The crowding of consonant sounds within the same environment before the insertion of a vowel sound in words is consonant cluster. It is the coming together of more than one consonant sound in a word. It can be easily identified if the transcription is done. It can appear at different locations – initial, medial or final position, but the common ones are initial and final position. It can be expressed as (ccc) (vccc) that is 3 consonants may come before vowel and up to 2 consonant may follow the vowel.
Examples
2 consonant clause words
Initial (ccv) Medial (vccv) Final (vcc)
Play after shift
/plei/ /a:fta/ /sift/
Twinkle master risk
/twiokal/ /ma:ster/ /risk/
- Consonant cluster words
Initial (cccv) Final (
Strength texts
/stregke/ /tesk/
Strong ask
/str3g/ /a:sk/
Initial
Skw Kw
Squander queen
Square equality
Squash quench
Squad quiet
Squalor equal
See also