A Beginner's Guide to Taiwanese: Difference between revisions

→‎Initial consonants: initial_consonant_examples.mp3, rm note on s, j
(→‎Initial consonants: initial_consonant_examples.mp3, rm note on s, j)
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Here are the [[List of all initial consonants in MTL|18 initial consonants in MTL]], which come at the beginning of the syllable.
Here are the [[List of all initial consonants in MTL|18 initial consonants in MTL]], which come at the beginning of the syllable.


[[File:Initial consonants.mp3|thumb|none|Consonants]]
[[File:Initial_consonants.mp3|thumb|none|Consonants]]
[[File:conExp.mp3|thumb|none|Examples]]
[[File:initial_consonant_examples.mp3|thumb|none|Examples]]
{{Initial_consonants}}
{{Initial_consonants}}


The ''p'' vs. ''b'' and ''k'' vs. ''g'' may be hard to differentiate at first. They are part of a three-way distinction, going from ''muddy'' to plain to [[Aspirated consonant|aspirated]].  
The ''p'' vs. ''b'' and ''k'' vs. ''g'' may be hard to differentiate at first. They are part of a three-way distinction, going from ''muddy'' to plain to [[Aspirated consonant|aspirated]].  
* The muddy ''b'' and ''g'' are voiced, meaning the vocal cords vibrate along with the consonant.
* ''b'' and ''g'' are voiced: the vocal cords vibrate along with the consonant
* The plain ''p'' and ''k'' (and ''t'') are unvoiced, not as aspirated as in English, but do have a distinct click or pop.
* ''p'', ''k'', ''t'' are unvoiced, crisp but not aspirated  
* The aspirated consonants are composed of the plain symbol followed by ''h''
* ''ph'', ''th'', ''kh'', ''ch'', and ''zh'' have a strong burst of breath
 
Note that ''s'' and ''j'' appear twice: these are slightly different when followed by an ''i'' vs other vowels.


=== Vowels ===
=== Vowels ===
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