The natural class of English sounds [ p b t d k ɡ ʔ ] is best described as the class of:

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In phonology, we classify sounds by their articulatory properties to form natural classes. The given set [ p b t d k ɡ ʔ ] consists of sounds produced with a complete articulatory closure in the oral cavity and a subsequent brief release, i.e., stops that occur with the oral port closed.

Option 1: voiced stops. While some members of the set (b, d, ɡ) are voiced stops, the full set also includes p, t, ʔ which are voiceless. Therefore labeling the entire group as voiced stops is inaccurate because it does not account for the voiceless members.

Option 2: nasal consonants. Nasals are produced with velopharyngeal closure and a lowered velum, allowing airflow through the nasal cavity (e.g., m, n, ŋ). The items in the question do not use nasal resonance or nasal airflow; they are not nasal sounds, so this option is incorrect.

Option 3: voiceless stops. This would include p, t, k, ʔ, but it would exclude the voiced counterparts b, d, ɡ. Since the given set contains both voiced and voiceless stops, calling them all voiceless stops is too narrow and inaccurate.

Option 4: oral stops. These are stops produced with the oral cavity closed off and the nasal port open, resulting in an oral stop release. The entire set p, b, t, d, k, ɡ, ʔ fits this description perfectly, covering both voiceless and voiced stops that occur in English.

Option 5: oral consonants. While the items are indeed oral consonants, this class is too broad, since not all oral consonants are stops (there are oral fricatives, affricates, etc.). The question seeks the most precise natural class that encompasses exactly these sounds, which is oral stops rather than the broader category of all oral consonants.

LING 200 A Quiz 3

The natural class of English sounds [ p b t d k ɡ ʔ ] is best described as the class of:

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