Phonetics and Phonology
Chapter 4—IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) Consonants,
Vowels, Suprasegmental Symbols (stress, Tone)
Study Materials: Comprehensive Notes, Summaries, Key
Terms for Exam Success, Admission Tests, and Interviews by Syeda Sumaira Tabassum
Syeda Sumaira Tabassum
(The Ultimate Success Notes: Your shortcut to exam, admission test, and interview success.
Includes focused study guides, quick summaries, and must-know key terms)
Phonetics and Phonology
Chapter 4: The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet)
Lesson 1: Consonant Symbols
An In-Depth Exploration of Sounds, Symbols, and Linguistic Significance
Introduction
Language is a complex system of communication comprising various sounds, symbols, and
structures. Among these fundamental elements are consonants, which form the backbone of
most spoken languages. Understanding consonants and their symbols is essential for linguistic
studies, phonetics, language learning, and phonology.
This lesson aims to provide a detailed, comprehensive overview of consonants, exploring their
articulatory features, classification, how they are represented using symbols—especially within
the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)—and their significance in languages worldwide. By the
end of this course, students will have a solid grasp of foundational concepts, classification
systems, and the importance of consonant symbols.
1. Definition of Consonants
Consonants are speech sounds produced by obstructing or constricting airflow in the vocal tract.
Unlike vowels, which are produced with a relatively open vocal tract allowing free airflow,
consonants involve some form of closure, narrowing, or friction.
1.1 Characteristics of Consonants
, Obstruction of airflow in the vocal tract
Often involve articulatory features such as placement and manner
Frequently accompanied by vocal cord vibration (voicing)
Used in syllables alongside vowels to create meaningful words
1.2 Contrast with Vowels
Vowels are produced with a relatively unobstructed vocal tract and serve as the core of syllables,
whereas consonants frame vowels or occur in clusters.
2. Articulatory Features of Consonants
The production of consonant sounds depends largely on two core articulatory features:
2.1 Place of Articulation
The location within the vocal tract where the airflow constricts.
Place of Articulation Description Examples
Bilabial Both lips come /p/, /b/, /m/
together
Dental Tongue against /θ/ (as in think), /ð/
upper teeth (as in this)
Alveolar Tongue against /t/, /d/, /s/, /z/
alveolar ridge
Post-alveolar Just behind alveolar /ʃ/ (ship), /ʒ/
ridge (measure)
Palatal Tongue against hard /j/ as in yes
palate
Velar Back of tongue /k/, /g/, /ŋ/ (sing)
against soft palate
Glottal Glottis (space /h/, /ʔ/ (glottal stop)
between vocal
cords)
2.2 Manner of Articulation
, The way airflow is modified during production.
Manner of Articulation Description Examples
Stops (Plosives) Complete blockage of /p/, /b/, /t/, /d/, /k/, /g/
airflow followed by
release
Fricatives Narrowing of the vocal /f/, /v/, /θ/, /ð/, /s/, /z/, /ʃ/, /
tract creating friction ʒ/, /h/
Affricates A combination of stop /tʃ/ (church), /dʒ/ (judge)
and fricative
Nasals Air flows through the /m/, /n/, /ŋ/
nasal cavity
Laterals Air flows around the /l/
sides of the tongue
Approximants Close to vowels in /j/, /w/, /r/, /l/
articulation, with limited
constriction
2.3 Voicing
When we produce sounds with our voice, some sounds are voiced, meaning the vocal cords
vibrate, and others are voiceless, meaning the vocal cords do not vibrate. Voiced sounds include
/b/, /d/, /g/, /v/, and /z/. On the other hand, voiceless sounds are /p/, /t/, /k/, /f/, and /s/.
3. Classification of Consonants
Consonants are classified based on their articulatory features into categories, which are
important for understanding phonetic transcription, language learning, and linguistic analysis.
