Allophonic variation of manner: narrow release

Question 1

In cat and card, the plosives have a wide oral release, in cats and cards however

Answer 1

The release phases of the plosives are much narrower

Question 2

This is because, rather than moving far away from the alveolar ridge, as in the first example

Answer 2

The tongue moves into narrow approximation in preparation for the following alveolar Fricatives. Thus, we say the plosives are narrowly released

Question 3

The diacritics for narrow release always takes the form of the following fricative
For example in Kats there is narrow release of t and this would be symbolised

Answer 3

By small s above the t on the left hand side

Question 4

Plosives are narrowly released when they are followed by a fricative at the same place of articulation

Answer 4

That is one that is homorganic with the plosive

Question 5

At first glance, the t or d in width might appear to have wide oral release, because it is alveolar and the th is dental

Answer 5

However, t is actually produced with a dental place of articulation, when it is before a dental fricative due to coarticulation and consequently, both plosive and fricative are dental. As we have homorganic plosive and fricative, therefore, the plosive will be narrowly released