Which symbol is listed for the voiced alveolar fricative as described in the material?

Which symbol is listed for the voiced alveolar fricative as described in the material?

• A. /s/
• B. /z/
• C. /v/
• D. /f/

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is how voicing and place of articulation define a sound. A voiced alveolar fricative is created by vibrating the vocal cords while the tongue constricts air at the alveolar ridge, producing a hissing-type noise. The IPA symbol for that sound is /z/. This distinguishes it from the voiceless alveolar fricative /s/, which has no vocal cord vibration. It also separates these from the labiodental fricatives /f/ (voiceless) and /v/ (voiced), which involve the lips and teeth rather than the tongue at the alveolar ridge. So the symbol that represents the voiced alveolar fricative is /z/.