Which symbol is listed for the voiced alveolar fricative as described in the material?

Which symbol is listed for the voiced alveolar fricative as described in the material?

• A. /s/
• B. /z/
• C. /v/
• D. /f/

Answer: (A)

Voicing distinguishes fricatives from each other at the same place of articulation. An alveolar fricative is made with the tongue close to the alveolar ridge. If the vocal cords vibrate during production, the sound is voiced; if they don’t vibrate, it’s voiceless. Among alveolar fricatives, the voiceless one is /s/ and the voiced one is /z/. So the symbol for the voiced alveolar fricative is /z/. The option /s/ represents the voiceless variant, not the voiced one, and the others listed (/f/ and /v/) are produced at a different place of articulation (labiodental), not alveolar.

Voicing distinguishes fricatives from each other at the same place of articulation. An alveolar fricative is made with the tongue close to the alveolar ridge. If the vocal cords vibrate during production, the sound is voiced; if they don’t vibrate, it’s voiceless. Among alveolar fricatives, the voiceless one is /s/ and the voiced one is /z/. So the symbol for the voiced alveolar fricative is /z/. The option /s/ represents the voiceless variant, not the voiced one, and the others listed (/f/ and /v/) are produced at a different place of articulation (labiodental), not alveolar.