Phonetics and Phonology
Chapter 5_Speech Sounds_Consonants_English
Vowels (Monophthongs)_English
Diphthongs_Weak Forms and Elision
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 5: English Speech Sound
Lesson 1: English Consonants
Mastering English Consonants: An In-Depth Guide to the Building Blocks of Speech
Introduction
Language is a fascinating human faculty, and phonetics—the study of speech sounds—is
fundamental to understanding how spoken language works. Among the components of speech
sounds, consonants form the backbone of nearly all words in English. Understanding consonants
is crucial for language learners, teachers, speech therapists, linguists, and anyone interested in
phonetics and phonology.
This lesson provides a thorough overview of English consonants, including their articulation,
classification, phonetic features, distribution, and common pronunciation challenges. By the end,
you will have a solid grasp of consonant sounds, how they are produced, and their role within the
structure of the English language.
1. What Are Consonants?
Definition:
Consonants are speech sounds produced with a significant obstruction or narrowing of the vocal
tract, which impedes airflow to some extent. Unlike vowels, which are produced with relatively
open vocal tract and continuous airflow, consonants involve constriction at one or more points in
the oral or nasal cavity.
,Examples:
The sounds /p/, /b/, /t/, /d/, /k/, /g/, and /m/ are all consonants.
Function in Language:
Consonants form the shell around vowels in syllables and are essential for distinguishing word
meanings. They can occur at the beginning, middle, or end of words.
2. Articulatory Phonetics of Consonants
The production of consonants hinges on various articulatory features, including:
Place of articulation: Where in the vocal tract the constriction occurs.
Manner of articulation: How the airflow is constricted.
Voicing: Whether the vocal cords vibrate during the articulation.
2.1. Place of Articulation
Categories:
Category Description Example Sounds Example Words
Bilabial Both lips come /p/, /b/, /m/ pat, bat, mat
together
Labiodental Lower lip and upper /f/, /v/ fan, van
teeth
Dental / Interdental Tongue against teeth /θ/ (voiceless), /ð/ think, this
(voiced)
Alveolar Tongue against alveolar /t/, /d/, /s/, /z/, /n/, /l/ top, dip, sit, zero, nap,
ridge lap
Post-alveolar / Palato- Tongue just behind /ʃ/ (ship), /ʒ/ (measure), ship, measure, chat,
alveolar alveolar ridge /tʃ/ (chair), /dʒ/ (judge) judge
Velar Back of tongue against /k/, /g/, /ŋ/ kite, go, sing
soft palate
Glottal Closure at the glottis /h/ hat
2. Manner of Articulation
, Type Description Example Sounds Examples
Plosive / Stop Complete obstruction /p/, /b/, /t/, /d/, /k/, /g/ pat, bat, tap, dip, kit,
of airflow, then release good
Nasal Air passes through the /m/, /n/, /ŋ/ man, nice, sing
nose
Fricative Partial obstruction, /f/, /v/, /θ/, /ð/, /s/, /z/, /ʃ/, / fan, van, think, this, sip,
continuous airflow ʒ/, /h/ zoo, ship, measure, hat
Affricate Combination of stop /tʃ/, /dʒ/ chat, judge
and fricative
Approximant Articulators approach /r/, /j/, /w/, /l/ red, yes, water, lap
but do not touch
3. Voicing
Sound Voicing Example Words
/p/ Voiceless pat
/b/ Voiced bat
/t/ Voiceless top
/d/ Voiced dip
Note: /t/ (voiceless) and /d/
(voiced) form a pair in
voicing.
Definition:
Voiced: Vocal cords vibrate during sound production.
Voiceless: Vocal cords do not vibrate; airflow is only obstructed by articulators.
Chapter 5_Speech Sounds_Consonants_English
Vowels (Monophthongs)_English
Diphthongs_Weak Forms and Elision
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 5: English Speech Sound
Lesson 1: English Consonants
Mastering English Consonants: An In-Depth Guide to the Building Blocks of Speech
Introduction
Language is a fascinating human faculty, and phonetics—the study of speech sounds—is
fundamental to understanding how spoken language works. Among the components of speech
sounds, consonants form the backbone of nearly all words in English. Understanding consonants
is crucial for language learners, teachers, speech therapists, linguists, and anyone interested in
phonetics and phonology.
This lesson provides a thorough overview of English consonants, including their articulation,
classification, phonetic features, distribution, and common pronunciation challenges. By the end,
you will have a solid grasp of consonant sounds, how they are produced, and their role within the
structure of the English language.
1. What Are Consonants?
Definition:
Consonants are speech sounds produced with a significant obstruction or narrowing of the vocal
tract, which impedes airflow to some extent. Unlike vowels, which are produced with relatively
open vocal tract and continuous airflow, consonants involve constriction at one or more points in
the oral or nasal cavity.
,Examples:
The sounds /p/, /b/, /t/, /d/, /k/, /g/, and /m/ are all consonants.
Function in Language:
Consonants form the shell around vowels in syllables and are essential for distinguishing word
meanings. They can occur at the beginning, middle, or end of words.
2. Articulatory Phonetics of Consonants
The production of consonants hinges on various articulatory features, including:
Place of articulation: Where in the vocal tract the constriction occurs.
Manner of articulation: How the airflow is constricted.
Voicing: Whether the vocal cords vibrate during the articulation.
2.1. Place of Articulation
Categories:
Category Description Example Sounds Example Words
Bilabial Both lips come /p/, /b/, /m/ pat, bat, mat
together
Labiodental Lower lip and upper /f/, /v/ fan, van
teeth
Dental / Interdental Tongue against teeth /θ/ (voiceless), /ð/ think, this
(voiced)
Alveolar Tongue against alveolar /t/, /d/, /s/, /z/, /n/, /l/ top, dip, sit, zero, nap,
ridge lap
Post-alveolar / Palato- Tongue just behind /ʃ/ (ship), /ʒ/ (measure), ship, measure, chat,
alveolar alveolar ridge /tʃ/ (chair), /dʒ/ (judge) judge
Velar Back of tongue against /k/, /g/, /ŋ/ kite, go, sing
soft palate
Glottal Closure at the glottis /h/ hat
2. Manner of Articulation
, Type Description Example Sounds Examples
Plosive / Stop Complete obstruction /p/, /b/, /t/, /d/, /k/, /g/ pat, bat, tap, dip, kit,
of airflow, then release good
Nasal Air passes through the /m/, /n/, /ŋ/ man, nice, sing
nose
Fricative Partial obstruction, /f/, /v/, /θ/, /ð/, /s/, /z/, /ʃ/, / fan, van, think, this, sip,
continuous airflow ʒ/, /h/ zoo, ship, measure, hat
Affricate Combination of stop /tʃ/, /dʒ/ chat, judge
and fricative
Approximant Articulators approach /r/, /j/, /w/, /l/ red, yes, water, lap
but do not touch
3. Voicing
Sound Voicing Example Words
/p/ Voiceless pat
/b/ Voiced bat
/t/ Voiceless top
/d/ Voiced dip
Note: /t/ (voiceless) and /d/
(voiced) form a pair in
voicing.
Definition:
Voiced: Vocal cords vibrate during sound production.
Voiceless: Vocal cords do not vibrate; airflow is only obstructed by articulators.
