Consonant theory Flashcards
Intial
Consonant sound positioned at the start of a word
Medial
Consonant sound positioned in the middle of a word
Final
Consonant sound positioned at the end of a word
Margins
Where consonants often occur
Criteria consonant sounds
- Voiced, Lenis, fortis or voiceless
- What organs are used
- How to articulate
Lenis
A consonant sound that is partially and sometimes fully voiced
Fortis
A consonant sound that is produced without vocal chords and a lot of air is involved. Different from voiceless as these phenomes have a lenis pair
Bilabial
Using both lips to pronounce a consonant sound (2)
Labio-dental
Using the bottom lips and upper teeth to pronounce a consonant sound (2)
Dental
Using the tip of the tongue and upper teeth to pronounce a consonant sound (2)
Alveolar
Using the tip of the tongue and the alveolar ride to pronounce a consonant sound (2)
Palato-alveolar
Using the tip and blade of the tongue, the alveolar ridge and hard palate to pronounce a consonant sound (2)
Palatal
Using the front of the tongue and hard palate to pronounce a consonant sound (2)
Velar
Using the back of the tongue and soft palate (velum) to pronounce a consonant sound (2)
Glottal
Using the glottis to pronounce a consonant sound (2)
Nasal
When articulating the consonant sound the air flows through the nose (3)
Lateral
When articulating the consonant sound the tip of the tongue touches the alveolar ridge and air flows over the sides of the tongue (3)
Plosive
When articulating the consonant sound the air is obstructed by a closure and the released with a plosion (small explosion) (3)
Fricative
When articulating the consonant sound the air is obstructed and forced through with friction
Affricative
Between plosive and fricative
Approximant
When articulating the consonant sound the air passes freely, almost like a vowel sound
Final Hardening
A phenomenom in which foreign english speakers pronounce all final lenis sounds as fortis sounds (Hardening it too much)
Aspiration
Fortis plosives are pronounced with a puff of air when theyre followed by a vowel sound or /j/ /r/ /l/ /w/ or in a stressed syllable
The glottal stop
When t’s (or fortis plosives) are dropped for a ‘sound’ the glottal stop