SPEECH WORK CONSONANT SOUNDS
Consonant sounds are speech sounds produced by obstructing the airflow in some way through the vocal tract. In English, they are categorized based on their place of articulation (e.g., lips, tongue, teeth) and manner of articulation (e.g., stops, fricatives, nasals). Examples include:
- Plosives: /p/, /b/, /t/, /d/, /k/, /g/ (produced by blocking and releasing airflow).
- Fricatives: /f/, /v/, /s/, /z/, /ʃ/, /ʒ/, /θ/, /ð/ (airflow passes through a narrow constriction, creating friction).
- Nasals: /m/, /n/, /ŋ/ (air flows through the nose).
- Approximants: /l/, /r/, /w/, /j/ (airflow is minimally obstructed).
Consonants are vital for clarity and meaning in speech, as they structure and differentiate words.