What is a characteristic difference in the sound system of Spanish compared to English?

The most accurate choice regarding a characteristic difference in the sound system of Spanish compared to English is that Spanish phonology has similar syllable patterns to English with some exceptions. In both languages, syllables tend to follow a consonant-vowel structure, which is a fundamental aspect of their phonological systems.

However, Spanish does exhibit unique features, such as the tendency for more open syllables (those that end in a vowel), and a relatively simple consonant cluster structure compared to English. This leads to differences in how syllables are constructed, affecting rhythm and stress patterns in speech. Understanding these phonological characteristics is vital when teaching language, as it can influence the strategies used to aid learners in acquiring a second language.

The choice indicating that Spanish has a greater number of vowel sounds is misleading, as Spanish has five primary vowel sounds, while English has approximately twelve, depending on dialect. Simply stating that Spanish has fewer phonemes can be overly broad without specifying phoneme types. While Spanish may have fewer complex consonant clusters than English, suggesting that it contains more complex consonants does not accurately reflect the phonetic reality of the language, as Spanish consonants are generally considered less complex.