Articulatory Processes in Basic Consonant Sounds

Articulatory Processes in Basic Consonant Sounds

1. Stop Sounds

   • These consonant sounds are called stops because the air is stopped when it gets to the oral cavity (the place where consonants are mostly produced).
     • Basic Articulatory Processes of Stops
       • Aspiration
         • This only happens in the voiceless stops sounds [p], [t], [k] when they are in initial position)
       • Neutralization
         • When the voiced stops [b], [d], and [g] are pronounced in final position by Spanish speakers, they mispronounced them. As a result, there occurs “Neutralization”.
       • Flapping
         • When the spellings [t], [d], [rt] and [tl] are between vowels and the first syllable is stressed, they are regularly flapped sounds.

2. Nasal Sounds

   • These consonant sounds are called nasals because the air escapes through the nose. In other words, the air is blocked and diverted through the nose.
     • Basic Articulatory Processes of Nasals
       • Nasalization
         • When a vowel is preceded by a nasal sound (vowel before a nasal sound which is in middle position), there happens nasalization. It only occurs in English and it is predictable.
       • *Syllabic [ņ] and Sylllable Dropping
         • When an unstressed syllable begins with [t] or [d] and ends with [n], the [n] is frequently pronounced as syllabic [ņ]. In order to do so, you should keep the tongue tip on the upper gum ridge without moving it from the position of the preceding [t] or [d].

Images and files in the map

• What is Aspiration? | Connected Speech | English Phonology (Embed)
• The Flap T | Alveolar Flapping | English Pronunciation (Embed)
• Syllabic Consonants -- How to Pronounce [əl], [əm], [ən], [əɹ] (Embed)
• Nasalization in English: Nasal or Nasalized? (Embed)