A/klaim/
B/klaimb/
C/kleimb/
D/klaimp/
Answer:
A. /klaim/
Read Explanation:
Understanding Phonetic Transcription: The word 'climb'
Introduction to Phonetics
Phonetics is the study of speech sounds, their production, acoustic properties, and perception.
The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) is a standardized system used to represent all the sounds in human speech. Each symbol in the IPA corresponds to a unique sound, ensuring consistent representation regardless of spelling.
Breakdown of /klaɪm/
/k/: This symbol represents the voiceless velar plosive sound, as in the 'c' in 'cat' or 'k' in 'kite'. In 'climb', it's the initial 'c' sound.
/l/: This symbol represents the lateral approximant sound, as in the 'l' in 'love'. It follows the /k/ sound.
/aɪ/: This is a diphthong, which is a combination of two vowel sounds within the same syllable, where the sound glides from one vowel to another. It starts with the 'a' sound (as in 'father') and glides towards the 'i' sound (as in 'kit'). This is the long 'i' sound found in words like 'my', 'light', 'time'. In 'climb', this represents the 'i' sound.
/m/: This symbol represents the bilabial nasal sound, as in the 'm' in 'man'. It is the final pronounced sound in 'climb'.
The Silent 'b' in 'climb'
One of the most notable features of 'climb' is the silent 'b'. In English, the letter 'b' is often silent when it follows 'm' at the end of a word.
This is a common historical linguistic phenomenon. Originally, the 'b' might have been pronounced, but over time, it became silent due to phonetic assimilation or simplification, while the spelling remained.
Other common words exhibiting this silent 'b' rule include:
comb /koʊm/
lamb /læm/
thumb /θʌm/
numb /nʌm/
crumb /krʌm/
bomb /bɒm/
It's important to note that the 'b' is typically pronounced if it's not at the end of a word, even if it follows 'm' (e.g., 'number' /nʌmbər/, 'nimble' /nɪmbəl/).
Relevance for Competitive Exams
Questions on phonetic transcription are common in English language sections of competitive exams (e.g., UPSC, SSC, banking exams, civil services exams).
Understanding silent letters (like the 'b' in 'climb', 'k' in 'know', 'w' in 'write') and their rules is crucial for accurate transcription.
Knowledge of vowel sounds, especially diphthongs (/aɪ/, /eɪ/, /oʊ/, /ɔɪ/, /aʊ/, etc.), is fundamental for mastering English pronunciation and transcription.
Practicing words with irregular spellings but consistent phonetic patterns helps in scoring well in these sections.