It is common among many learners of English especially those who learn it as a second language to pronounce the words just as they are written. No doubt, English pronunciation system is the most complicated system of pronunciation in the world – in many cases illogical too! The best way to master the pronunciation conundrum is to listen as much good English as possible. The following is a collection of commonly used words in which the sound /d/ is always silent.
The pronunciation of the words using the international phonetic symbols is given between slashes (//) immediately after the words. For those who are unable to understand them, the simplified pronunciation is given in brackets.
Abridge /əˈbrɪdʒ/ (əˈbrij)
Acknowledge /əkˈnɒlɪdʒ/ (əkˈnolij)
Adjacent /əˈdʒeɪs(ə)nt/ (əˈjeis(ə)nt)
Adjective /ˈædʒɪktɪv/ (ˈæjiktiv)
Adjust /əˈdʒʌst/ (ˈəjʌst)
Badge /badʒ/ (ˈbæj)
Bridge /brɪdʒ/ (brij)
Budge /bʌdʒ/ (bʌj)
Cartridge /ˈkɑːtrɪdʒ/ (ˈkɑːtrij)
Drudge /drʌdʒ/ (drʌj)
Edge /ɛdʒ/ (ej)
Fridge /frɪdʒ/ (frij)
Grudge /grʌdʒ/ (grʌj)
Hedge /hɛdʒ/ (hej)
Judge /dʒʌdʒ/ (jʌj)
Knowledge /ˈnɒlɪdʒ/ (nolij) NB /k/ is also silent in this word.
Ledger /ˈlɛdʒə/ (ˈlejer)
Lodge /lɒdʒ/ (loj)
Nudge /nʌdʒ/ (nʌj)
Pledge /plɛdʒ/ (plej)
Porridge /ˈpɒrɪdʒ/ (ˈporij)
Ridge /rɪdj/
Wedge /wɛdʒ/ (wej)
Budget /ˈbʌdʒɪt/ (ˈbʌjit)
Fidget /ˈfɪdʒɪt/ (ˈfijit)
Gadget /ˈgadʒɪt/ (ˈgæjit)
Midget /ˈmɪdʒɪt/ (ˈmijit)
Widget /ˈwɪdʒɪt/ (ˈwijit)
In the list given above, the accent mark (ˈ) shows that the syllable immediately after it must be stressed while pronouncing the specific word. æ is pronounced just as ‘a’ in cat, ə is pronounced as ‘a’ in ‘about’.
The pronunciation of the words using the international phonetic symbols is given between slashes (//) immediately after the words. For those who are unable to understand them, the simplified pronunciation is given in brackets.
Abridge /əˈbrɪdʒ/ (əˈbrij)
Acknowledge /əkˈnɒlɪdʒ/ (əkˈnolij)
Adjacent /əˈdʒeɪs(ə)nt/ (əˈjeis(ə)nt)
Adjective /ˈædʒɪktɪv/ (ˈæjiktiv)
Adjust /əˈdʒʌst/ (ˈəjʌst)
Badge /badʒ/ (ˈbæj)
Bridge /brɪdʒ/ (brij)
Budge /bʌdʒ/ (bʌj)
Cartridge /ˈkɑːtrɪdʒ/ (ˈkɑːtrij)
Drudge /drʌdʒ/ (drʌj)
Edge /ɛdʒ/ (ej)
Fridge /frɪdʒ/ (frij)
Grudge /grʌdʒ/ (grʌj)
Hedge /hɛdʒ/ (hej)
Judge /dʒʌdʒ/ (jʌj)
Knowledge /ˈnɒlɪdʒ/ (nolij) NB /k/ is also silent in this word.
Ledger /ˈlɛdʒə/ (ˈlejer)
Lodge /lɒdʒ/ (loj)
Nudge /nʌdʒ/ (nʌj)
Pledge /plɛdʒ/ (plej)
Porridge /ˈpɒrɪdʒ/ (ˈporij)
Ridge /rɪdj/
Wedge /wɛdʒ/ (wej)
Budget /ˈbʌdʒɪt/ (ˈbʌjit)
Fidget /ˈfɪdʒɪt/ (ˈfijit)
Gadget /ˈgadʒɪt/ (ˈgæjit)
Midget /ˈmɪdʒɪt/ (ˈmijit)
Widget /ˈwɪdʒɪt/ (ˈwijit)
In the list given above, the accent mark (ˈ) shows that the syllable immediately after it must be stressed while pronouncing the specific word. æ is pronounced just as ‘a’ in cat, ə is pronounced as ‘a’ in ‘about’.
4 comments:
Thank you!
I!think to make difference between American english and England english , englishmen added many letters in their dictionary, but pronunciation remained same
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I believe many of these words use a small 'd' sound where the tongue hits the roof of the mouth more than pronouncing merely a j sound.
The d introduces - at the very least - a harder j sound, thereby making its presence known - and actually introducing a change on the pronunciation - and thereby proving not silent.
Compare saying Jogger where the J is hard (ish) vs Gadget, where the d is pronounced momentarily even if less so compared to other hard D sounds, and the J seems less uniquely sounded than the J in Jogger.
And it's different for different accents or styles of speech.
In addition, the inclusion of the so-called silent d with some words actually changes the pronunciation or emphasis of the syllable (or which syllable is emphasized). Especially if the word were sounded out with that letter missing altogether (the truest definition of silent).
It could be argued for instance that the pronunciation of Adjective - commonly with the first syllable emphasized - is different to the pronunciation of the word where the J is truly silent or how it might be pronounced if the j were absent altogether: Say "a_jective". Many will move the emphasis to the second syllable, changing the sound of the first and second syllable, not just the emphasis. Even if the emphasis remains on the first syllable the tendency is to change the sound. The d is missing. Hence the d is not truly silent in the word ad'jective - for many speakers.
The differences are slight with some words and accents, and more 'pronounced' with others. But rarely, with "good" diction, is the d truly or totally silent.
The tongue moves differently in the mouth with the d present in written form (hence adjusting.. the sound made) vs when it is taken out or truly silent.
What is good diction? The styles of speech used in broadcasting, voice recording, and even operatic singing - exaggerated vs everyday speech but far more carefully pronounced = no laziness or running on of pronunciation, but distinct syllabic sounding out.
Of course almost any letter can become silent as a result of accent or regional pronunciation, or even using poetic license, such as e'er for ever.
Even 2 letters can be made to become silent, and incorrect speech can become normal as in "I didn't make my bed 'cause I didn't want to..". Traditionally it should be said "because", but the colloquialism for because, namely " 'cause " is noted by the apostrophe in written speech.
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