2. CONSONANTS
CONSONANTS are sounds produced with an
egressive flow of air coming out of the mouth
or the nose accompanied by obstruction or
friction in the articulators.
6. Consonants can be classified on the
basis of
Air stream mechanism
State of glottis
The position of the soft palate
Points of articulation
The manner of articulation
7. The position of the soft palate
• Oral sounds
/p/ /t/ /k/ /f/ /Ɵ/ /s/ /ʃ/ /h/ /tʃ/ /b/ /d/ /g/ /v/ /ð/ /z/
/ʒ/ /dʒ/ /j/ /w/ /r/ /l/
• Nasal sounds
/m/ /n/ /Ƞ/
8. Points of Articulation
• Bilabial
made with the two lips (/p/, /b/,/w/ /m/).
• Labiodental
the lower lip articulates with the upper
teeth (/f/, /v/).
9. • Dental
the tongue tip articulate with the upper
teeth (/Ɵ/ , /ð/)
• Alveolar
the tongue tip and/or blade articulates with
the alveolar ridge (/t, d, n, l, s, z/).
10. • Post-alveolar
the blade articulates with the alveolar ridge
(/r/)
• Palato -alveolar
The tip ,blade, and front of the tongue
articulates with the hard palate (/ ʃ ʒ tʃ dʒ/ )
11. • Palatal
the front (or blade) of the tongue articulates
with the hard palate (/j/).
• Velar
the back of the tongue articulates with the
soft palate (/k g Ƞ/).
12. • Glottal
sounds involving an obstruction or narrowing
of the glottis (/h/)
13. Manner of Articulation
• Plosives
A complete closure at some point in the vocal
tract, behind which the air pressure builds up
and can be released with a sudden burst
(plosion) /p, b, t, d, k, g/.
14. • Affricates
Affricates are consonants articulated with a
stricture of firm closure of mouth followed by
a slow release. /tʃ/ /dʒ/
15. • Fricatives
Fricatives are produced with a stricture
almost approximation.
/ f, v, Ɵ, ð, h, z, s/
17. • Semi Vowels
These are also consonants articulated with
an open approximation. They are vowel like in
quality and function like consonants.
/j/ & /w/
