1. Why do we need the phonetic alphabet?
→ Because the phonetic alphabet helps us describe the speech sounds, we cannot depend on the
ways in which words are spelt. Thus, when we try to use the conventional English orthography
(spelling system) to represent speech sounds, we face issues of 2 major types: Example: cry /kra/ lovely flav.li/
-First, a single letter of the alphabet often represents more than one sound. - Conversely, a single
speech sound is represented by several letters. Example: cut/cat/ blood/blad/
Therefore, establishing phonetic alphabets in which the symbols correspond to particular speech sounds solves this problem.
2. Give 2 examples in which a single letter represents two different sounds.
→Two examples in which a single letter represents two different sounds may account for. put [pot] cut [cat]
In the example above, the letter u represents the sound [o] and the sound [A]. pen [pen] English [gl]
In the example above, the letter e represents the sound [e] and the sound [1].
3. Give 2 examples in which a speech sound is represented by different letters.
→Two examples in which a single letter represents two different sounds may account for: sound [sound] vocal [vǝok!]
In the example above, the sound [ao] is represented by the letter ou and letter o