0a. Terminology — Consonants Flashcards
Location of the narrowest constriction in the vocal tract during the production of a consonant.
Place of articulation (POA): bilabial, labiodental, dental, alveolar, post-alveolar, palatal, velar, glottal and labial-velar.
The two lips approach one another to interfere with the airstream.
bilabial /baɪˈleɪbɪəl/: /p b m/
The lower lip approaches the upper front teeth.
labiodental /ˌleɪbɪəʊˈdentəl/: /f v/
The tip of the tongue approaches the back of the upper front teeth.
dental: /ð θ/
The tip of the tongue approaches the area (alveolar ridge) just behind the upper front teeth.
alveolar /ælˈvɪələ/: /t d n s z l/
The tip or the blade of the tongue approaches the rear part of the alveolar ridge.
post-alveolar /ˌpostælˈvɪələ/: /ʃ ʒ tʃ dʒ r/
The middle part of the tongue approaches the root of the oral cavity.
Palatal: /j/
The back part of the tongue approaches the soft palate.
velar /ˈviːlə/: /k g ŋ/
The two vocal folds approach each other to interfere with the airstream.
glottal: /h ʔ/
The back of the tongue approaches the velum, but at the same time the lips are rounded and protruded.
labial-velar /ˈleɪbɪəl ˈviːlə/: /w/
The airstream is completely blocked for a short time and the blockage is released rapidly, causing the compressed air to burst out of the vocal tract.
plosive /ˈpləʊsɪv/: /p b t d k g/
The vocal tract is narrowed so that the airstream becomes turbulent and produces friction noise.
fricative: /f v ð θ s z ʃ ʒ h/
The airstream is blocked, but the blockage is released slowly so a short period of friction is heard.
affricate /ˈæfrɪkɪt/: /tʃ dʒ/
The vocal tract is narrowed, but not enough to cause air turbulence. There is therefore no friction noise. The air escapes over the centre of the tongue.
median approximant /ˈmiːdɪən əˈprɒksɪmənt/: /w r j/
The vocal tract is narrowed, but not enough to cause air turbulence. There is therefore no friction noise. There is a blockage in the centre but the sides of the tongue are lowered so that air can escape laterally.
lateral approximant /ˈlætərəl əˈprɒksɪmənt/: /w r j/
