MANERS OF ARTICULATION

a maner of articulation is defined as the way airflow is affecte as it moves out of the lungs .

In other words, pronunciation refers to different types of stricture (narrowing) or contact

between the articulatory .

In terms of maners of articulation, English consonants are divided into 6 different groups.

1. The sounds /p,b,t,d,k,g/ are called stops (also called oral stops or non-nasal stops).

because their creation involves a complete closure of the airstream at some point in the

vocal tract, followed by a sudden release of air accompanied by a burst of sound. When

pronouncing /p,d/ the airflow is completely blocked in the mouth and the lips are pressed

together while the tip of the tongue is raised to touch the alveolar ridge to cut the oral

cavity to create /t,d/. When /k,g/ is articulated the soft palate rises to cut the nasa cavity.

2. when pronouncing /f,v,0,đ,s,z,3/ the airflow is partially blocked in the mouth at the same

time as the soft membrane is raised to cut off the nasal cavity and the air escapes through

a narrow gap between the joints connection and some types of friction. Thus

/f,v,0,đ,s,z,3/ is called friction. In other words, partial blockage of air flow in the process

of creating ghost sounds English fricatives are formed by the lips or tongue and reach a

specific point in the upper part of the mouth causing turbulence or friction in the airflow.

3. The pronunciation /tf,d3/ is a combination of producing an oral stop and a fricative. Both

sounds are pronounced with the tongue first raised to touch the posterior part of the

alveolar ridge, then move away immediately. Affricates,a combination of producing an

oral stop and a fricative. These are considered independent sounds in English because

the two components of these vesicants are identical. That is, they are produced by the

same articulator and in the same position of articulation.

 4 The sounds /m,n,n/ are called nasal sounds (or nasal sounds) because when

pronouncing the airflow is completely blocked in the oral cavity and the soft membrane is

lowered, only allowing the airflow to escape through the nose.

5 The sound /l/ is pronounced by raising the tip of the tongue toward the alveolar ridge to

direct the airflow to each side of the tongue, so it is called a lateral consonant. In other words,

when pronouncing /l/ laterally, the airflow does not pass through. tip of the tongue that goes

horizontally along both sides of the tongue.

6 The sounds /w,r,j/ are considered approximant consonants because when approaching a certain

position of pronunciation but not coming close enough to touch each other, it causes audible

friction. For example, when pronouncing /w/the upper and lower lips are rounded to come close

to each other but not actually touch, creating a narrow gap so that the air expelled from the lungs

can escape while the tongue approaches the tongue.

ntroduction (1 minute):**

"Good [morning/afternoon/evening], everyone. Today, we embark on an intriguing journey into the

realm of phonetics, where the art of speech sounds is decoded. Specifically, we'll be exploring the
nuances of manners of articulation in English consonants. This knowledge is not just for linguists and
language enthusiasts; it forms the foundation of effective communication. So, let’s dive in."

**Stops (Plosives) (2 minutes):**

"Let’s start with stops, also known as plosives. These are sounds created by a complete closure of
airflow, followed by an explosive release.

Think of sounds like /p, b, t, d, k, g/. When you say 'p,' your lips come together, and the airflow is
completely blocked in the oral cavity. The same happens with 'd,' where the tongue touches the alveolar
ridge, momentarily stopping the airflow. The articulation involves several phases, from closure to
release, creating what we call 'plosives.' This information comes from reputable sources like Fromkin et
al. and Rogerson-Revell."

**Fricatives, Affricates (3 minutes):**

"Now, let’s move to fricatives and affricates. Fricatives involve a partial blockage of airflow, causing
friction. Sounds like /f, v, θ, ð, s, z, ʃ, ʒ/ fall into this category.

Affricates, on the other hand, combine stops and fricatives, like /tʃ, dʒ/. To produce 'f,' your lower lip
lightly touches the upper teeth, creating a narrow passage for the air, resulting in friction. Affricates,
such as 'ch' in 'chat,' involve a stop, where the airflow is momentarily blocked and then released into a
fricative, creating a distinct sound. Avery & Ehrlich and Fromkin et al. provide valuable insights into
these articulations."

