Matakuliah : G0922/Introduction to LinguisticsTahun : 2008

Session 3Phonetics: Consonants

Bina Nusantara University 2

Learning outcomes

At the end of the lesson, students are able to :• Produce the consonant sounds using the correct place

and manner of articulation• Explain the aspects of consonant sounds• Explain the formation of consonant clusters in English

Bina Nusantara University 3

Outline

• Aspects of consonant• Places of articulations• Manners of articulations• Voiced and voiceless sounds• Consonant Clusters

Bina Nusantara University 4

Consonants

• Definition:– Consonants are sounds produced with some

obstacles. It could either completely blocked or partially blocked.

• Aspects of consonants– Voiced or voiceless– Place of articulation– Manner of articulation

Bina Nusantara University 5

Aspects of consonants

• Voiced or Voiceless Sounds

• Voiced• Speech sounds produced with the vocal cords vibrating.• E.g. /b/, /v/, /d/, /g/, / ð/,/ʒ/

• Voiceless• Speech sounds produced without vibration of the vocal cords.• E.g. /p/, /f/, /k/, /s/, /θ/, /ʃ/

Bina Nusantara University 6

Manners of articulation• Stops - plosives

– Complete and momentary closure through the vocal tract• /p/,/b/,/t/,/d/,/k/,/g/

• Fricatives– The airflow is obstructed that it causes friction

• /f/,/v/,/s/,/z/,/x/,/ ð/,/θ/, /ʃ/ ,/ʒ/

• Affricates– Produced by a stop closure followed immediately by a gradual release that

produces an effect characteristics– /tʃ/ , /dʒ/

Bina Nusantara University 7

Manners of articulation

• Nasals– Sounds produced with the velum not in the raised position and the

air escapes through both the nose and the mouth– /m/,/n/,/ŋ /

• Liquids– Laterals

• Air escapes through the mouth along the lowered sides of the tongue. When the tongue tip is raised to the dental or alveolar position, the dental or alveolar lateral are produced.

• E.g./ l/– Retroflex

• North American r is produced by curling the tongue tip back into the mouth or by bouncing the tongue upward or back in the mouth

• E.g. /r/

Bina Nusantara University 8

Manners of articulationGlides

Sounds produced by raising the tongue and pulling it back near the velum and by rounding the lips.

e.g. /w/

Bina Nusantara University 9

Consonant Clusters

• Consonant clusters in English can occur in initial and final positions.

• In initial position, the maximum number of consonants is three. The first must be /s/, the second must be /p,t,k/ and the last must be /l,r,j,w/. The pattern is CCCV.

• If there are two clusters, the first must be /p,t,k,b,g,f,v,s,h,ʃ,θ/• In final position, the maximum number is four consonants, so

the pattern is CCCVCCCC as the possible English words