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Chapter – 3

3. The Consonant Clusters

A consonant cluster is defined as a group or sequence of
consonants that appear together in a syllable without a vowel
between them (instrasyllabic). (cf. eg, Jones 1976). For example,
/sp/ and /ts/ in the word „spots‟ or /spr/ in the word „spring‟.

3.1 The Consonant Clusters in English

So as to give a complete picture of initial (onset) and final

(coda) clusters in English, the following sources have been
compared : Heinz J. Giegerich (1992) who analyses consonant
clusters in terms of generative phonology, Peter Roach (2002)
whose analysis of possible phoneme combinations is based on more
traditional structural approach, San Duanmu (2009) who
supplements Giegerich‟s and Roach‟s descriptions of the
phonotactic possibilities of English with the aspects of Optimality
Theory and gives the reliable statistical data, and one internet
source (http://www.btml) which offers the practical list of some
consonant clusters in English.

The word, i.e. the syllable in English can begin with a vowel,
with one, two or three consonants. No word in English begins with
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more than three consonants (roach 2002 : 71), thus the maximum
number of segments in the word-initial consonant cluster is three.

At the beginning of English words (syllables), in many cases,

the first element is /s/ and the second consonant is approximant /l, r,
w, j/ (cf. Roach 2002 : 73 ; Duanmu 2009 : 160).

3.1.1 Initial CC Clusters in English :

Starting with oral plosive /p/ as first member followed by /r, l, j, w,

f, s / as second members.

pr - prei = pray prey

- prais = praise

- prinses = princes

pl - plei = play

- plæn = plan

- pleit = plate

pj - pjƱə = pure

- pju:tətiv = putative

- pjƱərifai = purify

pw - pwebləƱ

pf - pfennig = pfnig

ps - psi = psai
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Starting with oral plosive /b/ as first member followed by /r, l, j / as

second members.

br - brɑ:s, bred = brass, bread

bl - blɅd, blɒk = blood, block

bj - bju:ti = beauty

Starting with oral plosive /t/ as first member followed by / r, w, j /

as second members.

tr - trail, treid = trail, trade

tw - twin, twais = twin, twice

tj - tju:n, tju:tə = tune, tutor

Starting with oral plosive /d/ as first member followed by / r, j, w /

as second members.

dr - drɑ:ft, drill = draft, dril

dj - dju:, dju:ti = due/dew, duty

dw - dwel, dwindle = dwell, dwindle

Starting with oral plosive /k/ as first member followed by / r, l, w, j,

n, v / as second members.

kr - krɒs, krai = cross, cry

kl - kleim, klɑ:s = claim, class

kw - kwæk = quack
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kj - kju:pid, kjƱǝ = cupid, cure

kn - kneset = Knesset

kv - kvɑ:s (kvæs), kvetʃ = kvas,kvetch

Starting with oral plosive /g/ as first member followed by / r, l, w /

as second members.

gr - grɑ:s, grɅnt = grass grant

gl - glæd, glɑ:s = glade, glass

gw - gwen, gwendə = Gwen,Gwenda

Starting with nasal plosive /n/ as first member followed by / j, j / as

second members.

nj - nju:, nju:z = new, news

mj - mju:, mju:t = mew, mute

Starting with fricative /f/ as first member followed by / l, r, j / as

second members.

fl - flæt, flə: = flat, flaw

fr - freʃ, fri:z = fresh, freez

fj - fju:, fjƱəri = few, fury

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Starting with fricative /v/ as first member followed by / j / as second

member.

vj - vju:, vjetnæm = view, vietnam

Starting with fricative /θ/ as first member followed by / r, w, j / as

second members.

θr - θri:, θril = three, thrill

θw - θwə:t = thwart

θj - θju:li:, θju:sididi:z

Starting with fricative /s/ as first member followed by / t, p, k, l, w,

n, m, t, j, r / as second members.

st - step, stif = step, stiff

sp - spɒt, spin = spot, spin

sk - skɒf, sku:l = scoff,school

sl - sli:t, sli:p = sleet, sleep

sw - swet, swi:p = sweat, sweep

sn - sneil, snəƱ = snail, snow

sm - smɑ:t, smiθ = smart, smith

st - stəƱv, sti:l = stove, steel

sj - sju:t = suit

sr - srinɅgə = srinagar
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Starting with fricative /z/ as first member followed by / l / as second

member.

zl - zlɒti = zloty

Starting with fricative /h/ as first member followed by / j / as second

member.

