Choose the correct option:-

Which one of the following consonant symbol is used in the phonetic transcription of the word 'vision'?

The correct answer is v, ʒ

Key Points

Phoneme: It is the smallest unit of sound' that distinguishes one word from another. Since sounds cannot be written, we use letters to represent or stand for the sounds.

Consonant sound: Consonants sounds produced with some restriction or closure in the vocal tract. There are 24 consonant sounds in most English accents. 

Vowel sound: In vowel sounds, the airflow is unobstructed when the sound is made. For example, the vowel sounds are the music or movement of our language. There are 20 vowel sounds in English.

Hence, the phonetic transcription of 'Vision' is /ˈvɪʒ(ə)n/.

Additional Information

Definitions of Consonant:

• P. Christophersen, a noted phonetician defines consonants as “sounds in the production of which there is no hindrance to the air passage. This interference is caused sometimes by another of the speech organs, and sometimes it leads to complete closure and all other time only to a partial one.” 
• J. D. O. Connor in his ‘Better English Pronunciation’ very economically defines consonants in the same tune as “Sound in which air from the lungs is seriously obstructed in the mouth and which occurs in similar positions in words.”