This document defines consonants and describes their classification in English phonology. It defines consonants as speech sounds involving stricture or closure in the vocal tract. Consonants are classified based on four features: 1) whether the vocal cords vibrate (voiced vs voiceless), 2) whether the velum is lowered (nasal) or raised (oral), 3) place of articulation where stricture occurs, and 4) manner of articulation regarding amount of stricture and air flow. It provides charts of the place and manner of articulation for English consonant phonemes such as plosives, nasals, fricatives, affricates, laterals and glides.

1. ENGLISH
CONSONANTS
English Phonology

2. Review

3. Definition of Consonants
a speech sound which is articulated with
some kind of stricture, or closure of the
air stream
formed when the air stream is restricted
or stopped at some point between the
vocal cord and the lips

5. Classification of
Consonants
English Consonants

6. Classification of consonants
The state of
glottis
The state of
velum
Place of
articulation
Manner of
articulation

7. 1. The state of the glottis:
in vibration
(voiced)
open
(voiceless)

8. 2. State of Velum/Uvula
Lowered
(nasal)
raised
(oral)

9. 3. PLACE OF
ARTICULATION

10. Place of Articulation is seen from
Where the stricture
occurs (Place of
maximum
interference)
Passive
Articulator
what articulators are
involved
Active
Articulators 
Passive
Articulator

11. Place of articulation chart

12. Place of articulation
Upper
lip
Upper
teeth
Alveolar
ridge
Alveopalatal Hard
palate
Soft
palate
Lower
lip
Tip of the tongue Blade of the
tongue
Front
of the
tongue
Back of
the
tongue
Passive
articulators
Active
articulators
bilabial
labiodental
dental
alveolar alveopalatal palatal velar
Vocal
cords

Glottal

13. Place of Articulation
Bilabial
Labiodental
Dental
Alveolar
[p, b, m]
[f and v]
[θ and ð]
[t, d, s, z, n, r, l]

14. Place of Articulation
[ʃ, ʒ]
[j]
[k, g, ŋ, w]
[h, ʔ]
Postalveolar
Palatal
Velar
Glottal

15. 4. MANNER OF
ARTICULATION
English Consonants

16. Manner of Articulation concerns
with
The amount of
stricture
Complete
Partial
open
How the air goes
out
Little by little
Suddenly
etc

17. Plosive/Stop
[p, b, t, d, k, g]
Nasal
[m, n, ŋ]
Fricative
[f, v, θ, ð, s, z, ʃ,
ʒ, h]
Affricate
[tʃ, dʒ]
Lateral
[l]
Glide/
Approximants
[r, j, w]
Manner of Articulation

18. Plosive/Stop
[p, b, t, d, k, g]

19. Nasal
[m, n, ŋ]

20. Fricative
[f, v, θ, ð, s, z, ʃ, ʒ, h]

21. Affricate
[tʃ, dʒ]

22. Glide/
Approximants
[r, j, w]

23. Lateral
[l]

24. English Consonants table