consonants (speech communication)

Consonants

Mitschek, Ariane B.BSE-ENG2A

THE CONSONANTS A consonant is one of a class of speech

sounds characterized by constriction or closure at one or more points in the breath channel.

The word consonant is also used to refer to a letter of an alphabet that denotes a consonant sound. The 21 consonant letters in the English alphabet are B, C, D, F, G, H, J, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, X, Z, and usually W and Y.

VOICING - – IS THE SOUND VOICED OR VOICELESS?

Voiced Voiceless

MANNER OF ARTICULATION - HOW IS THE AIRSTREAM CONSTRICTED? Stop = complete closure, resulting in

stoppage of the airflow Affricate = closure followed by frication (=

stop + fricative) Fricative = narrow opening, air forced

through Nasal = air allowed to pass through the

nose (generally while blocked in mouth) Liquid = minimal constriction allowing air

to pass freely Glide = minimal constriction corresponding

to a vowel (thus also called "semi-vowel")

PLACE OF ARTICULATION - WHERE IS THE SOUND CONSTRICTED? Bilabial- by the use of upper and lower

lip Labio-dental- lower lip+ upper teeth Dental- tongue against upper teeth Alveolar- tongue to alveolar ridge Palatal- tongue to hard palate Velar- back of the tongue to the velum Glottal- keep the air from expelling out

of your lungs by closing your glottis.  

CONSONANT CHART

MANNER

PLACE OF ARTICULATIONBilabial Labio-

dentalDental Alveola

rPalatal Velar Glottal

Stop P B T D K G

Fricative F V Th [θ]

Th [ð]

S Z SH [ʃ] ZH [ʒ]

H

Affricate CH [ʧ]

DZ [dʒ]Nasal M N NG

[ŋ]Liquid L R

Glide W Y

*sounds that are in bold are voiced

/p/ and /b/pad – badpot – bought

Pick a big print for the bedspread.

/m/maphammerbottom

My mom might come tomorrow morning

/w/whisperwishwine

When would you want to see the flower show?

/f/ and /v/fan – vanfault – vault

They served a very fresh oven baked flounder fillet.

/θ/ and /ð/thin – thisthief – these

I thought of using these Lily of the Valleys rather than those thorny roses.

/t/ and /d/time – dimetote – dote

Tom tasted Dad’s dark chocolate treats.

/s/ and /z/sip – zipsee – zebrabus – buzz

Because it’s sunny and he’s fair-skinned, he has to wear sunscreen. 

/n/nicecandinner

Now I don’t know when I can come.

/l/lapflytool

Last fall we got a good deal on last minute flights when we flew to California. 

/sh/ and /zh/

ship – measuredish – decision

She made the decision to get a beige bed spread with chic striped sheets.

/ch/ and /dz/char – jarchump – jump

I was on the edge of my seat watching each match of the major tournament.

/r/runrelaxfather

Whenever Rebecca drives her car around New York, she really worries about parking it on the street. 

/y/yeahyardyield

Did you buy the yellow kayak yesterday? 

/k/ and /g/cap – gapcurl – girlkill - gill

Chris carried the gray crate to the gate

/ng/singthingrunning

Studying English and practicing speaking is rewarding. 

/h/happenhavehome

He said hello to her when he got here. 

Thank you!