Phonetics and Phonology: Description of Consonant Sounds

Applied Linguistics March 20, 2023

 English Consonant Sounds

Manners of Articulation

by Kalsoom Jahan



English consonants are classified based on the manner of articulation, which refers to how the airflow is obstructed in the vocal tract to produce the sound. There are six main manners of articulation in English consonants, which are described in detail below, along with the corresponding consonant sounds.

  1. Plosives or Stops: Plosive consonants involve the complete closure of the oral cavity to stop the airflow before releasing it suddenly. This results in an explosive sound. The three English plosive consonants are:
  • /p/ as in "pat"
  • /t/ as in "top"
  • /k/ as in "kit"
  1. Fricatives: Fricative consonants partially obstruct the airflow in the vocal tract, resulting in a hissing or buzzing sound. The following are the English fricative consonants:
  • /f/ as in "fan"
  • /v/ as in "van"
  • /θ/ as in "thin"
  • /ð/ as in "then"
  • /s/ as in "sit"
  • /z/ as in "zip"
  • /ʃ/ as in "ship"
  • /ʒ/ as in "vision"
  • /h/ as in "hat"
  1. Affricates: Affricate consonants are a combination of a plosive and a fricative sound, where the airflow is first stopped and then released gradually with friction. The two English affricate consonants are:
  • /tʃ/ as in "chip"
  • /dʒ/ as in "judge"
  1. Nasals: Nasal consonants involve the complete closure of the oral cavity while the soft palate is lowered, allowing air to pass through the nasal cavity. This produces a nasal sound. The three English nasal consonants are:
  • /m/ as in "man"
  • /n/ as in "not"
  • /ŋ/ as in "sing"
  1. Liquids: Liquid consonants involve a partial closure of the oral cavity, allowing air to pass around the sides of the tongue. The two English liquid consonants are:
  • /l/ as in "love"
  • /r/ as in "run"
  1. Glides: Glides are also known as semivowels and involve a smooth transition from a consonant to a vowel sound. The two English glide consonants are:
  • /w/ as in "well"
  • /j/ as in "yes"

English consonants can be classified into six different manners of articulation based on how the airflow is obstructed in the vocal tract to produce the sound. Understanding these classifications and corresponding consonant sounds is essential for accurate pronunciation and clear communication in English.

Place of Articulation

In English, consonant sounds can be classified according to their place of articulation, which refers to the specific location where the sound is produced in the vocal tract. The following are the main places of articulation for English consonant sounds, along with examples of sounds that are produced in each location:

  1. Bilabial: Sounds produced using both lips. Examples include /p/, /b/, and /m/.
  2. Labiodental: Sounds produced by placing the lower lip against the upper front teeth. Examples include /f/ and /v/.
  3. Dental: Sounds produced by placing the tongue against the upper front teeth. Examples include the "th" sounds in "thin" and "then."
  4. Alveolar: Sounds produced by placing the tongue against the alveolar ridge, the bony ridge behind the upper teeth. Examples include /t/, /d/, /s/, /z/, /n/, and /l/.
  5. Palatal: Sounds produced by raising the front of the tongue to the hard palate, which is the bony structure on the roof of the mouth. Examples include /j/ (as in "yellow") and /ʃ/ (as in "shoe").
  6. Velar: Sounds produced by raising the back of the tongue to the soft palate or velum, which is the fleshy structure at the back of the roof of the mouth. Examples include /k/, /g/, and /ŋ/ (as in "sing").
  7. Glottal: Sounds produced by constricting the airflow at the glottis, which is the opening between the vocal cords. The only common glottal sound in English is the /h/ sound, as in "hat."

English consonant sounds can be classified according to their place of articulation, which refers to the specific location where the sound is produced in the vocal tract. The main places of articulation include bilabial, labiodental, dental, alveolar, palatal, velar, and glottal, each with its own set of sounds produced at that location. Understanding the place of articulation of English consonant sounds is important for developing clear and accurate pronunciation.



Short questions:

  1. What is the place of articulation for English consonant sounds?
  2. How many main places of articulation are there for English consonant sounds?
  3. What are examples of bilabial sounds in English?
  4. What are examples of alveolar sounds in English?
  5. What is the only common glottal sound in English, and what is an example word for it?
  6. Why is understanding the place of articulation of English consonant sounds important?

References

  • Ladefoged, P. (2001). A course in phonetics (4th ed.). Thomson Learning.
  • Roach, P. (2009). English phonetics and phonology (4th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
  • Crystal, D. (2008). A dictionary of linguistics and phonetics (6th ed.). Wiley-Blackwell.
  • O'Connor, J. D., & Arnold, G. F. (1973). The IPA chart and its uses. Journal of the International Phonetic Association, 3(1), 23-31.
  • International Phonetic Association. (2015). International Phonetic Alphabet. Retrieved from https://www.internationalphoneticassociation.org/content/ipa-chart.


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