hj = hju:mid, hju:mən = humid, human

Starting with affricate :

The number of the initial three consonant clusters in English is

quite limited, there are nine of them, all starting with / s / as first
member followed by / pl, pr, pj, tr, tj, kl, kr, kw, kj / as second
members.

spl - splæʃ = splash

spli:n = spleen

spr - spriŋ = spring

sprain = sprain

spj - spjƱəriəs = spurious

str - strein = strein

straik = strike

stj - stju:pid = stupid

stju:drəƱ = studio

skl - sklərəƱsis = sclerosis

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skr - skri:n = screen

skri:m = scream

skw - skwɒʃ = skweə

skj - skjƱə = skua

In Duanmu‟s view, the initial /s/ can be excluded and onset

clusters either form a complex sound (they are produced with
different articulator, cf. Duanmu 2009; 43 - 44) or they are
predictable by morphology as real or potential affixes.

The word (syllable) in English can end with a vowel, with one,
two, three or four consonants (Roach 2002; 73). The maximum
number of consonants in the final consonant cluster is four.

There are 55 final two-consonant clusters in English. They

usually end with /s, z, t, d, o/ which represent separate morphs
(Roach 2002 : 73); / s, z / are the sound forms of ending -(e)s, and /t,
d/ stand for the ending -(e)d.

3.1.2 Final CC Clusters in English

Starting with oral plosive / p / as first member followed by / θ, t, s / as

second members.

pθ - depθ = depth

pt - stɒpt = stopped

wept = wept
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ps - tæps = taps
kæps = caps

Starting with oral plosive / b / as first member followed by /d, z / as

second members.

bd - rɒbd = robbed

rɅbd = rubbed

bz - kɅbz = cubs

Starting with oral plosive / t / as first member followed by /s,/ as

second member.

ts - kɅts = cuts

mæts = mates

Starting with oral plosive /d/ as first member followed by /z/ as

second members.

dz - wƱdz = woods

Starting with oral plosive /k/ as first member followed by /θ, t, s / as

second members.

kθ - kθəƱniən = chthonian

kt - wʒ:kt = worked

tə:kt = talked

ks - tə:ks = talks

wʒ:ks = works
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Starting with oral plosive /g/ as first member followed by /d, z/ as

second members.

gd - begd = begged

gz - bægz = bags

Starting with nasal plosive /m/ as first member followed by /p, f, d, z/

as second members.

mp - kæmp = camp

mf - nimf = nymph

md - dæmd = damed

mz - bɒmz = bombs

Starting with nasal plosive / n / as first member followed by /ə, t, d, s,

z / as second members

nə - tenə = tenor

nt - wɅnt = want

nd - wɒnd = wand

ns - tens = tense

nz - henz = hens
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Starting with nasal plosive / ŋ / as first member followed by /d, z, k/

as second members

ŋd - rɒŋd = wronged

ŋz - siŋz = sings

ŋk - bæŋk = bank

Starting with fricative / f / as first member followed by /θ, t, s/ as

second members

fθ - fifθ = fifth

ft - left = left

fs - snıfs = snifs

Starting with fricative / v / as first member followed by /d, z / as

second members

vd - seivd = saved

vz - knives = naivz

Starting with fricative / θ / as first member followed by /s/ as second

member.

θs - miθs = myths

Starting with fricative / ð / as first member followed by /d, z/ as

second members.

ðd - ri:ðd = wreathed

ðz - bri:ðz = breathes
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Starting with fricative / s / as first member followed by /p, t, k/ as

second members.

sp - wasp = wɒsp

st - last = lɑ:st

sk - ask = ɑ:sk

Starting with fricative / z / as first member followed by /d/ as second

member.

zd - surprised = səpraizd

Starting with approximant / l / as first member followed by /p, f, θ, t, d,

s, z, k/ as second members.

lp - plup = pɅlp

lf - pelf = pelf

lθ - health = helθ

lt - knelt = nelt

ld - wʒ:ld = wild

ls = fə:ls = falls

lz = hilz = hills

lk = bɅlk = bulk

(cf. http://www.btinternet.com/ ted.power/clustersindex.html)

The final three consonant clusters are quite numerous too,

there are 40 of them. They usually end with /s,z,t,d/ (which, as
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already mentioned, can easliy be accounted for by morphology since

they represent separate morphones).

