Which symbol denotes the voiceless postalveolar fricative, as in 'shoe'?

• A. /ʒ/
• B. /θ/
• C. /ð/
• D. /ʃ/

Answer: (D)

The voiceless postalveolar fricative is produced by directing the breath through a narrow opening behind the alveolar ridge, with the vocal cords not vibrating. In English, this sound is represented by the symbol /ʃ/, as in the word “shoe.” It’s a fricative because the airflow is constricted to create turbulent noise, and it is voiceless because there is no vocal-fold vibration during articulation.

The other sounds listed differ in place, voicing, or manner. The voiced postalveolar fricative has vibration (as in “measure”), not voiceless. The dental fricatives are produced with the tongue at the teeth (not the postalveolar region) and have both voiceless and voiced varieties. So the sound that matches “voiceless postalveolar fricative” is /ʃ/.