* Consonants are sounds: Consonants are defined by how air is obstructed in the mouth, creating a distinct sound.
* Silent letters: What we call "silent consonants" are actually letters that represent sounds that aren't pronounced in a specific word. This happens due to various historical and phonetic changes in the evolution of the English language.
Examples of "silent consonants" and why they occur:
* "k" in "knife" and "knee": The "k" used to be pronounced, but over time, the sound shifted, leaving the letter silent.
* "b" in "debt" and "doubt": These words come from French, where the "b" was pronounced. In English, it's silent.
* "gh" in "night" and "laugh": The "gh" used to represent a guttural sound similar to "ch" in "loch". It's now silent in most cases.
* "w" in "write" and "wrong": The "w" was once pronounced, but has become silent in many words.
Key takeaway: While we often talk about "silent consonants," it's more accurate to say that these letters are silent in certain words. They are not consonants that lack a sound; rather, they are letters that represent a sound that has been lost over time.