Place of Articulation and Manner of Articulation | Speech Organs - English English Consonants

Manners of articulation refer to the way in which the airstream is modified as it passes through the vocal tract to produce speech sounds. There are several manners of articulation, including:

Plosive or stop consonants: These are sounds that are produced by completely stopping the airflow through the mouth and then releasing it suddenly. Examples in English include /p/, /b/, /t/, /d/, /k/, and /g/.

Fricative consonants: These are sounds that are produced by forcing air through a narrow gap in the mouth, causing friction. Examples in English include /f/, /v/, /s/, /z/, /sh/, and /h/.


Affricate consonants: These are sounds that begin like plosives, with a complete stop of airflow, but are released slowly like fricatives. Examples in English include /ch/ and /j/ (as in "chair" and "jump," respectively).

Nasal consonants: These are sounds that are produced by directing air through the nose rather than the mouth. Examples in English include /m/, /n/, and /ng/ (as in "sing").


Approximant consonants: These are sounds that are produced by bringing the articulators (such as the tongue or lips) close together, but not to the point of creating friction. Examples in English include /l/, /r/, and /w/.


Lateral consonants: These are sounds that are produced by allowing air to pass around the sides of the tongue, while blocking the airflow through the center of the mouth. The only example in English is /l/.

Places of articulation, on the other hand, refer to the specific location in the mouth where a speech sound is produced. There are several places of articulation, including:


Bilabial: These sounds are produced by bringing the two lips together. Examples in English include /p/, /b/, and /m/.


Labiodental: These sounds are produced by bringing the lower lip into contact with the upper teeth. Examples in English include /f/ and /v/.


Dental: These sounds are produced by placing the tongue against the upper front teeth. Examples in English include /θ/ and /ð/.


Alveolar: These sounds are produced by bringing the tongue into contact with the alveolar ridge, which is the bony ridge behind the upper teeth. Examples in English include /t/, /d/, and /s/.


Palatal: These sounds are produced by bringing the tongue into contact with the hard palate, which is the roof of the mouth behind the alveolar ridge. Examples in English include /j/ (as in "yes").


Velar: These sounds are produced by bringing the back of the tongue into contact with the soft palate, or velum. Examples in English include /k/, /g/, and /ŋ/.