VOICE AND DICTION EXAMS
Some instructors prefer giving only two larger exams rather than weekly or sectional quizzes.
If that is your preference, you might consolidate those quiz questions found in this manual or
use the following sample tests.
Mid-terms
(Sample A)
1. Why is voice called an overlaid function? (Primary purpose of parts of the
2. English is said to be derived from the branch of the Indo-European
3. Identify your three major resonating cavities. (1)
(2) (3)
4. PITCH is the psychological perception of frequency. Define the following factors of
pitch:
a. Downward inflection
b. Intonation
c. Optimum pitch
d. Monotone
e. Circumflex Inflection
5. Approximately what is the most appropriate range of words per minute for rate
6. Increased loudness can be used to emphasize a in a sentence or
7. What are two ways to slow your rate of speaking?
8. What causes excessive nasality? (permitting more sounds than [m][n] or [N] to pass
9. Explain the concept of resonance focus. (The point of impact or force of the general
What area in the oral cavity is the best point of resonance focus for General
10. Explain the concept of projection. (Placing sound to a point just behind your listener
11. Explain the concept of paralanguage (paralinguistics) as it pertains to voice. (Using
12. What does voice or voicing mean? (Voice means vibration of the vocal folds. All
13. For what vowel sounds is lip “rounding” necessary? (Primarily back vowels)
14. Explain what tensiveness means as it pertains to vowels. (Some vowels require
(Sample B)
1. Directions: The four parts of the vocal mechanism are listed below on the left. On the
right are a number of terms that relate to one or more of those parts. In the blank to
the left, write the letter of the corresponding term most applicable to that part. Use
the letter only once but use all terms on the right.
1. BREATHING a. pharynx i. oral cavity
2. PHONATION
b. diaphragm
j. velum
3. RESONATION
c. vibration
k. tongue
4. ARTICULATION
d. exhalation
l. glottis
e. lips
f.nasal cavity
m.modifying
sound
n. alveolar ridge
g. larynx
h. teeth
o. vocal folds
2. Matching: Match the appropriate term to the definition on the right
4. What does IPA stand for?
5. English is said to be derived from the branch of the Indo-
6. What does voice or voicing mean?
7. PITCH is the psychological perception of frequency. Define the following
factors of pitch:
a. Downward inflection
b. Intonation
c. Optimum pitch
d. Monotone
e. Circumflex Inflection
VOICE AND DICTION-Final Exam (Sample)
1.
Identify and explain three negative vocal qualities.
1.
2.
3.
2.
Consonants are charted according to two features. What are these?
1.
2.
3.
What are consonant cognates?
(These are consonant partners that are produced in the same manner in the same place in the
4.
List all General American consonant cognates. You may use either IPA or
orthographic spelling.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
6. 7. 8. 9.
5.
State the past tensing rule. Give an example.
Ex.
6.
State the pluralizing rule. Give an example.
Ex.
8.
What are three things that affect your ability to project your voice?
9.
What are two ways you can slow yourself down while speaking?
11.
There are only three nasal consonants. These are , , .
12.
What is voice or voicelessness?
13.
Write two brief paragraphs responding to the following:
a.
Evaluate what this course has done for you.
b.
Explain what you would do to improve a course such as this. (Note: Use
In order to enhance student vocabularies, two lists of word pronunciations are
included in the back of the text. The first list contains one hundred often- mispronounced
words. The second list is culled from the many short excerpts of literature throughout the text
and was gathered from readings and student speeches. These are words that may serve to
enhance student vocabularies. Keep in mind, that language is dynamic and always changing.
At the same time dictionaries record current use and pronunciation and may take years to
catch up to the dynamic feature of current use. While it is important for the student to know
how to pronounce these words, it is equally important for the student to know the meanings
of these words. Word definitions were omitted from the text on the chance that individual
instructors might wish to use these lists as vocabulary builders as well as lists for
Appendix Four: Sound Recognition Practice: (Transcription)
Some instructors like to test students on their ability to transcribe in IPA. The lists in
Appendix Four constitute suggestions that include relatively simple to more difficult
combinations.
The instructor should announce the word and then allow a few seconds for students
to write the transcription. The correct answer is listed to the right of each word. Remember
Appendix Four
I.
Answers to IPA
Note: These are taken from standard dictionary pronunciations and do not reflect any
dialect an individual may use in announcing the word. The IPA symbols here may not
exactly match those in the text because they are created with different programs.
Answer
1. Qk>sEpt
accept
21. >fArD‘
2. >QdZIktIv
adjective
22. flçnt
3. ArtS
arch
23. geIt
4. ´>skju
askew
24. nç
5. bçk
balk
25. dZIp
6. beIZ
beige
26. aI>dEntIk´l
7. bIldZ
bilge
27. In>tQkt
8. >bAD‘
bother
28. >dZu´lrI
9. >bIUroU
bureau
29. >lQrINks
10. kQv
calve
30. >mQgn´t
11. >kçz´l
causal
31. nA>iv
12. >sEntSrI
century
32. >oUk‘
13. SeIz
chaise
33. >p0eIp´l
14. kloUT
clothe
34. pUr
15. k´n>kAkt
concoct
35. >ri´lt‘
16. >kAntS´ns
17. dEt
18. dIs>deIn
conscience
debt
disdain
36. >rID´m
37. >sArkQz´m
38. >skju
rhythm
sarcasm
skew
19. I>kAl´dZI
ecology
39. tQkt
tact
20. Is>keIp
escape
40. >tISu tissue
II.
Answers to words
Note: The IPA representations are taken from standard dictionary pronunciations and do
not reflect any dialect an individual may use in announcing the word.
Answer
Answer
1. ache
2. aegis
eIk
idZ´s
21. fault
22. folk
fçlt
foUk
3. alveolar
4. arctic
Ql>vi´l‘
>ArktIk
23. gaudy
24. half
>gçdI
hQf
5. benign bI>naIn 25. halve hQv
6. bias >baI´s 26. incomparable In>kAmpr´b´l
7. bore bor 27. issue >ISu
8. bureaucracybIU>rAkr´sI 28. knell nEl
9. business >bIzn´s 29. later >leIt‘
14. concede k´n>sid 34. plateau plQ>toU
19. empathy
>Emp´TI
39. taut
tçt
20. exam
Ig>zQm
40. tract
trQkt
III.
Answers to words
Note: The IPA representations are taken from standard dictionary pronunciations and do
not reflect any dialect an individual may use in announcing the word.
List A
1. cup
2. pass
3. knob
pQs
Answer
k√p
nAb
4. among
´>m√N
5. magic
>mQdZIk
6. aim
eIm
7. what
hwAt
8. away
´>weI
9. after
>Qft‘
10. free
fri
11. of
√v
12. vow
vaU
13. thin
TIn
14. breadth
brEdT
15. that
DQt
16. breathes
briDz
17. fate
feIt
18. oat
oUt
19. dawn
dçn
20. crude
krud
21. smell
smEl
22. casts
kQsts
List B
Answer
1. nose
noUz
2. drives
draIvz
3. book
bUk
4. lips
lIps
5. shoe
Su
6. ocean
oU>S´n
7. beige
beIZ
8. massage
m´>sAZ
9. dream
drim
10. brown
braUn
11. church
tSŒ’tS
12. judge
dZ√dZ
13. yes
jEs
14. amuse
´>mjuz
15. exercise
>Eks‘saIz
16. chronic
>krAnIk
17. began
bI>gQn
18. vogue
voUg
19. single
>sINg´l
20. young
j√N
21. help
hElp
22. who
hu
A Final Word
It is a rare instructor who teaches only voice and diction. By combining some of