1. Phonetics Dimensions of Articulation
March 24th, 2015

2. vocal tract
Tools of the Trade
diaphragm

3. A Basic Distinction Vowels and Consonants
Vowels: unconstricted flow of air through vocal tract (above the larynx)
Consonants: completely or severely constricted flow of air through vocal tract
Also: sound is often created at the consonant constriction
Let’s look at the production of consonants first…
(it’s easier to sense what we’re doing with our articulators)

4. Consonants
Consonants are produced with more obstruction of the airflow through the vocal tract than vowels
They are characterized by the following set of attributes:
Voicing
vocal fold position and movement
Place of Articulation
location of constriction in the vocal tract
Manner of Articulation
type of constriction made in the vocal tract

5. Voicing On the way out of the lungs Air passes through the trachea
Reaches the larynx
The larynx consists of two “vocal folds” which may be opened and closed. If the vocal folds are:
open: air passes cleanly through
= voiceless sound
2. lightly brought together: vocal folds vibrate in passing air
= voiced sound

6. Vocal Fold Schematics
Voiceless (folds open) Voiced (folds together)

7. Some Voicing Distinctions
Among English consonants:
Voiceless Voiced Voiceless Voiced
[f] [v] [p] [b]
[t] [d]
[s] [z] [k] [g]

8. Laryngoscopy
Source:

9. Stefan’s Bogus video

10. Place of Articulation bilabial = constriction made by both lips
bilabial consonants in English include:
[p] [b]
[m]

11. Place of Articulation labio-dental =
constriction made by lower lip and upper teeth
labio-dental consonants in English include:
[f] [v]

12. Place of Articulation interdental =
constriction made by pushing tip of tongue between the teeth
interdental consonants in English include:

13. Place of Articulation alveolar =
constriction made by tip of tongue against alveolar ridge
alveolar consonants in English include:
[t] [d]
[s] [z]
[n] [l]

14. Place of Articulation post-alveolar =
constriction made by blade of tongue behind alveolar ridge
post-alveolar consonants in English include:
[r]

15. Place of Articulation palatal =
constriction made by body of tongue near top of the palate
the only palatal consonant in English is:
[j]

16. Place of Articulation velar =
constriction made by back of tongue against soft palate
velar consonants in English include:
[k] [g]

17. Place of Articulation glottal = constriction made at the glottis
glottal consonants in English include:
[h]

18. Manner of Articulation
Stop = complete closure in vocal tract
English stops:
[p] [t] [k]
[b] [d] [g]
Fricative - narrow constriction that causes disruption of airflow
think “friction”
English fricatives:
[f] [s] [h]
[v] [z]

19. Manner of Articulation
3. Affricate
= brief closure with a fricated release
English affricates:
4. Nasal
= velum is lowered and allows air to flow through the nose
English nasals:
[m] [n]

20. Summary of Places of Articulation
Bilabial (lips) p b m w
Labiodental (lips and teeth) f fine v vine
Dental (tongue and teeth) θ thin ð then
Alveolar (tongue and alveolar ridge)
t d s z n l
Palato-alveolar (tongue and front part of hard
palate) ʃ shoe ʒ measure ʧ cheap ʤ jeep r
Palatal (tongue and hard palate) j yes
Velar (tongue and velum) k g ŋ running
Glottal (glottis) h

21. Summary of manners of articulation
Plosive / Stop p b t d k g
Fricative f v θ ð s z ʃ ʒ h
Affricate (stop + fricative) ʧ ʤ
Nasal m n ŋ
Approximants w r j (central) l (lateral)

22. The International Phonetic Alphabet: the English consonants
Full IPA with audio illustrations:

23. Draw the place of articulation by your own, manually
Draw the place of articulation by your own, manually! Submit it for the next week.