Practice question · Numerical answer
How many consonant phonemes are conventionally recognised in Received Pronunciation?
Hints
- The total inventory is about 44, of which 20 are vowels.
- Twenty-four.
Show the answer
24
Why
24 consonants, against 20 vowels, 12 monophthongs and 8 diphthongs. The consonant count is stable across analyses; the vowel count is where descriptions differ, which is why General American is usually given a smaller total.
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