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Distinctive Features
Distinctive Features
[consonantal] + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + – – +
[sonorant] − − − − − − − − − − − − − − + + + + + + + −
[continuant] – – – – – – + + + + + + + + + + – – – + + –
[approximant] − − − − − − − − − − − − − − + + − − − + + −
[lateral] + −
[strident] − + + − − + + + + −
PLACE L L C C D D L L C C C C C C C C L C D L C G
[anterior] + + + + + + − – + + + −
[nasal] − − − − – − − − − − − − − − − − + + + − − −
[voice] − + − + − + − + − + − + − + + + + + + + + −
[spread glottis] +
Remarks:
1. Affricates /ʧ/ and /ʤ/ are not included. They have the feature specifications [−cont, + cont].
2. Abbreviations used for place features: L = LABIAL, C = CORONAL, D = DORSAL,
G = GUTTURAL.
3. Features which are not necessary for making phonemic distinctions in English are not included.