silent
Rule Core
Silent letters are written characters that carry no sound in standard pronunciation. They persist due to historical spelling, etymology, or morphological clarity rather than phonetic need.
Articulation Guide
Attend only to audible phonemes. Shape the tongue and lips for sounded segments; do not block airflow or add release for silent letters.
Word Analysis
- affectionate: final -e is silent; stress centers on -fec-.
- alternate: final -e silent; stress shifts by word class.
- indict: c is silent, pronounced /ɪnˈdaɪt/.
Pitfall Avoidance
Avoid "spelling pronunciation" and over-articulation driven by orthography.
Phonics Breakdown
Move articulators only for audible sounds; silent letters do nothing.
Sound Reference
- Identify stress and vowel nuclei first
- Use etymology to predict common silent letters
Common Mistakes
Pronouncing silent letters
Adding sounds in derived forms