Phonetics

The Four Consonant Properties

Consonants vs. vowels

Consonant = has a constriction in the vocal tract We can define each consonant with 4 properties:
Place of articulation
Where is the constriction?

Manner of articulation
How much of a constriction is it?

Voiced/voiceless
Are your vocal cords vibrating?

Oral/nasal
Is your nasal passage closed or open?

The 4 properties of consonants: Place of articulation

Interactive vocal tract model
http://homes.chass.utoronto.ca/~danhall/phonetics/s ammy.html

8 places of articulation
Bilabial Labio-dental Interdental Alveolar Alveo-palatal Palatal Velar Glottal

The 4 properties of consonants: manner of articulation

How much of a constriction are you making? Stops
Complete obstruction Cant be held

Fricatives
Large obstruction, small hole for airflow Garden hose spray

Affricates
Stop + Fricative

Tap/flap Lateral liquid

Small obstruction, large hole for airflow Air escapes from the sides (lateral)

Retroflex liquid
Small obstruction, large hole for airflow Tongue tip arched backwards (or for some Americans, bunched up)

Glide
Small obstruction, large hole for airflow

The 4 properties of consonants: voiced/voiceless

Voiced = vocal cords vibrating Voiceless = vocal cords not vibrating [s] vs. [z]
sssssszzzzzzzzssssssszzzzzzz

Caution: the throat test doesnt always work

Sometimes its hard to tell if voicing is coming from the consonant or the following vowel pail

The 4 properties of consonants: oral/nasal

Oral = no air flowing through nose

Velum is closed

Nasal = air flowing through nose

Velum is open

In English, only [m], [n], []