Chapter Three - Consonants

Question 1

What is an obstruent?

Answer 1

A consonant in which the airflow is noticeably restricted. Generally speaking, consists of stops, fricatives, and affricates.

Question 2

What is a sonorant?

Answer 2

A consonant in which the airflow is not obstructed. Can be subdivided into nasals, liquids, and glides. Typically only voiced

Question 3

What is involved in the production of stops?

Answer 3

1. The closing stage - the active articulator meets the passive articulator.
2. The closure stage - the articulators remain in contact and the air builds up behind the blockage.
3. The release stage - the active articulator is lowered, allowing the air to be released with some force.

Question 4

What is a homorganic stop?

Answer 4

A stop in which the articulators are already in place. This usually means that the first stop has no release stage and the second stop has no closing stage.

Question 5

What is a lateral release?

Answer 5

In words like beetle and badly, the stop is released right into the lateral (the tongue tip remains at the top of the mouth and the sides of the tongue lower to allow air to flow out)

Question 6

When do aspirations usually occur?

Answer 6

In English speakers, it’s when the word begins with a voiceless stop (Though not in all dialects).