds in the Spanish language that do not exist in English (the trilled r; the light l; the velar fricative x; the fricative b)

Question 20

Problem Area 2

Accepted Answer

Sounds in English do not exist in Spanish (the dark l; aspirated word initial p, t, and k; dark r; schwa; plus junctures; elongation of vowels

Question 21

Problem Area 3

Accepted Answer

The actual phonemes in English exist as different sounds (allophones) of one phoneme in Spanish. English has more phonemes than Spanish, so this is harder for Spanish speakers learning English (b and v; z and s; y and j; d and th)

Question 22

Problem Area 4

Accepted Answer

Letter sounds in English are actual letters in Spanish (we confuse moro-modo-moto because we pronounce d and t the same way Spanish speakers pronounce r)

Question 23

Problem Area 5

Accepted Answer

z instead of s for azul; English speakers not using regressive assimilation where Spanish always uses it (n examples); English adds sounds at the end of a vowel-ending words (si, yo); English adds u sounds (pu-e-blo)

Question 24

Problem Area 6

Accepted Answer

Miscellaneous influences of English on Spanish: adding the i to regular; using pitch level 4; interplay of long and short syllables (stress-timed); using distincion incorrectly; English uses more stress phonemes (4 vs 2)

Question 25

Class A (Critical) Errors

Accepted Answer

Using the neutral English vowels (schwa); using the dark l; observing word boundaries; aspirating p, t, k; using stress-timed rhythm; using flap t and d instead of r; using retroflex r; adding to words ending with vowels

Question 26

Class B (Serious) Errors

Accepted Answer

elongating stressed vowels; using English vowel sounds that don't exist in Spanish (hombre sounds like hambre); misplacing the stress in cognates; tap r instead of trill r; turning diphthongs into two syllables; inappropriate rise at the end of yes/no que

Question 27

Class C (Important) Errors

Accepted Answer

confusing th and s when trying to use distincion; using s instead of z before voiced consonants; terminal rise after vocatives; failure to assimilate nasals to the following consonants

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Spanish Phonetics Fi

terms for UWRF SPAN 350 final

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