2. What is a consonant sound?
A consonant sound, whether in English or
Arabic, is produced by shaping, stopping or
blocking the air stream as it passes through the
nose or mouth.
The position of the articulators will affect the
consonant sound.
A consonant sound can be voiced or voiceless.
3. According to point of articulation
English consonants are one of the
following:
The Plosive Stops:
The air is stopped and then released. but with a
great force. English has six plosives:
Point of Lips Tongue in Tongue tip
articulation together back behind
upper teeth
/p/ /k/ /t/
/b/ /g/ /d/
4. The Nasals:
Sounds produce when the air flow is blocked in
the mouth and escaped through the nasal cavity
instead of the mouth cavity.
Point of Lips Tongue Tongue back
articulation together behind teeth of mouth
/m/ /n/ /ŋ/
5. The Fricatives :
Fricatives: Articulators come close together but
do not stop the flow of air completely; the air is
squeezed out causing friction.
Point of Lower Lip Tongue Tongue Tongue behind Glottal
articulation and upper with upper behind alveolar area
front teeth front teeth the
teeth
/f/, /v/ /ð/,/ө/ /s/,/z/ /3/, /∫/ /h/
6. The Affricates :
Affricates are really a plosive and a fricative
combined. The air is initially blocked, and then
released through a narrow passageway like a
fricative.
Point of Tongue behind alveolar
articulation area
/t∫/, /d3/
7. The Approximants:
Approximants are a bit of a hotchpotch category.
In producing the approximants the articulator
approach each other without having a real contact
to allow the air escapes with no audible plosion or
friction.
Point of Lips Tongue Tongue front
articulation together behind teeth of mouth
/w/ /r/ /j/
8. The Lateral
Lateral sound is produced through the sides of the
tongue instead of its centre the usual way of producing
the other consonants
Point of articulation Tongue behind teeth
/l/
