The document discusses speech articulation and categorizes consonant sounds. It divides consonants into three main types: stops, fricatives, and affricates. Stops are formed by blocking air flow with full closure. Fricatives use a narrow constriction that creates turbulence. Affricates combine a stop and fricative release. Consonants are also classified by their place of articulation in the mouth, whether they are voiced or voiceless, and if the air passage is oral or nasal. Examples of different consonant pairs and their articulation are provided to illustrate these classifications.

1. SPEECH ARTICULATION Consonants

13. What consonant pair is this?

14. That’s right! /p/, /b/

15. And this?

16. /k/, /g/

17. What is the difference between these two slides?

18. In the first (/b/, /p/) the passage of air to the nose is blocked by the raised velum, in the second this passage is open, giving us a nasal. What consonant is it?

19. It’s /m/

20. Let’s look at other positions – in the alveolar position we have /t/ and /d/, and the nasal /n/ :

21. In a similar way at the velum we have /k/ and /g/, and the nasal /  /:

23. Let’s look at a fricative pair which causes non-native speakers of English a lot of trouble  and /  / :

24. Air passes through a small gap between the tongue and the upper teeth causing a low friction sound:

25. In the alveolar fricatives /s/ and /z/, the friction noise is quite loud, as air hits the upper teeth causing a hiss.

26. What fricative pair is represented here?

27. That’s right - /f/,and /v/

28. And here?

29. This is the post-alveolar pair /  / and /  /. Note that a small shift of the tongue from the /s/, /z/ position directs the flow of air onto the alveolar ridge.

30. Affricates These may be considered as stop + fricative

34. Here are the two main phases. 1. Hold

35. 2. Release with constriction

36. Here is the IPA consonant chart White represents standard British English consonants, light blue possible allophones, and dark blue exotic consonants