Consonants and Vowels The distinction between consonants and vowels is made in the following manner if the air, once out of the glottis, is allowed to pass freely through the resonators, the sound is a vowel if the air, once out of the glottis, is obstructed partially or totally, in one or more places, the sound is a consonant Before proceeding, it should be noted that the line between vowels and consonants cannot be clearly drawn; a continuum exists between the two extremes There are also intermediate instances such as the semi-vowels and the (frictionless) spirants 2021/2/23
2021/2/23 6 Consonants and Vowels • The distinction between consonants and vowels is made in the following manner: – if the air, once out of the glottis, is allowed to pass freely through the resonators, the sound is a vowel; – if the air, once out of the glottis, is obstructed, partially or totally, in one or more places, the sound is a consonant. • Before proceeding, it should be noted that the line between vowels and consonants cannot be clearly drawn; a continuum exists between the two extremes. There are also intermediate instances, such as the semi-vowels and the (frictionless) spirants
Places of articulation The place of articulation refers to where the narrowing occurs - which active articulator gets close to which passive articulator. In other words, the place of articulation is the point where the airstream is obstructed. In general, the place of articulation is simply that point on the palate where the tongue is placed to block the stream of air 2021/2/23
2021/2/23 7 Places of Articulation • The place of articulation refers to where the narrowing occurs -- which active articulator gets close to which passive articulator. In other words, the place of articulation is the point where the airstream is obstructed. In general, the place of articulation is simply that point on the palate where the tongue is placed to block the stream of air
The place of articulation can be any of the followin g the lips(labials and bilabials) the teeth( dentals) the lips and teeth (labio-dentals -- here the tongue is not directly involved) the al veolar ridge(that part of the gums behind the upper front teeth--alveolar articulations) the hard palate(given its large size, one can distinguish between palato-alveolars, palatals and palato-velars the soft palate(or velum - velar articulations the uvula(uvulars the pharynx (pharyngeals the glottis glottals) 2021/2/23
2021/2/23 8 • The place of articulation can be any of the following: – the lips (labials and bilabials), – the teeth (dentals), – the lips and teeth (labio-dentals -- here the tongue is not directly involved), – the alveolar ridge (that part of the gums behind the upper front teeth -- alveolar articulations), – the hard palate (given its large size, one can distinguish between palato-alveolars, palatals and palato-velars), – the soft palate (or velum -- velar articulations), – the uvula (uvulars), – the pharynx (pharyngeals), – the glottis (glottals)
Bilabial(双唇音) The articulators are the two lips. We could say that the lower lip is the active articulator and the upper lip the passive articulator. though the upper lip usually moves too, at least a little.) English bilabial sounds include [p] [bl, and ml 2021/2/23
2021/2/23 9 Balabial （双唇音） • The articulators are the two lips. (We could say that the lower lip is the active articulator and the upper lip the passive articulator, though the upper lip usually moves too, at least a little.) English bilabial sounds include [p], [b], and [m]
Labio-dental(唇齿音) The lower lip is the active articulator and the upper teeth are the passive articulator English labio-dental sounds include f and 2021/2/23 10
2021/2/23 10 Labio-dental （唇齿音） • The lower lip is the active articulator and the upper teeth are the passive articulator. English labio-dental sounds include [f] and [v]