Page 44 - Modul - PRONUNCIATION - Berbasis Media-PERCOBAAN FLIPBOOK HTML- VERSI 2 16 September

Activity 2: Study the English Homophone

a. English Homophones

English (especially British English) is not spelt phonetically. Two words can share
none, any or all of Spelling, Pronunciation and Meaning. All languages have
synonyms (words with unrelated spelling and pronunciation but the same
meaning) and words with multiple meanings. However English has an exceptional
disparity between spelling and pronunciation.

Table 9.1. Homophone Characteristic

The possible combinations or some but all characteristics being the same are as follows:-

Spelling Pronunciation Meaning Classification Example
Same Different Different Homonym refuse
Different Same Different Homophone See below
Same Same Different Multiple meanings trap
Different Different Same Synonym rare/uncommon
Alternative Schedule (British/American
Same Different Same
pronuncation pronuncation)
Different Same Same Alternative spelling jail/gaol

Words with different meanings and spellings, but the same (UK) pronunciation.

• The two spellings have a meaning in common. Even if each spelling has
distinct meanings, any common mean classifies them as alternative
spellings rather than homophones. (American, or other non-British,
spellings are ignored for this purpose.)

Table 9.2 Common Meaning

o ambiance, ambience o gibe, gybe
o assay, essay o gray, grey
o aught, ought o grill, grille
o cot, cote o groin, groyne
o depositary, depository o gunnel, gunwale
o forbear, forebear o hippie, hippy
o forego, forgo o main, maine
o gage, gauge o prise, prize
o gel, jell o ray, re
o genet, jennet o ton, tonne

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