ENGLISH CONSONANTS

I> Structure of the larynx & 4 different position of the glottis II> Definition of & differences among consonants III> Consonant sounds III.1> Plosives (stops) III.2> Fricatives III.3> Affricates III.4> Nasals III.5> Lateral III.6> Approximants

III.2> Fricatives
III.2.1> Definition III.2.2> Classification III.2.3> Characteristics

III.2.1> Definition

Air passage from the lungs is not always completely stopped. In many cases, the air moves through a narrow passageway created when the articulatory organs approach but do not touch each other. The air being forced through this passage causes friction. We call the resulting sound a fricative. [Celce-Murcia et al., 2002: 44] Sounds with the characteristic that, when they are produced, air escapes through a small passage & makes a hissing sound. [Roach, P., 2000:48]

III.2.2> Classification

09 fricative consonants they are created when the air goes through and is restricted by the narrowing passing formed by the following articulators: the lower lip and the upper front teeth for /f, v/; the tongue tip and the tooth ridge for /s, z/; the tongue and the teeth for /8, 5/ the tongue blade and the back part of the tooth ridge and the front part of the hard palate for /~, 2/; and the narrow opening of the vocal cords for /h/. [Celce-Murcia et al., 2002: 44]

Articulation of labio-dental fricatives Lower lip is in contact with the upper teeth. Velum is raised. Noise is never very strong.

Articulation of dental fricatives/apico-dental fricatives Tongue is placed behind the teeth Velum is raised

Articulation of alveolar fricatives

Tongue tip is close to the alveolar ridge with spread lips Air escapes trough a narrow passage along the center of the tongue Sound produced is quite tense Velum is raised

Articulation of post-alveolar fricatives

Tongue is in contact with an area slightly further back than that for /s,z/. Lips are rounded Velum is raised Air escapes through a passage along the center of the tongue but the passage is a little wider than in /s,z/

Articulation of glottal fricative/pharyngeal fricative

Sound is produced through narrow opening of the glottis There is no obstruction to the air flow as it passes through the mouth

III.2.3> Characteristics

Fortis fricatives /f,s,8,~/ are said to be articulated with greater force than the lenis, & their friction noise is louder. Shortening effect: Fortis fricatives shorten a preceding vowel or diphthong as do fortis plosives, e.g.: grace/gre1s/-graze/ gre1z/, ice/ais/ - eyes/aiz/ Lenis fricatives /v,z,5,2/ have very little or no voicing in initial & final positions, but may be voiced when they occur between voiced sounds, e.g.: via/vai6/, cave/keiv/, convent/k4nv6nt/

Glottal fricative/h/: -place of articulation: glottal (the narrowing that produces the friction noise is between the vocal folds) -phonetically: voiceless vowel (no obstruction to the air flow, & vocal folds do not vibrate) with the quality of the voiced vowel that follows it, e.g.: hat /h`t/ -phonologically (distribution): a consonant.

Distribution: found in 3 positions: initial, medial, final, e.g.: hut/h^t/, ahead/6hed/, boathook/b6$th$k/

III.3> Affricates III.3.1> Definition

Affricatives /t~, d2/: the air pressure is first built up, and then, rather than being released freely, released through a narrow passageway like a fricative. Affricates are rather complex consonants. They begin as plosives and end as fricativesIt is usually said that the plosive and the following fricative must be made with the same articulators,, the plosive and fricative must be homorganic [Roach, P. 2000:49].

III.3.2> Classification Articulation of post-alveolar/alveopalatal affricatives

Begin as plosives and end as fricatives

Voicing

Place of articulation Palato-alveolar/Post-alveolar

Voiced

t~

Voiceless

d2

III.3.3> Characteristics

/t~/ is slightly aspirated in the position where /p,t,k/ are aspirated, e.g.: choke, choose Shortening effect: /t~/ in final position has the effect of shortening a preceding vowel, e.g.: church. /t~/ and /d2/ often have rounded lips, e.g.: cherry, manage, joke.