This document summarizes the articulation of three consonant sounds: [r], [w], and [j]. It describes the tongue and lip positioning for each sound. [r] involves the tongue curled back with the tip near the alveolar ridge. [w] starts with rounded lips that spread apart, allowing airflow. [j] begins with the tongue raised towards the hard palate and airflow along the central tongue. These are called "semi-vowels" as they allow airflow like vowels but never form syllable nuclei, instead acting as consonants. Examples words for each sound are provided.

1. FIG. 15 POST- ALVEOLAR [R]

3. The tip of the
tongue is held in a
position near to but
not touching the
back part of the
alveolar ridge.
[r]

4. The soft palate
is raised and the air
flows quietly
between the tip of
the tongue and hard
palate.
[r]

5. The front part of the
tongue is low and
the back is rather
high so that the
tongue has a
curved shape.
[r]

6. The vocal cords are vibrating.

7. Example:
/r/
Learn From
Great Through
Really Run
Right Result

8. SEMI GLIDES OR GLIDES
Bilabial [w] and Palatal [j]

9. W, as in why, starts out with the lips
firmly rounded, these articulators then
moving away (=gliding) from the narrowing
in the mouth.
[w]

10. Example:
/w/
What Work
Quick Question
One Require
Wait world

11. J, as in you, the
front part of the
tongue is first raised
towards the hard
palate, then the soft
palate is raised and
the air goes along
the central part of
the tongue.
[j]

12. Example:
/j/
You Year
Use Unit
Yes Young
During Argue

13. The vocal cords are kept together and
are vibrating.

14. The reason why these sounds are called semi-
vowels is thus their manner of articulation: like true
vowels, semi-vowels are produced without
obstruction, i.e., there is a wide gap between the
active articulator, so that the airflow can escape
relatively freely from the mouth. However, unlike
true vowels, semi-vowels never form the nucleus
of a syllable (e.g., week, yellow) and are therefore
usually considered consonants.
The Semi-vowels
/j/ yellow, youth, you, yes, youth
/r/ red, rep, rest, route
/w/ wet, well, west, wasp