English Language- Spelling and Pronunciation: Silent Letters - Part I

 

English Language- Spelling and Pronunciation: 

Silent Letters - Part I

Dear readers, in the previous post we learnt that there is no relationship between spelling and pronunciation in English. It is this complex nature of spelling and pronunciation confuses the non-native speakers of English frequently. Having understood this fact, let us have a look at some silent letters and their pronunciations in English in alphabetical order. Generally,silent letters go unpronounced or lightly pronounced in oral communication. The letters highlighted in the following should not be pronounced while speaking, but in terms of written form spelling should not be taken for granted.

1.     Words with silent letter “A”

-        Automatically  as         (Automaticlly)

-        Logically as                     (Logiclly)

-        Grammatically as         (Grammaticlly)

-        Systematically as         (Systematiclly)

2.     Words with silent letter “B”

-        Bulb as                                 (Bul)

-        Thumb as                           (Thum)

-        Plumber as                        (Plumer)

-        Doubt as                              (Dout)

-        Debt as                                 (Det)

3.     Words with silent letter “C”

-        Muscle as                             (Musl)

-        Discipline as                       (Disiplin)

-        Science as                             (Sains)

-        Scene as                                 (Seen)

-        Scissors as                            (Sissors)       

4.     Words with silent letter “D”

-        Budget as                             (Buget)

-        Wednesday as                   (Wensday)

-        Knowledge as                    (Knowlege)

-        Edge as                                 (Ege)

-     Bridge as                             (Brige)

5.     Words with silent letter “E”

-        Life as                                 (Laif)

-        Kite as                                 (Kait)

-        Scene as                             (Seen)

-        Love as                                (Lov)

-        Write  as                             (Wrait)

Let us explore more about the remaining silent letter words in the English language in the forthcoming posts.

Author:

K. Nandhakumar

Assistant Professor of English

Sri Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya College of Arts and Science (Autonomous)

Coimbatore- 641 020