English Pronunciation Tip of the Day
Tip 29
Category:
Spelling-to-sound
Author: JCW
silent <g>
In words beginning or ending <gn>, the <g> is silent.
Thus gnaw /nO:/, gnome /n@Um/, gnash /n{S/, and reign /reIn/, sign /saIn/, foreign /"fQr@n/ or /"fQrIn/.
The same applies when a word ending <gn> has an inflectional ending attached: deigned /deInd/, impugns /Im"pju:nz/, resigning /rI"zaInIN/.
But otherwise, in the middle of a word, the spelling <g> corresponds to the sound /g/: signature /"sIgn@tS@/, ignorance /"Ign@r@ns/, repugnant /rI"pVgn@nt/, resignation /%rezIg"neIS@n/.
The same applies with <gm>. Note phlegm /flem/ but phlegmatic /fleg"m{tIk/.