3.1.3 Final CCC Clusters in English

Starting with oral plosive / p / as first member followed by /θs, ts, st/
as second members.

pθs - depθs = depths

pts - ədɒpts = adopts

pst - læpst = lapsed

Starting with oral plosive / t / as first member followed by /θs/ as

second member.

tθs - eitθs = eighths

Starting with oral plosive / k / as first member followed by /ts, st/ as

second members.

kts - ækts = acts

kst - nekst = next

Starting with nasal plosive / m / as first member followed by /ps, fs/

as second members.

mps - læmps = lamps

mfs - nimfs = nymphs

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Starting with nasal plosive / n / as first member followed by /ts, dz/

as second members.

nts - tents = tents

ndz - sændz = sands

Starting with nasal plosive / ŋ / as first member followed by /st/ as

second member.

ŋst - əmɅŋst = amongst

Starting with fricative / f / as first member followed by /θs, ts/ as

second members.

fθs - fifθs = fifths

fts - lifts = lifts

Starting with fricative / s / as first member followed by /ts/ as second

member.

sts - təƱsts = toasts

Starting with approximant Starting with fricative / l / as first member

followed by /md, m, pt, ps, bz, vd, θs, nz, dz, ks, kt/ as second
members.

lmd - əƱvəhwelmd = overwhelmed

lm - elmz = elms

lpt - helpt = helped

lps - helps = helps

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lbz - bɅlbz = bulbs

lvd - ʃelvd = shelved

lθs - helθs = heat

lnz - kilnz = kilns

ldz - hɒldz = holds

lks - hɅlks = hulks

lkt - milkt = milked

(cf. http://www.btinternet.com/ ted.power/clustersindex.html)

The final four consonants clusters in English (7) are usually

formed by three consonant clusters not containing final /s,z,t,d/ for
the suffixes - (e)s and -(e)d.

3.1.4 Final CCCC Clusters in English :

Starting with oral plosive / k / as first member followed by /sts, sθs/

as second members.

ksθs - siksθs = sixths

ksts - teksts = texts

Starting with nasal plosive / m / as first member followed by /pts/ as

second member.

mpts - prɒmpts = pompts

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Starting with approximant / l / as first member followed by /fθs, kts/

as second members.

lfθs - twelfθs = twelths

lkts - mɅlkts = mulcts

English shows that in the case of three-consonant clusters

the phonotactic possibilities of the English phonemes are higher at
the end of the syllable (word). Although the number of two-
consonant clusters is identical in the word-initial (syllable onset) and
word-final (syllable coda) position, three-consonant clusters are rare
in onsets and frequent in codas, and four-consonant clusters occur
only in codas .

However, on the basis of the CVX theory all coda clusters can
be explained by morphology as real or potential affixes or they form
a complex sound (Duanmu 2009: 171-181).

3.2 The Manipuri Consonant Clusters

The consonant cluster in Manipuri are the occurrences of two
consonants within a syllable. The clusters found mostly at the initial
position of a syllable or a word. No final clusters are found.

Initial cluster: The initial clusters are found in the word initial or
syllable initial positions. The first members of such clusters with /w/
are the phonemes /k, kʰ, g and s/ and the phonemes /r/ occurs as
the second member of the phonemes /p, k, kʰ, pʰ, b, s, ŋ/ in case of
reduplication.
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Occuring with /w/ as the second member:

K+w - kwa = betel nut

Kwak = crow
kʰ + w- kʰwaŋ = waist
s+w - swaydə = here
g+w - gway = name of river

Occuring with /r/ as the second member:

P+r - prok – prok (cakpə) = intorably hot

K+r - krik – krik (təkpə) = scraching
kʰ + r - kʰrək - kʰrək (kəŋbə) = extremely dry
pʰ + r- pʰrəŋ - pʰrəŋ (coŋbə) = skipping‟
b+r - brəŋ - brəŋ (həwbə) = flammable‟
ŋ+r - ŋrəŋ - ŋrəŋ (ŋəŋbə) = grumbling‟
s+r - sru – sru (təkpə) = scrubbing‟

