Understanding Consonants in Phonetics

1. 4. Consonants • Consonants are produced ‘by a closure in the vocal tract, or by a narrowing which is so marked that air cannot escape without producing audible friction’. • By contrast, a vowel is produced without such ‘stricture’ so that ‘air escapes in a relatively unimpeded way through the mouth or nose’.

2. The distinction between vowels and consonants lies in the obstruction of airstream. • As there is no obstruction of air in the production of vowels, the description of the consonants and vowels cannot be done along the same lines.

3. In the production of consonants at least two articulators are involved. • For example, the initial sound in bad involves both lips and its final segment involves the blade (or the tip) of the tongue and the alveolar ridge. • The categories of consonant, therefore, are established on the basis of several factors.

4. The manner of articulation refers to ways in which articulation can be accomplished: • the articulators may close off the oral tract for an instant or a relatively long period; • they may narrow the space considerably; or • they may simply modify the shape of the tract by approaching each other.

5. Manner of articulation • Stop (or Plosive) __ Oral & Nasal • Fricative • (Median) Approximant • Lateral (Approximant) • Trill • Tap or Flap • Affricate

6. The place of articulation refers to the point where a consonant is made. • Practically consonants may be produced at any place between the lips and the vocal folds. • Eleven places of articulation are distinguished on the IPA chart:

7. Bilabial Labiodental Dental Alveolar postalveolar Retroflex Palatal Velar Uvular Pharyngeal Glottal Place of articulation

9. English consonants • Received Pronunciation (RP) • General American (GA) • English consonants

11. Description of English consonants • [p] voiceless bilabial stop/plosive • [b] voiced bilabial stop/plosive • [s] voiceless alveolar fricative • [z] voiced alveolar fricative