Consonant Features Quiz

Consonant Features

• Consonants are distinguished by several features, including voicing, place of articulation, and manner of articulation.

Place of Articulation

• Place of articulation refers to where in the vocal tract the airflow restriction occurs when producing consonants.
• Common places of articulation include bilabial, alveolar, velar, and glottal sounds.
• A feature NOT considered a place of articulation may include manner of articulation or features related to nasalization.

Voiced Consonants

• Voiced consonants occur when the vocal cords vibrate during articulation. Examples include /b/, /d/, /g/, /v/.
• Voiced consonants are typically more resonant and can change the meaning of words, e.g., 'bat' vs. 'pat'.

Voiceless Consonants

• Voiceless consonants are produced without vocal cord vibration. Examples include /p/, /t/, /k/, /s/.
• Voiceless consonants tend to be less resonant and can also change meaning, e.g., 'sip' vs. 'zips'.

Distinguishing Sounds by Voicing

• Voicing pairs differ only in the presence or absence of vocal cord vibration. Examples include:
  • /b/ (voiced) vs. /p/ (voiceless)
  • /d/ (voiced) vs. /t/ (voiceless)
  • /g/ (voiced) vs. /k/ (voiceless)
• Clarification of the voicing feature is crucial in phonetics and can significantly affect word meanings.

Test your knowledge of consonant features with this quiz! Learn about the three kinds of features that distinguish consonants: place of articulation, voicing, and manner of articulation. Challenge yourself with questions about the 7 places of articulation in English and the difference between voiced and voiceless consonants.