Exercise: Pronounce the words key and core, ski and score, paying attention to the phoneme [k] What difference do you notice between the first pair and the second pair in terms of the phonetic features of the voiceless velar stop?

教师讲解

In pronouncing key, the voiceless velar stop is palatalized. In key and core, the stop and core, the stop is aspirated. In ski, the stop is also palatalized. In ski and score, the stop is unaspirated.