Polyphone (Noun)
Meaning
A letter that has two or more pronunciations; "`c' is a polyphone because it is pronounced like `k' in `car' but like `s' in `cell'".
Classification
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents.
Examples
- In the English language, the letter 'g' is a polyphone, as it can be pronounced in words like 'go' or 'gentle'.
- Many students struggle with the letter 'c' since it is a polyphone and can represent different sounds in various words.
- It can be challenging for non-native speakers to master the letter 's' as a polyphone, since its pronunciation may change depending on its position in the word.
- Linguists often consider 'u' as a polyphone due to its varying sounds in words such as 'put', 'cut', and 'cue'.
- Recognizing letters like 'c' as a polyphone helps learners improve their pronunciation skills in a language with many exceptions and irregularities.