Place and Manner

Stop (plosive)

Complete closure of vocal tract, followed by (in some cases) explosive release of the air pressure behind the closure ("stop burst")

the lingua-alveolar tap

special stop; ɾ

Modified stop in which the tongue tap rapidly strokes or flaps the alveolar ridge

- occurs in intervocalic position only

Fricatives

Incomplete closure of vocal tract, created by bringing articulators into close contact but not closing the vocal tract

- Air is allowed to escape through the narrow opening, producing a continuous noise ("frication")

Nasals

Flow of air passes through the nasal cavities, with the oral passage usually closed

- Results from the velopharyngeal flap lowering to open the passage between the oropharynx and nasopharynx

Liquids

Vowel-like consonants in which voicing energy passes through a vocal tract that is only constricted somewhat more than for vowels

Lateral liquid

Tongue creates a midline closure with the alveolar ridge, but an opening is maintained at the sides of the tongue

- Sound radiates laterally around the tongue with midline closure

Glides

Aka "semivowels"

Vocal tract constriction somewhat narrower than for a vowel but less than for other consonant types

- Articulators glide from partly constricted to more open state for a following vowel

- Slower movement than closing and opening movements in a stop

Affricates

A combination of a stop closure followed by a fricative segment

- Air pressure built up during the stop phase is released as a sustained noise

Bilabials

Formed by constricting the vocal tract by bringing the two lips into proximity or contact

Labiodentals

Formed by bringing the lower lip into contact with the upper incisor teeth

(Inter)dentals

Formed by placing the tip of the tongue between the upper and lower incisor teeth

(Lingua)alveolars

Formed by placing the tongue against or near the alveolar ridge (behind the incisor teeth)

Palatals

Formed by elevating the tip and blade of the tongue toward the palate

- Can be produced with a variety of lip positions, but most talkers tend to round their lips, especially for isolated productions

Velars (Dorsals)

Formed by elevating the dorsum of the tongue to the roof of the mouth

Glottals

Formed at the vocal folds

- constriction is between the folds themselves, not articulators in the mouth