1. Place of Articulation:
* Where in your mouth the sound is produced:
* Labial: Using the lips (e.g., "p", "b", "m")
* Dental: Using the teeth (e.g., "th" in "thin" and "then")
* Alveolar: Using the ridge behind your teeth (e.g., "t", "d", "n", "s", "z")
* Palatal: Using the roof of your mouth (e.g., "sh", "ch", "j")
* Velar: Using the soft palate (e.g., "k", "g", "ng")
* Glottal: Using the space between your vocal cords (e.g., "h")
2. Manner of Articulation:
* How the air is manipulated as you produce the sound:
* Stop: Blocking the airflow completely, then releasing it (e.g., "p", "b", "t", "d", "k", "g")
* Fricative: Narrowing the airflow, creating friction (e.g., "f", "v", "th", "s", "z", "sh", "ch", "j", "h")
* Affricate: A combination of a stop and a fricative (e.g., "ch", "j")
* Nasal: Allowing air to flow through your nose (e.g., "m", "n", "ng")
* Liquid: Allowing air to flow around the tongue (e.g., "l", "r")
* Glide: A quick transition to a vowel (e.g., "w", "y")
3. Voicing:
* Whether the vocal cords vibrate:
* Voiced: Vocal cords vibrate (e.g., "b", "d", "g", "v", "z")
* Voiceless: Vocal cords do not vibrate (e.g., "p", "t", "k", "f", "s")
Examples:
* "p" vs. "b": Both are labial stops, but "p" is voiceless and "b" is voiced.
* "t" vs. "s": "t" is an alveolar stop, while "s" is an alveolar fricative.
* "l" vs. "w": "l" is a liquid, while "w" is a glide.
Understanding these differences helps you:
* Pronounce consonants accurately.
* Recognize the subtle nuances in sounds.
* Learn new languages effectively.
* Improve your spelling and grammar.
Let me know if you'd like to explore any specific consonants or their differences in more detail!