BTLPT Spanish Phonology and Pronunciation 2

Question 1

The Spanish phoneme /s/ is realized as [z] (voiced) before which type of consonant?

Accepted Answer

Before a voiced consonant due to assimilation

Answer

In Spanish, /s/ assimilates to a following voiced consonant, becoming voiced [z] through a process of regressive voicing assimilation.

Question 2

In many Latin American Spanish dialects, the distinction between /s/, /ʃ/, and /θ/ (ceceo/seseo) results in:

Accepted Answer

All three merged into /s/ (seseo)

Answer

Seseo, the merging of /s/, /z/, and /θ/ into a single /s/ phoneme, is the predominant pattern across Latin America and some parts of Spain.

Question 3

Which of the following is an example of yeísmo in Spanish?

Accepted Answer

Pronouncing 'll' and 'y' as the same sound

Answer

Yeísmo is the merger of the lateral palatal /ʎ/ (traditionally spelled 'll') with the palatal approximant /j/ (spelled 'y'), widespread in most Spanish dialects today.

Question 4

The Spanish orthographic accent (tilde) is required on a word like 'música' because:

Accepted Answer

It ends in a vowel and is stressed on the antepenultimate syllable

Answer

'Música' is a proparoxytone (esdrújula) stressed on the antepenultimate syllable; all esdrújulas require a written accent regardless of ending.

Question 5

Which pair of words demonstrates a minimal pair based on the vowel phonemes /e/ and /i/ in Spanish?

Accepted Answer

peso / piso

Answer

'Peso' /peso/ (weight) and 'piso' /piso/ (floor) differ only in the vowel phonemes /e/ vs. /i/, making them a minimal pair that proves these are distinct phonemes.

BTLPT - Bilingual Target Language Proficiency Test Practice Test

BTLPT - Bilingual Target Language Proficiency Test Practice Test

BTLPT Spanish Phonology and Pronunciation 2