3.1 Consonant Categories
A. Place of Articulation
B. Manner of Articulation
C. Voicing
3.2 Consonant Charts
Chapter 4—IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) Consonants,
Vowels, Suprasegmental Symbols (stress, Tone)
Study Materials: Comprehensive Notes, Summaries, Key
Terms for Exam Success, Admission Tests, and Interviews by Syeda Sumaira Tabassum
Syeda Sumaira Tabassum
(The Ultimate Success Notes: Your shortcut to exam, admission test, and interview success.
Includes focused study guides, quick summaries, and must-know key terms)
Phonetics and Phonology
Chapter 4: The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet)
Lesson 1: Consonant Symbols
An In-Depth Exploration of Sounds, Symbols, and Linguistic Significance
Introduction
Language is a complex system of communication comprising various sounds, symbols, and
structures. Among these fundamental elements are consonants, which form the backbone of
most spoken languages. Understanding consonants and their symbols is essential for linguistic
studies, phonetics, language learning, and phonology.
This lesson aims to provide a detailed, comprehensive overview of consonants, exploring their
articulatory features, classification, how they are represented using symbols—especially within
the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)—and their significance in languages worldwide. By the
end of this course, students will have a solid grasp of foundational concepts, classification
systems, and the importance of consonant symbols.
1. Definition of Consonants
Consonants are speech sounds produced by obstructing or constricting airflow in the vocal tract.
Unlike vowels, which are produced with a relatively open vocal tract allowing free airflow,
consonants involve some form of closure, narrowing, or friction.
1.1 Characteristics of Consonants
, Obstruction of airflow in the vocal tract
Often involve articulatory features such as placement and manner
Frequently accompanied by vocal cord vibration (voicing)
Used in syllables alongside vowels to create meaningful words
1.2 Contrast with Vowels
Vowels are produced with a relatively unobstructed vocal tract and serve as the core of syllables,
whereas consonants frame vowels or occur in clusters.
2. Articulatory Features of Consonants
The production of consonant sounds depends largely on two core articulatory features:
2.1 Place of Articulation
The location within the vocal tract where the airflow constricts.
Place of Articulation Description Examples
Bilabial Both lips come /p/, /b/, /m/
together
Dental Tongue against /θ/ (as in think), /ð/
upper teeth (as in this)
Alveolar Tongue against /t/, /d/, /s/, /z/
alveolar ridge
Post-alveolar Just behind alveolar /ʃ/ (ship), /ʒ/
ridge (measure)
Palatal Tongue against hard /j/ as in yes
palate
Velar Back of tongue /k/, /g/, /ŋ/ (sing)
against soft palate
Glottal Glottis (space /h/, /ʔ/ (glottal stop)
between vocal
cords)
2.2 Manner of Articulation
, The way airflow is modified during production.
Manner of Articulation Description Examples
Stops (Plosives) Complete blockage of /p/, /b/, /t/, /d/, /k/, /g/
airflow followed by
release
Fricatives Narrowing of the vocal /f/, /v/, /θ/, /ð/, /s/, /z/, /ʃ/, /
tract creating friction ʒ/, /h/
Affricates A combination of stop /tʃ/ (church), /dʒ/ (judge)
and fricative
Nasals Air flows through the /m/, /n/, /ŋ/
nasal cavity
Laterals Air flows around the /l/
sides of the tongue
Approximants Close to vowels in /j/, /w/, /r/, /l/
articulation, with limited
constriction
2.3 Voicing
When we produce sounds with our voice, some sounds are voiced, meaning the vocal cords
vibrate, and others are voiceless, meaning the vocal cords do not vibrate. Voiced sounds include
/b/, /d/, /g/, /v/, and /z/. On the other hand, voiceless sounds are /p/, /t/, /k/, /f/, and /s/.
3. Classification of Consonants
Consonants are classified based on their articulatory features into categories, which are
important for understanding phonetic transcription, language learning, and linguistic analysis.
3.1 Consonant Categories
A. Place of Articulation
B. Manner of Articulation
C. Voicing
3.2 Consonant Charts
