Dr. Judith M. Newman

Spelling Patterns in English

 

  Sound Patterns Structural Patterns  Meaning Patterns  
 
 
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INITIAL CONSONANT CLUSTERS

Initial consonant clusters are the complex sounds that are found at the beginning of English words. They are called clusters because each of the sounds in a cluster can be heard. Initial consonant clusters in English are formed by juxtaposing one or more stop consonants with one of three continuants: -l, -r, or s-

REGULAR
These clusters have a predictable pronunciation.

-l

-r

s-

bl

br

sc, sk, sch

cl

cr

scr

dr

sm

fl

fr

sn

gl

gr

sp

pl

pr

sph

sl

scr

spl

spr

str
tr
thr
IRREGULAR
These initial clusters have a less predictable pronunciation.

dw
sw
tw
qu
squ
st
shr
x