This document discusses the classification and description of consonants in English. It explains that consonants are speech sounds produced with partial or complete closure of the vocal tract, dividing consonants into categories based on their articulation, manner of articulation, and place of articulation. The document lists the 24 consonant sounds in English, categorizing them as oral or nasal sounds, and also discusses the three approximant/semi-vowel sounds of /w/, /r/, and /j/, which are phonetically vowels but function phonologically as consonants.

1. ALLPPT.com _ Free PowerPoint Templates, Diagrams and Charts
Consonants
Insert LOGO

2. CLASSIFICATION AND DESCRIPTION
OF CONSONANTS
A Consonant is a sound that is
articulated with complete or partial
closure of the air stream by
constriction of speech organs.
There are 24 consonants in English.
sounds produced with an aggressive flow of air
coming out of the mouth or the nose
accompanied by obstruction or
friction in the articulators.

4. ARTICULATING ORGANS

5. Consonants can be classified on the basis of
Air stream mechanism
State of glottis
The position of the soft palate
Points of articulation
The manner of articulation

6. The position of the soft palate
• Oral sounds
/p/ /t/ /k/ /f/ /Ɵ/ /s/ /ʃ/ /h/ /tʃ/ /b/ /d/ /g
/ /v/ /ð/ /z/
/ʒ/ /dʒ/ /j/ /w/ /r/ /l/
• Nasal sounds
/m/ /n/ /Ƞ/

7. Points of Articulation

17. APPROXIMANTS/SEMI-VOWELS
There are three semi-vowels. These sounds are
phonetically vowels and phonologically
consonants. Phonetically means their mechanism
of producing the sound is same as vowels
because there is no obstruction in flow of air.
But phonologically, they give sounds like
consonants.
/w/ /r/ /j/
Wine read young