MANNERS OF ARTICULATION

When talking about the mannerin which sounds are produced, phoneticians

sometimes divide the sounds into different categories, depending on the degree of stricture. Generally, three such degrees are proposed: closure(i.e. at some point in the vocal tract, the

airflow is completely stopped), close approximation (involving a constriction somewhere in the vocal tract, with the air being forced through the opening), and open approximation

(sounds in which the airflow is smooth: e.g. vocoids). Additional distinctions include whether the air flows through the nose (nasal), or not (oral), whether it runs along the centre or the

sides of the tongue (central vs. lateral), as well as the wayin which the closure is made. The IPA recognizes the following manners of articulation.

1. Plosives(or occlusives)

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): e.g. /p, b, t, d, k, g/.

2. Fricatives(or spirants) A close approximation of two articulators so that the airstream is partially obstructed,

resulting in friction (or turbulence) in the flow of air: e.g. /f, T, s, z/. The hissing sounds in this category are also calledsibilants. English fricatives can be labiodental, dental,

alveolar, or palat-alveolar. A combination of a plosiveand a fricative is called an affricate. In these sounds, the separation of the articulators in the release phase is slower

than for ordinary plosives, and thus gives rise to friction. These sounds can be heard in the English words church (/tSIutS/) and jam (//dZQm/), for instance. The plosives, fricatives,

and affricates are sometimes collectively referred to as obstruents.

3. Nasals

These are sounds in which the velumis lowered, while at the same time, there is an obstruction in the oral cavity: e.g. man (/mQn/). Some modern phoneticians place both

nasals and plosives into one single stopscategory on the grounds that both involve a total obstruction of the airflow, which thus takes precedence over any secondary phenomena

that may surround the stoppage. 4. Trill(or roll)

A series of rapid closures or taps (20 to 30 times per second), with, for instance, the tongue tip tapping against the alveolar ride (e.g. the Spanish /r/ in perro), or the uvula

tapping against the back of the tongue (e.g. the French /{/, which is the usual ‘r’ sound in most Belgian French varieties).

5. Lateral These sounds involve an obstruction of the airstream at some point in the mouth (usually in the denti-alveolar region and along the centre), with the air being allowed to escape on

one or both sides of the tongue: e.g. /l/in the English word lip. 6. Flap/Tap

A sound resulting from the quick flapping of the tip of the tongue against some place of articulation on the upper surface of the oral cavity, commonly the alveolum. This is the

usual General American pronunciation of /t/ in, for instance, metal [EmeR«l], and can also be heard in the Spanish [EpeRo]. Sometimes, however, a distinction must be made between

a tapand a flap, with the latter involving the tip of the tongue striking the alveolar ridge as it returns to its normal position, as there are languages (e.g. Hausa in Nigeria) in which

Date: 2016-01-03; view: 830