3.2.1 Syllable initial clusters in Manipuri

In the syllable initial clusters, the phonemes /p, b, c, k, b, d, j,

g, pʰ, tʰ, kʰ, s, m, ŋ/ are followed by the flap sound /r/. These clusters
with /r/ as the second member are the result of loss of the vowel /ə/.
As in the example /ŋakcrəw/ „ a kind of fish „ .
c+r - ŋakcrəw = a kind of fish
t+r - kəptreŋ = spinning machine
k+r - ŋəkra = a kind of fish
b+r - cumbrəy = peach
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d+r - kaŋdrum = ball

g+r - məŋgra = sweet potato
j+r - məyjraw = name of place
pʰ + r - pompʰri = mended cloth
tʰ + r - laŋtʰrəy = a kind of plan
kʰ + r - caŋkʰrəŋ = a kind of weeds
m+r - ləymram = name of place
s+r - laysrəm = a surname
ŋ+r - ŋəŋrannəbə = a colour
In the syllable initials, the phoneme /p/ and /d/ also found as
the first member while /w/ as the second member:
p+w - məwpwa = brother
d +w - ədwaydə = around there
Sometimes /y/ is found as the second member of the phoneme.
occurs with /y/ as the second member of syllable:
kʰ + y - sənəkʰya = word used as an honour

kyamgəy = place mane

3.3 Contrastive study

Clusters found in both English and Manipuri:

All the following Manipuri initial clusters – /kw, kl, tr, dw, pr, sw, sr,
pw, kr, br, dr/ are also found in English.
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Initial cc clusters

kw = This consonant initial cluster is found in both the languages.

eg. English - kw - quack = kwæk

Manipuri - kw - kwa = betel nut

kl = This consonant initial cluster is found in English only because it

is found only in loan words in case of Manipuri.

eg. English - kl - claim, class = kleim, klɑ:s

Manipuri - kl - klas = class

tr = This consonant initial cluster is found in both the languages.

eg. English - tr - trail, trade = trail, treid

Manipuri - tr - kəptreŋ = spinning machine

dw = This consonant initial cluster is found in both the languages.

eg. English - dw - dwell, dwindle = dwel,

dwindle

Manipuri - dw - ədwaid a = out there

pr = This consonant initial cluster is found in both the languages

eg. English - pr - pray prey = prei

Manipuri - pr - cəmpra = lemon

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sw = This consonant initial cluster is found in both the languages.

eg. English – sw - sweat, sweep = swet, swi:p

Manipuri – sw - sway = nervousness

sr = This consonant initial cluster is found in both the languages

eg. English – sr - srinagar = srınɅgə

Manipuri – sr - laysrəm = a surname

pw = This consonant initial cluster is found in both the languages

eg. English – pw - pwebləƱ = pueblo

Manipuri – pw - məwpwa = younger brother

kr = This consonant initial cluster is found in both the languages.

eg. English – kr - cross, cry = krɒs, krai

Manipuri – kr - ləykrək = crack

br = This consonant initial cluster is found in both the languages

eg. English – br - brass, bread = brɑ:s, bred

Manipuri – br - səmbru = mole

dr = This consonant initial cluster is found in both the languages

eg. English – dr - draft, dril = drɑ:ft, drill

Manipuri – dr - kaŋdrum = hockey ball

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gr = This consonant initial cluster is found in both the languages.

eg. English – gr - grass = grɑ:s

Manipuri – gr - məŋgra = sweet potato

Clusters found in English only :

Initial CCC clusters are found in English only.

eg. spl - splash, spleen = splæʃ, spli:n

spr - spring, sprain = spriŋ, sprain

Final CC clusters (syllable coda)are found in English only.

eg. pθ - “depth” = depθ

ts - “cuts, mates” = kɅts, mæts

Final CCC clusters (syllable coda) are found in English only.

eg. pst - lapsed = læpst

tθs - eights = eitθs

Final CCCC clusters (syllable coda)are found in English only.

eg. ksθs - sixths = siksθs

ksts - texts = teksts

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Clusters found in Manipuri only:

These initial clusters are found in Manipuri only: /ky, kʰw, kʰr, tʰr, gr,
cr, mr, jr/.

e.g. Manipuri - kʰw - kʰwaŋ = waist

kʰr - pəkʰra = widower

cr - cocrobi = a type of sand

mr - ləymram = a clan

jr - həyjraŋ = knife

tʰr - kuntʰra = thirty

Manipuri has only 2 word initial clusters (onset) while English

has 2,3,4 word initial clusters, such as CC,CCC and CCCC clusters.

Manipuri does not have initial CCC clusters (syllables onset).

Besides Manipuri does not have final clusters such as CC, CCC,
CCCC (syllable coda) which are found in English. Because of these
reason that the Manipuri speaker find it very difficult to pronounce
words of these categories.