CONSONANTS

All the consonants are consonants according to the type of articulation - a consonant sound is
one in which the air flow is cut off, either partially or completely, when it is produced.

But there are five criteria/distinctive features, and the type of articulation is just the first one:
I Type of articulation (consonant)
II Manner of articulation
III Place of articulation
IV Voicing
V Force of articulation.

II According to the manner of articulation, the consonants are divided into the following groups or
categories:
(6) PLOSIVES: /pb td kg/
(9) FRICATIVES: /fv sz s∫ θð h/
(2) AFFRICATES: /t∫ dʒ/
(3) NASALS: /m n ŋ/
(1) LATERAL(S): /l /
(3) APPROXIMANTS: /r j w/
III According to the place of articulation all the consonants are divided into:
1. BILABIAL
2. LABIO-DENTAL
3. DENTAL
4. ALVEOLAR
5. POST-ALVEOLAR
6. PALATAL
7. VELAR
IV According to their voicing all the consonants can be voiced (the vocal cords are included in
their production) and voiceless (the vocal cords are passive).

V According to the force of articulation all the consonants can be fortis (when the force is used
to be produced) and lenis (when no force is used to be produced).
Actually, for the consonants to be produced we need either the force, or the vocal cords. So, if
the vocal cords are active – voiced consonants, the consonants are lenis. If the vocal cords are
passive – voiceless consonants, the consonants are fortis.
 PLOSIVES
/p/
DISTINCTIVE FEATURES
Type of articulation Consonant
Manner of articulation Plosive
Place of articulation Bilabial
Voicing Voiceless
Force of articulation Fortis

/b/
DISTINCTIVE FEATURES
Type of articulation Consonant
Manner of articulation Plosive
Place of articulation Bilabial
Voicing Voiced
Force of articulation Lenis

/t/
DISTINCTIVE FEATURES
Type of articulation Consonant
Manner of articulation Plosive
Place of articulation Alveolar
Voicing Voiceless
Force of articulation Fortis

/d/
DISTINCTIVE FEATURES
Type of articulation Consonant
Manner of articulation Plosive
Place of articulation Alveolar
Voicing Voiced
Force of articulation Lenis

/k/
DISTINCTIVE FEATURES
Type of articulation Consonant
Manner of articulation Plosive
Place of articulation Velar
Voicing Voiceless
Force of articulation Fortis

/g/
DISTINCTIVE FEATURES
Type of articulation Consonant
Manner of articulation Plosive
Place of articulation Velar
Voicing Voiced
Force of articulation Lenis
 FRICATIVES

/f/
DISTINCTIVE FEATURES
Type of articulation Consonant
Manner of articulation Fricative
Place of articulation Labio-dental
Voicing Voiceless
Force of articulation Fortis

/v/
DISTINCTIVE FEATURES
Type of articulation Consonant
Manner of articulation Fricative
Place of articulation Labio-dental
Voicing Voiced
Force of articulation Lenis

/s/
DISTINCTIVE FEATURES
Type of articulation Consonant
Manner of articulation Fricative
Place of articulation Alveolar
Voicing Voiceless
Force of articulation Fortis

/z/
DISTINCTIVE FEATURES
Type of articulation Consonant
Manner of articulation Fricative
Place of articulation Alveolar
Voicing Voiced
Force of articulation Lenis

/ʃ/
DISTINCTIVE FEATURES
Type of articulation Consonant
Manner of articulation Fricative
Place of articulation Post-alveolar (or palato-alveolar)
Voicing Voiceless
Force of articulation Fortis
/ʒ/
DISTINCTIVE FEATURES
Type of articulation Consonant
Manner of articulation Fricative
Place of articulation Post-alveolar ( or palato-alveolar)
Voicing Voiced
Force of articulation Lenis
 /θ/
DISTINCTIVE FEATURES
Type of articulation Consonant
Manner of articulation Fricative
Place of articulation (inter)-dental
Voicing Voiceless
Force of articulation Fortis
/ð/
DISTINCTIVE FEATURES
Type of articulation Consonant
Manner of articulation Fricative
Place of articulation (inter)-dental
Voicing Voiced
Force of articulation Lenis
/h/
DISTINCTIVE FEATURES
Type of articulation Consonant
Manner of articulation Fricative
Place of articulation Glottal
Voicing Voiceless
Force of articulation Fortis

AFFRICATES
/ʧ/
DISTINCTIVE FEATURES
Type of articulation Consonant
Manner of articulation Affricate
Place of articulation Post-alveolar
Voicing Voiceless
Force of articulation Fortis

/ʤ/
DISTINCTIVE FEATURES
Type of articulation Consonant
Manner of articulation Affricate
Place of articulation Post-alveolar
Voicing Voiced
Force of articulation Lenis

NASALS
/m/
DISTINCTIVE FEATURES

Type of articulation Consonant

Manner of articulation Nasal
Place of articulation Bilabial
Voicing Voiced
Force of articulation Lenis
 /n/
DISTINCTIVE FEATURES
Type of articulation Consonant
Manner of articulation Nasal
Place of articulation Alveolar
Voicing Voiced
Force of articulation Lenis
/ŋ/
DISTINCTIVE FEATURES
Type of articulation Consonant
Manner of articulation Nasal
Place of articulation Velar
Voicing Voiced
Force of articulation Lenis

LATERAL
/l/
DISTINCTIVE FEATURES
Type of articulation Consonant
Manner of articulation Lateral
Place of articulation Alveolar
Voicing Voiced
Force of articulation Lenis
NB: silent l talk, should, calm, folk

APPROXIMANTS
/r/
DISTINCTIVE FEATURES
Type of articulation Consonant
Manner of articulation Approximant
Place of articulation Post-alveolar (palato-alveolar)/ retroflex
Voicing Voiced
Force of articulation Lenis
/j/
DISTINCTIVE FEATURES
Type of articulation Consonant
Manner of articulation Approximant
Place of articulation Palatal
Voicing Voiced
Force of articulation Lenis

/w/
DISTINCTIVE FEATURES
Type of articulation Consonant
Manner of articulation Approximant
Place of articulation Labial-velar
Voicing Voiced
Force of articulation Lenis