- Velar approximant
The velar approximant is a type of
consonant al sound, used in some spokenlanguage s. The symbol in theInternational Phonetic Alphabet that represents this sound is IPA|ɰ, and the equivalentX-SAMPA symbol is M.The IPA symbol <IPA|ɣ>, which otherwise signifies a
voiced velar fricative , is sometimes used for the velar approximant as well (with a lowering diacritic IPA|ɣ˕ when specificity is required). [Harvcoltxt|Martínez-Celdrán et al|2003|p=257-258]Features
Features of the velar approximant:
* Its
manner of articulation is approximant, which means it is produced by bringing one articulator close to another but without the vocal tract being narrowed to such an extent that a turbulent airstream is produced.
* Itsplace of articulation is velar which means it is articulated with the back part of thetongue (the dorsum) against thesoft palate (the velum).
* Itsphonation type is voiced, which means the vocal cords are vibrating during the articulation.
* It is anoral consonant , which means air is allowed to escape through the mouth.
* It is acentral consonant , which means it is produced by allowing the airstream to flow over the middle of the tongue, rather than the sides.
* Theairstream mechanism ispulmonic egressive , which means it is articulated by pushing air out of thelung s and through the vocal tract, rather than from theglottis or the mouth.Occurrence
Notes
References
*Harvard reference
last = Martínez-Celdrán
first= Eugenio
last2 = Fernández-Planas
first2= Ana Ma.
last3 = Carrera-Sabaté
first3 = Josefina
year= 2003
title=Castilian Spanish
journal=Journal of the International Phonetic Association
volume=33
issue=2
pages=255-259ee also
*
List of phonetics topics
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