LING 220 Airflow/Larynx

Air flows

(Typically) from the lungs out of the mouth, but speakers control the air along the way

Ejectives

Airstream goes out from the glottis

Air out of the nose.

• lowered velum = nasal sounds

• (n,m,ng)

Ingressive airstream

Air flow into the mouth

Implosives

Speech sounds with ingressive airstream

Manner of articulation

Consonants are typically categorized by how much the airstream is impeded/constricted

Plosive (stop)

• Degree of constriction: total

• Air is completely blocked then released suddenly

• Example: [p, b, t, d, k, g] → “pat, bat, top, dog, cat, gate”

Fricative

• Degree of constriction: partial/mostly

• Air forced through a narrow constriction, causing friction

• Example: [f, v, θ, ð, s, z, ʃ, ʒ] → “fat, vat, think, this, sip, zip, shop, measure”

Approximant

• Degree of constriction: a little

• Articulators come close, but not enough to cause turbulence

• Example: [j, w, r] → “yes, wet, red”

Lateral

• Degree of constriction: a little

• air comes out one or both sides of mouth

• Example: [l] → “like, ball”

Tap / Flap

• Degree of constriction: total, but ballistic

• Tongue quickly strikes the place of articulation

• Example: [ɾ] → “butter”

Trill

• Degree of contriction: Total, ballistic & repeated

• Tongue vibrates rapidly against articulator

• Example: [r] → Spanish “perro”

Rhotics

• R=sounds

• Example: [ɹ] → “red, water”

Larynx

Aka voice box, cartilage surrounding the trachea

Vocal folds

Aka vocal cords, membranes that stretch across the larynx, one on each side

Glottis

The empty space between the vocal folds

Phonation

Describes whether the vocal folds are vibrating

Phonation: Voiced

Vocal folds: Vibrating

Example: voiced consonants like /b/ (bat), /d/ (dog), /v/ (van), /z/ (zoo), /ʒ/ (measure)

Phonation: Voiceless

Vocal folds: Not vibrating, at rest

Example voiceless consonants like /p/ (pat), /t/ (tap), /f/ (fan), /s/ (sat), /ʃ/ (ship)

Phonatioan: Glottal

Vocal folds: held apart

Example: /h/ (hat), /ʔ/ (glottal stop, e.g., uh-oh)