Consonants

Consonants

Definition:

            A consonant is a speech sound. In the production of the consonant, there is some obstruction in the air stream. Vocal cords vibrate for some sounds. They are called voiced sounds. Vocal cords do not vibrate for some sounds. They are called voiceless sounds.

Classification:

            Consonants are classified according to:

i)                    The place of articulation

ii)                  The manner of articulation and

iii)                The state of Glottis ( the presence or the presence of vibration)

 lips: /p/, / b/, / m/, / w /

i)                    Labio-Dentals: By the lower lip against the upper teeth: / f /, / v /.

ii)                  Dentals: By the tip of the tongue against the upper teeth: / θ /, / ð /.

Alveolars: By the tip of the tongue against the teeth ridge: / t/, / d/, / n/, / l /, / s /, / z /.

                                                                              vi. Palato-Alveolars: Between  the hard palate and the teeth ridge: / tʃ /, / dʒ /, / ʃ/, / ʒ /.

                                                                                        

iii)                Post-Alveolar: By the tip of the tongue against the back of the teeth ridge:/ r /.

iv)                 

v)                  Palatal: By the front of the tongue against the hard palate: / j /

vi)                Velars: By the back of the tongue against the soft palate(velum): / k/, / g/,  / ŋ /. 

vii)              Glottal:  at the Glottis: / h /.

II Manner of articulation or obstruction:

I)                   Plosives/ Stops: By the complete closure of air passage in the mouth and sudden release of air with an explosive sound.

                                    Bilabial plosive: /p/ voiceless; b/ Voiced.                                               

Plosive                         Alveolar Plosive: / t/ voiceless; / d /voiced.

                                   

Velar Plosive: / k/ voiceless; / g/ voiced.

ii)Affricates: By the complete closure of air passage and a slow release of air with friction: / tʃ / voiceless; / dʒ /voiced.

 iii)Nasals: By the complete closure in the mouth and release of air through nose and the lowering of soft palate: / m/, / n/, / ŋ /.

iv)Fricatives: Not complete closure but narrowing of air passage and escape of air with friction: / f /, / v /, / θ /, / ð /, / s /, / z /, / ʃ/, / ʒ /,/ h /.

 Among the fricatives, there are a few special ones: / l /, / r /, / j /, / w /.