5.Occlusive plosive stops

Occlusive noise consonants comprise three pairs: [p,b,t,d,k,g].

They are occlusive because a complete obstruction to the stream of air is formed, they are stops because the breath is stopped at some point of articulation and then released with an explosive that is why they are also called plosives.

Stops are bilabial [p,b], produced with both lips pressed together; forelingual , apical alveolar [t,d], produced with the tip of the tongue against the teeth ridge; backlingual, velar [k,g],produced with the back part of the tongue against the soft palate.

[P,t,k] are strong as they are pronounced with more muscular energy and a stronger breth effort than [b,d,g] which are weak or lenis.

[B,d,g] may be fully voiced in word initial position before a vowel .In word final position they are partly devoiced .

[P,b] are occlusive, plosive, bilabial; [p] is strong and voiceless, [b] is weak and voiced.

[p, t,k] in initial position in a stressed syllable are accompanied by aspiration, I e a strong puff of breath in a voiceless interval after the explosion of [p, t, k] before a vowel.

Articulation: [p,b] 1. The lips are firmly kept together.

2. The soft palate is raised and the air coming into the mouth stops for some time and then breaks the obstruction with a slight explosion.

3. The vocal cords do not vibrate when [p] is produced. For [b] they are tense kept together and vibrate

when [b] occurs before vowels.

4. the breth effort is very strong for [p],for [b] it is weak.

[K,g] are occlusive, plosive, backlingual, velar; [k] is strong and voiceless,[g] is weak and voiced.

Articulation: [k,g]1. The back of the tongue makes a firm contact with the soft palate.

2. The soft palate is raised. The air coming from the lungs is trapped for a short time and then breaks

the obstruction with a slight explosion.

3. The vocal cords do not vibrate for [k]. When [g] is produced they are drawn together and vibrate.

4. The breath effort for [k], for [g] it is weak.

[T,d] are occlusive,plosive,apical-alveolar; [t] is strong and voiceless, [d] is weak and voiced.

Articulation:1. The complete obstruction is made by the tip of the tongue firmly pressed against the

middle of the alveolar ridge.

2.The soft palate is raised and air coming into the mouth is trapped for a short time. Then it breaks the

obstruction with a slight explosion.

3.The vocal cords do not vibrate when [t] is formed. For [d] they are drawn together and vibrate when it

occurs before vowels.

4. The breath effort for [t] is very strong, for [d] it is weak.

6. Constrictive fricative consonants

 ([f],[v],[θ],[ð],[s],[z],[∫],[ʒ],[h]

They are constrictive because the air passage is constricted and an incomplete obstruction is formed. They are fricative because the air passes through the narrowing with audible friction.

All the fricatives except [∫],[ʒ] are unicentral, [∫],[ʒ] are bicentral.

[f],[v] are labio-dental, produced with the lower lip and against the edge of the upper teeth

[θ],[ð] are forelingual, Apical ,interdental, articulated with the tip of the tongue projected between the upper and the lower teeth.

[s],[z],[∫],[ʒ] are forelingual, Apical alveolar, articulated with the tip of the tongue against the teeth ridge.

[h] is glottal, made with glottis.

Force of articulation

[f],[θ],[s],[∫],[h] are strong

[v],[ð],[z],[ʒ] are weak