Medial Consonant Clusters

As covered in the syllable pattern lesson, consonant clusters can occur within a word when between syllables that end/start with one or more consonants.

Therefore, medial consonant clusters comprise initial and/or final consonant clusters whether in syllables or words that appear together in words or when words are said using connected speech.

For example:

• Cluster – CCVC-CV
  • /ˈklɐstɐ/
• Language – CVC-CCVC
  • /ˈlæŋgwɪʤ/
• I want_you – V-CVC-CCV
  • /ɑe wɔnʧ‿jʉː/
• He_y_asked_th – CV-CVCCC-CVC
  • /hiː‿j‿ɑe‿ɐːskt_ðem/

As a result, there’re probably more possible medial consonant cluster combinations than either initial or final consonant clusters.

So, in this lesson, we won’t be going through lists of consonant clusters.

Ultimately, once you’ve nailed initial and final consonant clusters, all medial consonant clusters will be made up of those.

In this lesson, we’ll instead work on identifying medial consonant clusters and analysing when and where they appear in syllables, words, and phrases.

Alright, let’s go through two word lists.

In the first one, you’ll see single words with their syllables broken down.

Pay attention to how the syllables are divided up and where the consonants and vowels are.

Listen and repeat these words after me.

Single words with medial consonant clusters:

1. Cluster – CCVC-CV
   1. /ˈklɐstɐ/
2. Curfew – CV-CCV (notice how few = fjew)
   1. /ˈkɜːfjʉː/
3. Thinking – CVC-CVC
   1. /ˈθɪŋkɪŋ/
4. Amplify – VC-CVC-CV             (notice how X = gz)
   1. /ˈæmpləfɑe/
5. Intended – VC-CVC-CVC
   1. /ɪnˈtendəd/
6. Hacksaw – CVC-CV
   1. /ˈhæksoː/
7. Prankster – CCVCC-CCV
   1. /pɹæŋkstɐ/
8. Language – CVC-CCVC             (notice the gw)
   1. /ˈlæŋgwɪʤ/
9. Triumphant – CCV-CVC-CVCC (notice the try-yum)
   1. /tʃɹɑeˈɐmfənt/
10. Linguistics – CVC-CCV-CCVCC (notice again the gw)
    1. /lɪŋˈgwɪstɪks/

In the second word list below, you’ll see pairs of words where the syllables joining the words end/start with one or more consonant each.

Listen and repeat these words after me.

Medial clusters between words:

1. Up high – VC-CV
   • /ɐp hɑe/
2. At work – VC-CVC
   • /æt wɜːk/
3. Backed down – CVCC-CVC
   • /bækt dæʊn/
4. Car’s left – CVCC-CVCC
   • /kɐːz left/
5. Strange crow – CCCVCC-CCV
   • /sʧɹæɪnʤ kɹəʉ/
6. Off studying – VC-CCV-CV-CVC
   • /ɔf ˈstɐdiɪŋ/
7. Parked truck – CVCC-CCVC
   • /pɐːkt tʃɹɐk/
8. Train station – CCVC-CCV-CVC
   • /tʃɹæɪn ˈstæɪʃən/
9. Black helmet – CCVC-CVC-CVC
   • /blæk ˈhelmɪt/
10. Angsts strengths – VCCCCC-CCCVCCCC
    • /æŋsts sʧɹeŋθs/

Note: see the lessons on assimilation for when multiple C’s or CV combinations can ‘assimilate’ and become fewer sounds, i.e. just C.

For example:

Don’t you – CVCC-CV = Don’t‿you – CVCC-V

/dəʉnt jʉː/ = /dəʉnʧ‿ʉː/

So, now that you’ve learnt how medial consonant clusters appear both within and between words, we’ll go through some exercises analysing the syllable patterns of some more medial consonants clusters.

Drilling exercises!

The topics below include drilling exercises for each of the pronunciation points you just learnt.

If you want to “drill down” and practice any or all of these pronunciation points, you can do so with these video exercises in order to solidify your pronunciation of these sounds.

If you can already pronounce these sounds with confidence, skip ahead to the next lesson.

But if you still have a little trouble either remembering the rules or making the sounds themselves, complete these exercises on a regular basis until you’ve nailed the pronunciation.

Tip: shorter and more frequent drilling sessions (e.g. 5 minutes per day) are more effective than longer infrequent sessions (e.g. 1 hour per week).