Three different sounds may be produced with this stoppage.
1. [k], when there has been no vibration of the vocal chords.
In precise or emphatic speech, sufficient breath escapes after the opening of the passage to give the effect of [h]; thus _come, come!_ [kʰʌm, kʰʌm]. This occurs mostly before accented vowels, sometimes finally, _give him a good shake!_ [giv im ə gud ʃeikʰ].[27]
[k] is written _c_, _k_, _ck_, _cc_ (as in _accuse_ [ə´kjuwz]), _ch_ (as in _chord_ [kɔːd]), _q_ (as in _queen_ [kwijn]); [ks] as _ks_, _cc_, _x_, _xc_.
2. [g], when there has been vibration of the vocal chords.
Sometimes [g] is pronounced with the tip of the tongue so that it sounds like [d]; thus _glory_ becomes _dlory_ [dlɔːri]. The way in which [l] is produced (see § 33) explains this.
[g] is written _g_ and _gg_; rarely _gh_ (as in _ghost_ [goust]). For [ks] and [gz] written x see § 30.
3. [ŋ], when the velum is lowered and the breath passes out through the nose. (Generally speaking, this sound is voiced; but when it is immediately followed by a voiceless sound, it may be at first voiced, then voiceless [̇ŋ̇]; the [ŋ] may be unvoiced (see § 23, 3) before a voiceless stop. Then _length_ is strictly [leŋŋ̇θ] or [leŋŋ̇kθ].) Notice the difference in length of [ŋ] in _sing, singer, drink, bang_; in which of these words is it short?
[ŋ] is written _ng_, as in _long_ [lɔŋ], and _n_ before _g_, _k_, or _x_, as in _longer_ [lɔŋgə], _lank_ [læŋk], _lynx_ [liŋks]. What does ng represent in _singer_? in _finger_? in _English_?
The "dropping of g" is really an incorrect term. There is no [g] in the ending-_ing_ [iŋ];[28] what does take place is the substitution of [n] for [ŋ]. This occurs in baby speech, in vulgar speech, and in the speech of some sections of society. It is on no account to be tolerated.
The opposite mistake is made only by the uneducated, who pronounce _kitchen_ as [kitʃiŋ], _chicken_ as [tʃikiŋ], and _sudden_ as [sʌdiŋ].
Notice the substitution of this sound by the uneducated for the unfamiliar palatal nasal [ɲ] in _Boulogne_ [bulɔɲ], the uneducated [bulɔŋ],[29] and for the equally unfamiliar nasal vowel [ɑ̃] in the French word _continent_ [kɔ̃tinɑ̃], the uneducated [kɔntinɔŋ].
For [n] becoming [m] or [ŋ] by assimilation, see § 49.