PLACES OF ARTICULATION

Apart from the behavior of the vocal cords, sounds can also be distinguishedas to where in the oral cavity they are articulated (i.e. where in the mouth there is most obstruction when they are pronounced). This location of where the sounds are produced is called known as “articulation”.

There are eight places of articulation. Let’s take a look at them in detail.

Bilabial sounds are produced when the lips are brought together.Examples are /p/, which is voiceless, as in pay or /b/ and /m/ which arevoiced, as in bay, may.

Bilabial articulation

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Labiodental sounds are made when the lower lip is raised towards theupper front teeth. Examples are /f/ safe (voiceless) and /v/ save(voiced).

Labiodental fricative

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Dental sounds are produced by touching the upper front teeth withthe tip of the tongue. Examples are / / oath (voiceless) and / / clothe(voiced).

Dental fricative

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Alveolar sounds are made by raising the tip of the tongue towards the ridgethat is right behind the upper front teeth, called the alveolar ridge. Examplesare /t/,/s/ too, sue, both voiceless, and /d/,/z/,/n/,/l/,/r/ do, zoo, nook, look, rook,all voiced.

Alveolar articulation/ / / /

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Palatoalveolar sounds are made by raising the blade of the tongue towardsthe part of the palate just behind the alveolar ridge. Examples / /, / /pressure,batch (voiceless) and / /, / / pleasure, badge (voiced).

Palato-alveolar fricative/ / / / / / / /

Palatal sounds are very similar to palatoalveolar ones, they are just producedfurther back towards the velum. The only palatal sound in English is /j/ asin yes, yellow, beauty, new and it is voiced.

Palatal/ /

Velar sounds are made by raising the back of the tongue towards the softpalate, called the velum. Examples /k/ back, voiceless, and /g/, / / both voicedbag, bang. /w/ is a velar which is accompanied with lip rounding.

Velar articulation/ / / / / / / /

Glottal sounds are produced when the air passes through the glottis as it isnarrowed: /h/ as in high.

Glottal

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*Adapted from: Forel, A and Puskás, G (2005) Phonetics and Phonology: Reader for First Year English Linguistics. University of Geneva.

*Presentation designed by: Manuel R. Medina (2014)