The Silent and Invisible Letters in American English

American English has its own “invisible letters” that we love to play hide-and-seek with our tongues. These silent letters are like the ninjas of the alphabet, blending in seamlessly while leaving us scratching our heads. They add a touch of mystery and a dash of confusion to our spelling adventures.

What makes a letter silent, you ask? Well, it’s like the introvert of the alphabet world—it’s there, but you don’t hear from it. A letter becomes silent when it refuses to be pronounced. It might be playing sidekick to another letter to create a new sound, like in ‘ch’ or ‘th’, or it could be the unsung hero, the silent dummy letter, just hanging out without making a peep.

Let’s dive into some silent letter shenanigans:

• B: The shy ‘B’ stays silent before ‘t’ (like in ‘debt’) and after ‘m’ (as in ‘comb’). It’s like it’s there, but too timid to say anything. We all say ‘cummerbund’ without even acknowledging the ‘b’, but there it is, dressed up and ready for the occasion.
• C: This one plays hide-and-seek after ‘s’ and before ‘i,’ ‘e,’ or ‘y’ (think ‘science’). It also goes mute in ‘ck’ (as in ‘duck’). Maybe it wants to let the ‘k’ take all the glory.
• E: The ‘E’ at the end of a word is like a silent magician, transforming the vowel before it into a long vowel (like in ‘cake’), then disappearing without a trace.
• GH: ‘GH’ is a master of disguise, often going silent in the middle or at the end of words (like ‘sigh’). And when an ‘i’ comes before it, the ‘i’ becomes the star, elongating its sound (like in ‘light’).
• K: At the beginning of words, ‘K’ teams up with ‘n’ but keeps its voice down (think ‘knight’). Maybe it’s just letting ‘n’ have the spotlight.
• N: In the digraph ‘mn,’ ‘N’ takes a vow of silence (like in ‘autumn’). Perhaps it’s just tired from being at the end of the word.
• P: At the start of words in the ‘ps’ combo, ‘P’ decides to stay silent (such as in ‘psychic’). Maybe it’s practicing some mental discipline.
• R: Ah, the ‘r’ in ‘colonel’. This one’s the Houdini of silent letters, completely vanishing while somehow convincing us to pronounce the word as ‘kernel’. It’s as if the ‘r’ decided to join the military and then went AWOL.
• T: You might be surprised to learn that a sneaky little ‘t’ is hiding in ‘pizza’. It’s like the extra slice you didn’t know you ordered. You never hear it, but it’s hanging out there, enjoying the cheesy goodness.
• W: This letter starts with words like ‘wrinkle’ and then ghosts us, silently sneaking away. It also pulls this trick in other words like ‘two’.

For those trying to master the tricky terrain of English spelling, memorizing where these letters go mute can be a helpful tool. Think of it as learning the secrets of a language where letters sometimes prefer to remain the strong, silent type.

So, which letters in English enjoy the silent treatment? Quite a few! They include the likes of ‘p’ in psychiatry, ‘w’ in writing, ‘m’ in mnemonic, ‘h’ in vehicle, and many more. Each has its own quirky rules and reasons for staying quiet, making English spelling a delightful (and sometimes frustrating) puzzle to crack!

Is there a letter in the English language that never takes a day off? According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, there sure is the letter V. While other letters occasionally play hide-and-seek by staying silent, V is always ready for action, front and center. Take words like “quiver” and “vivid” for example—there’s V, loud and proud, doing its job without fail. It’s like the overachiever of the alphabet, always showing up and never missing a beat. So, whenever you see a V, you can count on it to deliver its signature sound, providing a steadfast and reliable presence in the chaotic world of English pronunciation.

So next time you order a pizza, salute a colonel, or adjust your cummerbund, remember to give a nod to these invisible letters—they’re the unsung ninjas of the English language!