THE ENGLISH CONSONANT SYSTEM Prepared by Riju Sharma

THE ENGLISH CONSONANT SYSTEM Prepared by: Riju Sharma Department of English Govt. P. G. College Sector-46, Chd

Definition n n A speech sound produced by either partial or complete obstruction of the air stream. Has been derived from the Greek word “Consanautem” which means the sound produced with the help of some other sound.

LIST OF CONSONANTS

The Organs of Speech

Criteria for Classification n n Nature of the air stream mechanism: Egressive pulmonic air stream mechanism. Position Of the Soft Palate: Oral sounds(if the soft palate is raised) and Nasal sounds(if the soft palate is lowered).

Criteria for Classification n The State of Glottis: Voiced(if the vocal cords are in vibration)and voiceless(if the vocal cords are wide apart).

The Articulators Involved n ACTIVE ARTICULATORS --Lower Lip and tongue. n PASSIVE ARTICULATORS --The Upper Lip, teeth, the roof of the mouth, the hard palate and the soft palate.

Classification according to the place of articulation CLASSIFICAT ARTICULATO EXAMPLES ION RS BILABIAL Upper lip and lower lip /p, b, m, w/ DENTAL Teeth and tip of the tongue Sound as in words ‘thin’ and ‘this’ LABIO-DENTAL Lower lip and upper teeth /f, v/

Place of articulation CLASSIFICATI ON ARTICULATO EXAMPLES RS ALVEOLAR Teeth /t, d, s, z, r, l, n/ ridge, tip, blade of the tongue Hard Palate /r/ and tip of the tongue POSTALVEOLAR

Place of articulation CLASSIFICAT ARTICULATO EXAMPLES ION RS PALATOALVEOLAR Hard palate, teeth ridge, tip and blade of tongue Sounds as in words “shoe”, ”pleasur e”, ”church” and” judge” PALATAL Hard palate and front of tongue /j/

Place of Articulation CLASSIFI CATION ARTICULATORS EXAMPLES VELAR Soft palate and back of the tongue /k, g/ and the sound produced in the word “sing” GLOTTAL Glottis(Vocal Cords) /h/

Classification according to the manner of articulation NAME OF THE CLASS STRICTURE INVOLVED EXAMPLES STOP Complete Closure /p, b, t, d, k, g/ AFFRICATE Closure, then slow separation Sound produced as in words’chin’an d ‘jug’

Manner of articulation NAME OF THE CLASS STRICTURE INVOLVED FRICATIVE Narrowing, resulting in audible friction EXAM PLES /f, v, s, z/ and sound produ ced in words like”th is”and ”thin”

Manner of articulation NAME OF THE CLASS STRICTURE INVOLVED EXAMPLES NASAL Complete closure in the mouth, air escapes through the nose /m, n/and the sound produced in words like’sing’’, hung ry’etc. ROLL Rapid intermittent /r/ closure

Manner of articulation NAME OF THE CLASS STRICTURE INVOLVED LATERAL Closure in the /l/ centre of the mouth; air escapes over the sides of tongue FRICTIONLESS Slight CONTINUANT narrowing, not enough to cause friction EXAMPLES /r/

Manner of articulation NAME OF THE CLASS STRICTURE INVOLVED EXAMPLES Semivowel/Semiconsonant Slight /w, j/ narrowing, not enough to cause friction

TABULATED FORM