Consonants: Place of Articulation

Phonetically, consonants are one of the two general categories used for speech sounds, the other being vowel sounds. Consonants are speech sounds in which the air from the lungs is seriously obstructed by the different articulators at different places in the vocal tract, and then goes out through the oral passage and, in some cases, through the nostrils. According to their areas of articulation, English consonant phonemes can be divided into nine types as discussed below:

Bilabial Consonant:

 To produce the bilabial consonants, the two lips function as the primary articulators. They first make contact to block the lung air and then separate to release it. English bilabial consonants include /p, b, m/. For example: pat, bat, mouse, etc.

 Labio-dental consonant:

 To articulate the labiodental consonants, the lower lip makes contact with the upper teeth. English labio-dental consonants are / f, v /. For example: fan, van, etc.

Inter-dental consonants:

 To pronounce the interdental consonants, the tongue tip is slightly pushed between the lower and upper front teeth. English interdental consonants are two in number.  For example: this, things, etc.

Alveolar consonants:

The tongue articulates with the alveolar ridge (just behind the upper front teeth) to produce the alveolar consonants. English alveolar consonants include / t d I n s z /. For example, top, dog, see, zoo, no, lip, etc.

Post-alveolar consonant:

 To produce the post-alveolar consonant, the tip of the tongue articulates with the back part of the alveolar ridge. The English language has only one post-alveolar consonant / r /.

Palato-alveolar consonant:

 To produce the palato-alveolar consonants, the blade, or lip and blade, of the tongue articulates with the alveolar ridge, and there is at the same time a raising of the front of the tongue towards the hard palate. The English language possesses four palatal-alveolar consonants.

Palatal consonant:

The front of the tongue articulates with the hard palate to produce the palatal consonant. The English language has only one palatal consonant, / j/. for example: yes.

Velar consonant:

To articulate the velar consonants, the back of the tongue makes contact with the soft palate. English velar consonants encompass / k g ŋ /. For example: cat, go, sing.

Glottal consonants:

To produce the glottal consonant, there is an obstruction, or a narrowing, causing friction but not vibration, between the vocal folds. The English language possesses only one glottal consonant, / h/. For example: hat, horse, etc.