Place of Articulation | Consonant Sounds in English - Phonology

Summary

This video script offers an in-depth exploration of the places of articulation in English consonant sounds. It explains that sounds are created by the interaction of two articulators, identifying them as either active or passive. The script delves into various places of articulation, such as labial, dental, alveolar, and others, providing examples for each. It distinguishes between voiced and unvoiced sounds, emphasizing the importance of understanding both the place and manner of articulation for accurate pronunciation.

Takeaways

• 🗣️ To describe a sound in English, you need to consider the place of articulation, the manner of articulation, and whether the sound is voiced or unvoiced.
• 👅 The place of articulation is the location in the vocal tract where the active and passive articulators come together to produce a sound.
• 👄 Labial sounds like 'B', 'P', and 'M' are produced with both lips together.
• 🦷 Labiodental sounds such as 'F' and 'V' are produced with the lower lip against the upper teeth.
• 👅 Interdental sounds involve placing the tip of the tongue between the teeth, as in 'th' sounds.
• 📍 Alveolar sounds are produced at the alveolar ridge, including 'T', 'D', 'N', 'S', 'Z', and 'L' sounds.
• 🔊 Post-alveolar sounds like 'R', 'sh', 'CH', and 'J' are produced just behind the alveolar ridge.
• 🔄 Retroflex sounds are similar to post-alveolar but with the tongue curved back, as in the American 'R'.
• 🔝 Palatal sounds are produced by raising the middle part of the tongue to the hard palate, as in the 'Y' sound.
• 🔙 Velar sounds are produced by raising the back of the tongue to the soft palate, including 'K', 'G', and 'NG' sounds.
• 🌐 Glottal sounds are produced at the glottis, with the vocal cords either closing (glottal stop) or constricting (glottal fricative).
• 👄 The 'W' sound is labialized velar, meaning it involves both lip rounding and tongue movement towards the soft palate.

Q & A

What are the three main components needed to describe a sound?

To describe a sound, you need to describe the place of articulation, the manner of articulation, and the voicing (whether the sound is voiced or unvoiced).

What is the difference between active and passive articulators?

Active articulators are the parts of the vocal tract that move to produce a sound, such as the tip of the tongue. Passive articulators are the stationary parts that the active articulators move towards, such as the alveolar ridge.

What is the place of articulation for the sound 'D'?

The place of articulation for the sound 'D' is the alveolar ridge, where the tip of the tongue touches the ridge behind the upper front teeth.

What are labial sounds and how are they produced?

Labial sounds are produced with both lips together, such as in the sounds 'B', 'P', and 'M'. They involve the lips as the active articulator and are produced by bringing both lips together.

How do you produce a dental sound, and what is an example?

Dental sounds are produced with the lower lip against the upper teeth, as in the sounds 'F' and 'V'. An example of a dental sound is the 'F' in 'fun'.

What is the difference between alveolar and postalveolar sounds?

Alveolar sounds are produced with the tip of the tongue touching the alveolar ridge. Postalveolar sounds are produced just behind the alveolar ridge, with the tongue raised towards the middle part of the palate.

What is the place of articulation for the 'R' sound in American English?

The 'R' sound in American English is produced with a retroflex articulation, where the tip of the tongue is curved back just behind the alveolar ridge.

How is the 'Y' sound produced and where is it articulated?

The 'Y' sound is produced by raising the middle part of the tongue to the hard palate. It is a palatal sound.

What is the place of articulation for the 'G' sound and how is it different from 'C'?

The 'G' sound is articulated at the back of the tongue against the soft palate, making it a velar sound. The 'C' sound, when pronounced as in 'cat', is also velar but is unvoiced, whereas 'G' is voiced.

What are glottal sounds and where are they articulated?

Glottal sounds are produced at the glottis, which is the space between the vocal cords. The two glottal sounds in English are the glottal fricative and the glottal stop.

What does it mean when a sound is described as labialized, and what is an example?

A labialized sound is produced with both lips rounded. An example is the 'W' sound, which is labialized velar because it involves both lip rounding and the back of the tongue moving towards the soft palate.