The main difference between the sounds /b/ and /v/ lies in the way they are produced in the mouth. Let’s break it down:
/b/ is a plosive sound. This means that you completely block the airflow with both lips and then release it suddenly. To produce the /b/ sound, you bring your lips together, creating a full closure, and then release the air by opening your lips. This sound is voiced, which means that you vibrate your vocal cords as you produce it.
On the other hand, /v/ is a fricative sound. This means that you create a narrow passage for the air to flow through, causing friction. To produce the /v/ sound, you bring your top teeth close to your lower lip, allowing a small gap for the air to pass through. As the air passes through this narrow gap, it creates a distinct buzzing or hissing sound. Like /b/, /v/ is also voiced, so you vibrate your vocal cords while producing it.
In terms of spelling, English usually indicates which sound is to be pronounced through the use of specific letters. However, there is one exception – the word “of” is pronounced as /əv/. For example, in the sentence “I am a fan of soccer,” the word “of” is pronounced with a /v/ sound.
To summarize, /b/ is a plosive sound produced by fully blocking and then releasing the airflow, while /v/ is a fricative sound created by squeezing the air between the top teeth and lower lip. Both sounds are voiced, meaning that the vocal cords vibrate when producing them. English spelling generally indicates which sound is used, except for the word “of” pronounced as /əv/.