English Speech Sounds: Consonant & Vowel Classification

Understanding Lateral Sounds

A lateral sound is an L-like consonant in which the airstream proceeds along the sides of the tongue but is blocked by the tongue from going through the middle of the mouth. Most commonly, the tip of the tongue makes contact with the upper teeth or the alveolar ridge just behind the teeth.

Exploring Approximant Sounds

Approximants are speech sounds that involve the articulators approaching each other, but not with enough articulatory precision to create turbulent airflow. This class of sounds includes:

• Lateral approximants like [l] (as in less)
• Non-lateral approximants like [ɹ] (as in rest)
• Semivowels like [j] and [w] (as in yes and west, respectively)

Defining Nasal Consonants and Their Production

Nasals are occlusive consonants produced with a lowered velum, allowing air to escape freely through the nose. Examples of nasals in English are [n] and [m], found in words such as nose and mouth.

What Are Semivowels?

Semivowels are sounds that are phonetically similar to a vowel sound but function as a consonant. In English, the consonants y (/j/) and w (/w/) in yes and west are semivowels.

Fortis and Lenis Consonants Explained

The terms Fortis and Lenis describe the muscular tension and breath pressure involved in consonant production:

• Lenis consonants (voiced) are pronounced with relatively weak muscular tension and breath pressure. Examples in English include the sounds /b/, /d/, /g/, /dʒ/, /v/, /ð/, /z/, /ʒ/.
• Fortis consonants (voiceless) are pronounced with considerable muscular tension and breath pressure, resulting in a strong fricative or plosive sound. Examples in English include the sounds /p/, /t/, /k/, /tʃ/, /f/, /θ/, /s/, /ʃ/.

Vowel Classification and Diphthongs

English vowels are classified based on tongue position (close/open, front/back, central), lip rounding, and length. Diphthongs involve a glide from one vowel sound to another.

Monophthong Vowels

• /iː/: Very close, front, long, spread lips.
• /ɪ/: Mid-close, front, short, neutral lips.
• /e/: Between mid-open and mid-close, front, short, fairly spread lips.
• /æ/: Between mid-open and open, front, short, fairly spread lips.
• /ɜː/: Between mid-open and mid-close, central, long, neutral lips.
• /ə/: Between mid-open and mid-close, central, short, neutral lips.
• /ɑː/: Open, back, long, unrounded lips.
• /ɒ/: Open, back, short, rounded lips.
• /ɔː/: Between mid-open and mid-close, back, long, rounded lips.
• /ʊ/: Mid-close, back, short, neutral lips.
• /uː/: Very close, back, long, rounded lips.

Diphthongs

• /eɪ/: Fronting diphthong
• /aɪ/: Fronting diphthong

Consonant Classification

English consonants are classified by their place and manner of articulation, as well as voicing (fortis/lenis).

Plosive Consonants

• /p/: Fortis bilabial plosive
• /b/: Lenis bilabial plosive
• /t/: Fortis alveolar plosive
• /d/: Lenis alveolar plosive
• /k/: Fortis velar plosive
• /g/: Lenis velar plosive

Fricative Consonants

• /θ/: Fortis inter-dental fricative
• /ð/: Lenis inter-dental fricative
• /ʒ/: Fortis post-alveolar fricative