Which sounds are given as examples of affricatives?

• A. The /tʃ/ and /dʒ/ sounds
• B. The /s/ and /z/ sounds
• C. The /m/ and /n/ sounds
• D. The /p/ and /b/ sounds

Answer: (A)

Affricates are sounds created by a stop-like closure followed immediately by a fricative release. In English, the classic examples are /t͡ʃ/ and /d͡ʒ/ (the sounds of “ch” as in chair and “j” as in judge). They fit this pattern because you start with a brief complete closure of the vocal tract, then release into a turbulent frication as you continue to push air through a narrow opening. The other sounds listed are different types: /s/ and /z/ are fricatives (air flows through a narrow gap the whole time), /m/ and /n/ are nasals (air flows through the nose), and /p/ and /b/ are plosives or stops (air is completely blocked and released without a fricative phase).