**Fricatives (/f, v, θ, ð, s, z, ʃ, ʒ/) - (1 minute)**

"Fricatives, a group of sounds that add texture and intensity to speech, are created by partially
obstructing the airflow. When you pronounce 'f' and 'v,' your lower lip gently touches your upper teeth,
creating a narrow passage for the air. This friction produces the distinct 'f' and 'v' sounds. Now, consider
'θ' as in 'think' and 'ð' as in 'this.' These sounds are formed by touching your tongue against your upper
front teeth, allowing a controlled flow of air, giving rise to the subtle 'th' sounds.

Moving on to 's' and 'z,' these sounds are crafted by your tongue hovering just behind your upper front
teeth, causing a hissing sound for 's' and a buzzing sound for 'z.' These are the hallmark sibilant sounds
in English.
Venturing further, we encounter 'ʃ' as in 'she' and 'ʒ' as in 'measure.' To create 'ʃ,' your tongue
approaches your hard palate, leaving a narrow gap for the air to pass through, resulting in the 'sh'
sound. Meanwhile, 'ʒ' occurs when your tongue is in a similar position but with a slightly wider opening,
producing the 'zh' sound in words like 'treasure.' These fricatives, with their subtle distinctions,
contribute significantly to the phonetic richness of our language.

**Affricates (/tʃ, dʒ/) - (1 minute)**

"Affricates, a captivating fusion of stops and fricatives, create unique sounds that are prevalent in
English. Consider 'tʃ' as in 'chat.' This sound starts with a stop, where your tongue briefly touches your
alveolar ridge, momentarily halting the airflow. It then transitions seamlessly into a fricative, specifically
'ʃ,' resulting in the distinctive 'ch' sound.

Now, let’s explore 'dʒ' as in 'judge.' The initial stop is akin to 'd,' with your tongue touching the alveolar
ridge. Swiftly, it glides into the fricative 'ʒ' sound, forming the familiar 'j' in 'judge.' This dual nature of
affricates, blending stops and fricatives, crafts sounds that are vital in English pronunciation, adding
depth and clarity to various words and expressions.

Mastering these fricatives and affricates allows us to articulate words with precision, making our speech
more nuanced and expressive."

**Nasals, Liquids, Approximants (2 minutes):**

"Next, let’s explore nasals, liquids, and approximants. Nasals, like /m, n, ŋ/, occur when airflow is
directed through the nose. Liquids, specifically /r, l/, involve lateral airflow along the sides of the tongue.
Lastly, approximants, including /w, j/, are sounds where articulators approach but don’t touch. '

Nasals (/m, n, ŋ/) - (40 seconds)

"Nasal sounds occur when airflow is directed through the nose, resonating in a distinct manner. For
example, when you say 'm,' your lips close, and the sound vibrates in your nasal cavity. Similarly, 'n'
involves your tongue touching the alveolar ridge, and 'ŋ' as in 'sing,' is produced by the velum lowering,
allowing the air to escape through the nose. These sounds are essential in languages like English and
French, enriching the phonetic diversity.

Liquids (/r, l/) - (40 seconds)

"Liquid consonants bring a fluidity to speech. 'R' is interesting because its articulation varies widely;
some people roll their tongue, while others use a single tap. 'L' is created by lifting the tongue tip to the
alveolar ridge, allowing air to flow along the sides of the tongue. These sounds, often referred to as
liquids, add grace and melody to language, shaping accents and dialects uniquely.

Approximants (/w, j/) - (40 seconds)

"Lastly, let’s explore approximants, sometimes called glides or semi-vowels. 'W' involves rounding your
lips, creating a small gap for the airflow, producing a sound akin to 'oo' in 'soon.' 'J,' as in 'yes,' happens
when your tongue glides towards the hard palate, creating a swift transition between vowels. These
sounds act as linguistic bridges, allowing smooth transitions between vowels in words and phrases,
contributing to the fluidity of speech.

Understanding these nuances not only enhances our linguistic awareness but also deepens our
appreciation for the intricate art of human communication."