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Unit 11: Allophones–Allophonic Variation in English Speech: Difference between Monopthong and Diphthong Glides

Place of Articulation Notes

Labio-dental Interdental
Labial
f,v θ, ð
b, p, m

Velar
Alveolar
g, k, Uvular
d, t, s, z, n

There are also alveopalatal and palatal sounds in English, for which I don’t have figures.
The two articulatory points associated to these sounds are between the alveolar ridge
and the velum.

Manner of Articulation

How is the air stream modified by the vocal tract to produce the sound?
Stops: Sounds that are stopped completely in the oral cavity for a brief period of time.
Fricatives: If the airstream is not completely stopped because of a narrow passage in the oral cavity
that causes friction and turbulance.
Affricates: a stop closure + slow release (fricative)
Liquids: some obstruction formed by the articulators, but not narrow enough to cause any real
constriction.
Glides: slight closure of the articulators, they are almost like vowels. Therefore, they are often called
semi-vowels.
Consonants Vs Vowels

• Consonants are produced with some closure or restriction in the vocal tract as the airstream is
pushed through the glottis out of the mouth.
• When vowels are produced, there is nothing in the vocal tract that narrows the passage such
that it would obstruct the free flow of the airstream. That is, vowels are produced without any
articulators touching or even coming close together.
• Vowels are the most audible, SONORANT (or intense) sounds in speech.
• Vocal fold vibration is the sound source for vowels. Therefore, all vowels are, almost always,
VOICED.
• Unlike consonants, there is neither place of constriction or closure (place of articulation), nor a
specific manner of articulation.
• The shape of the vocal tract determines the quality of the vowel. There are several ways in
which we can change the shape of the vocal tract:

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