1.

Definition
Consonant sounds are the sounds in the productions of which two articulators come together
that the air stream is obstructed and cannot get out freely.
2. Classification
a. Place of articulation:
Places Articulators Examples
Bilabial Upperlip + lower lip /p/, /b/, /m/, /w/
Labiodental Lower lip + upper teeth f/, /v/
Dental Teeth + tongue /θ/, /ð/
Aveolar Aveolar rigde + tongue /t/, /d/, /n/, /s/, /z/, /l/, /r/
Postalveolar Hard palatal aveolar ridge + tongue /ʃ/, /ʒ/, /tʃ/, /dʒ/
Palatal Hard palatal + tongue /j/
Velar Soft palatal + tongue /k/, /g/, /ŋ/
Glottal Vocal cords /h/
b. Manner of articulation:
- Plosives/stop ( complete closure + sudden release) /p/, /b/, /t/, /d/, /k/, /g/
- Fricatives ( narrowing resulting in audible friction) /f/, /v/, /θ/, /ð/, /s/, /z/, /ʃ/, /ʒ/, /h/
- Affricates (closure + slow separation) /tʃ/, /dʒ/
- Nasals ( complete closure + air escape through nose /m/, /n/, /ŋ/
- Liquid ( closure in mouth centre + air escape at tongue sides) /l/, /r/
- Approximants ( slight narrowing but not enough to cause friction) /w/, /j/
c. Voicing
- Voiced /b/, /d/, /g/, /v/, /ð/, /z/, /ʒ/, /dʒ/, /m/, /n/, /l/, /r/, /w/, /j/, /ŋ/
- Voiceless /p/, /t/, /k/, /f/, /θ/, /s/, /ʃ/, /h/, /tʃ/
In linguistics, fortis and lenis are term generally used to refer to group of consonants that are
produced with greater or less energy
- Voiceless consonants are called fortis which means strong energetic.
- Voiced consonants are called lenis which means soft, weak
Voiced/voiceless consonants are distinguished not only by the presense or absence of voice
but also by the degree of breath and muscular effort involved in the articulation.
CLASSIFICATION OF CONSONANTS IN SUMMARY
Bilabial Labio Dental Alveolar Palato- Palatal Velar Glottal
dental aveolar/
post
alveolar
Stop/ -p, +b -t, +d -k, +g
plosives
Fricative -f, +v -θ, + ð -s, +z -ʃ+ʒ -h
Affricative -tʃ, +dʒ
Nasal +m +n +ŋ
Lateral +l
Approximant +w +r +j
 3. Vowels and consonants in comparision
In terms of distribution
Vowels Consonants
Always in the centre of syllable At the margins before/ after the words
Are produced with no obstraction to the air Are produced with onstruction of the air
stream flow so the airstream can’t get out freely
Are more sonorous Are less sonorous
Are voiced Are either voiced or voiceless
Are syllabic Are generally hot syllabic
Theory
Revise
● Definition of phonetics and phonology
Phonetics:
+ Study of speech sound
+ Branch of linguistic studying like the production, the physical characteristic, the
perception of speech sound
Phonology:
+ Study of the description of the distinctive sound units and their relationship to one
another.
+ Study of the phonemic system.
+ Sequences and syllable structure, suprasegmental phonology(stress, intonation)
● Phonetics vs phonology
Phonetics:
Study three main areas:
+ articulatory: studies how speech sounds are produced using articulators (the part of
the body involved in producing speech sounds)
+ acoustic phonetic: study the speech signals, dealing with the transmission of speech
sound through air
+ auditory phonetics: how speech sounds are perceived by the listener
Phonology:
+ Study of the phonemic system.
+ Sequences and syllable structure
+ suprasegmental phonology(stress, intonation)
● The system of articulators

● The production of speech sounds

 + vowel sound vd i….
- none of the articulators come together
- airstream get out freely
+ consonant sounds vd b,f,g,w,k
- two articulators come together
- air stream can’t get out freely
+ nasal sounds m,n ng
- sound abstract in oral cavity
- the soft palate lower => airstream get out from the nose
+ oral sound vd b,g,s th
- the soft palate raised -> blocking nasal cavity
- air get out through the mouth => oral sound
+ voice sounds vd b,d,z,v
- the vocal cords come together
- the vocal cords vibrants
- airstream can’t get out freely
+ voiceless sound vd p, s,k,sh
- vocal cords come apart
- air stream go out freely between them
 the vocal cords do not vibrate
Read about English vowel sounds
● Definition
Definition: Vowels are the sounds in the production of which none of the articulators come
very close together so the air can get out freely.
Vowels are sounds in which there is no obstruction to airstream /air flow when it passes
from the larynx to the lips.
Ex: /æ/, / ə /, / u:/, /i:/
● Classification
MONOPHTHONGS
a. Definition Monophthongs are pure vowel sounds in which the speech organs remain
in the same position throughout the duration of the vowel’s articulation.
b. Classification
12 monophthongs are classified in terms of
1. The position of the tongue
Front vowels : are those in the production of which the front of the tongue is the highest
point.
e.g. /i:/ /e/ desk
Back vowels: are those in the production of which the back of the tongue is the highest
point.
e.g. /u:/ or vd store
Central vowels : are those made with neither the front nor the back of the tongue. The
tongue is neither high nor low in the mouth when central vowels are produced.
e.g. /ʌ/ vd skirt
2. The height of tongue
1. high vowels: are those in the production of which the tongue is high in the mouth.
It is raised above its rest position.
e.g. /u:/
2. low vowels : are those made with the tongue is low in the mouth
e.g.: / æ/
3. mid vowels : are those made with the tongue neither high nor low in the mouth.
e.g.:/ ɔ:/
3. The degree of lip rounding
1. rounded vowels: are those made with rounded lips. The corners of
the lips are brought towards each other and the lips are pushed forwards.
e.g. /ʊ/ /u:/ /ɔː/ /ɒ/
2. unrounded vowels.: are those made with the lips spread. The corners
of the lips are moved away from each other as for a smile.
e.g. /e/ /æ/ /i:/ /ɪ/
3. neutral vowels: are those made with the lips neither rounded nor
spread.
e.g. /ə/ /ɜː/ /ɑː/ /ʌ/
4. The length of vowels
- Long monophthong vowel with long pronunciation
- short monothongs are short vowels
5. The vertical distance between tongue and the roof of mouth.
(1) close vowels
(2) Half-open
(3) half-close
(4) Open
2. DIPHTHONGS
a. Definition
▪ Sounds that consist of 2 movements from one vowel to another.
▪ The first part of a diphthong is always stronger and longer than the
second part. As a result, the second part is shorter and quieter.

Centring diphthongs Diphthongs glide from the centering position to more central position

Closing diphthongs Diphthongs glide from a open to a closer position

3. TRIPHTHONGS
a. Definition- Sounds that consist of a movement or glide from one vowel to another
and then to the third
- There are 5 triphthongs composed of the 5 closing diphthongs and /ə/ added at the end