Phonetics:

The Sounds of Language

CONSONANT SOUNDS
Places of
Articulation
Voicing

 Voiced: The glottal state in which the vocal

folds are brought close together but not
tightly closed, causing air passing through
them to vibrate.
 [b], [d], [g], [v], [ð], [z], [ʒ], [dʒ], [m], [n], [ŋ], [l], [r],
[w], [y]
Voicing

 Voiceless: The glottal state in which the

vocal folds are pulled apart, allowing air to
pass directly through the glottis.
 [p], [t], [k], [f], [θ], [s], [ʃ], [tʃ]
Places of Articulation

 Bilabial  [p], [b], [m], [w]

 Labiodental  [f], [v]

 Interdental  [θ], [ð]

 Alveolar  [t], [d], [s], [z], [l], [n]

Places of Articulation

 Palatal  [ʃ], [ʒ], [tʃ ], [dʒ], [r], [y]

 Velar  [k], [g], [ŋ ],

 Glottal  [h]

So, how many consonant sounds are there

in English Language? 24
For each of the following pairs of sounds, state whether the place
of articulation is the same or different. Then identify the place of
articulation.

a. [s] : [l] a. Alveolar : Alveolar

b. [k] : [ŋ] b. Velar : Velar
c. [p] : [g] c. Bilabial : Velar
d. [t] : [z] d. Alveolar : Alveolar
e. [m] : [n] e. Bilabial : Alveolar
f. [dʒ ] : [ʃ] f. Palatal : Palatal
g. [ f ] : [h] g. Labiodental : Glottal
Manner of Articulation
 Plosive (Stop): Complete and momentary
closure of airflow through the vocal tract.
 [p], [t], [k], [b], [d], [g]

 Nasal: The airflow passes through the nasal

passages.
 [n], [m], [ŋ]

 Fricative: Continuous airflow through the mouth.

 [f], [v], [s], [z], [θ], [ð], [ʃ], [ʒ ], [h]
Manner of Articulation
 Affricate: The stop articulation is released and
the tongue moves rapidly away.
 [tʃ], [dʒ]

 Liquid: Air escapes through the mouth along the

lowered sides of the tongue.
 [l], [r]

 Glide: semi-consonants.
 [ y ], [w]
For each of the following pairs of sounds, state whether
the manner of articulation is the same or different. Then
identify the manner of articulation for each sound.

a. [s] : [θ ] a. Fricative : Fricative

b. [k] : [g] b. Stop : Stop
c. [w] : [ y ] c. Glide : Glide
d. [ f ] : [ʃ] d. Fricative : Fricative
e. [l] : [t] e. Liquid : Stop
f. [ð] : [v] f. Fricative : Fricative
g. [tʃ] : [s] g. Affricate : Fricative
Phonetic Description

 When describing phonemes:

 voicing is first
 place of articulation is second

 manner of articulation is third

[p] voiceless bilabial stop

[v] voiced labiodental fricative
After each of the following articulatory descriptions, write the
sound described in phonetic brackets.

a. Voiceless velar stop a. [k]

b. Voiced labiodental fricative b. [v]
c. Voiced alveolar affricate c. [dʒ]
d. Voiced palatal glide d. [y]
After each of the following sounds, write the
articulatory description.

a. [ŋ] a. Voiced velar nasal

b. [θ] b. Voiceless interdental fricative
c. [r] c. Voiced palatal liquid
d. [tʃ] d. Voiceless palatal affricate