Select the correct transcription of the following English word: rank/ɹiŋk//ɹæŋk//ɹajnk//ɹænk/

To determine the correct transcription of the word "rank," we need to consider standard phonetic transcriptions. The word "rank" is typically pronounced with a short "a" sound, similar to the vowel sound in "cat."

1. Phonetic Components:

   • The initial sound is /r/, which is a voiced alveolar approximant.
   • The vowel sound is /æ/, which represents the short "a" sound found in many English dialects.
   • The final sound is /ŋk/, representing the nasal sound followed by the voiceless velar plosive.

2. Analysis of Options:

   • ɹiŋk: Incorrect, as it uses an /i/ sound instead of /æ/.
   • ɹæŋk: Correct, as it accurately represents /ræŋk/.
   • ɹajnk: Incorrect, as it uses a diphthong /ai/ which is not present in "rank."
   • ɹænk: Also potentially correct in some dialects, though generally /ræŋk/ is preferred.

Final Answer

The correct transcription of the word "rank" is /ɹæŋk/.