Consonants - Phonemic Features Overview

Retroflexed or bunched tongue position with pharyngeal narrowing; often varying by speaker or environment

American 'r' sound is /r/; Trilled 'r' is /r̗/

Can be a consonant or vowel (e.g., /r/, /ɚ/, /ɝ/), depending on the word's rhyming/context.

Phonemic consonants /j/, /w/, and non-phonemic /ʍ/ (aspirated w).

Articulation involves a transition in the mouth or throat position as the sound slides from one vowel to another.

Speech sounds produced with a noticeable narrowing or constriction of the vocal tract, generally more constricted than vowels.

The way a consonant is produced, including how the airflow is modified.

The location of the major constriction in the mouth during consonant production.

Whether vocal folds vibrate during consonant production.

A consonant produced with complete closure of the vocal tract, completely stopping the airflow.

A consonant produced with the velopharyngeal port open to allow airflow through the nose.

A consonant produced by forcing air through a narrow constriction in the vocal tract, creating friction.

Stop consonant produced using both lips.

Stop consonant formed by the tongue contacting the alveolar ridge (the bony ridge behind your upper teeth).

A stop consonant produced by closing the glottis (the space between the vocal folds).

The ideal environment for recording speech samples is quiet and well-lit, allowing for a clear view of the speaker's face.

High-quality equipment, such as a lavalier or head-mounted microphone, is crucial for optimal speech recording. Avoid using phone or built-in microphones.

Encourage spontaneous conversation, use various topics, and note any non-verbal cues for a richer speech sample.

The process of converting recorded speech into written form and assigning scores based on accuracy of sound production

Factors like age, dialect, and physical traits influence the complexity of transcription and scoring.

The overall understandability of the speaker's speech during recording.

The complexity of the scoring system, the type of speech material, and the number of repetitions can affect transcription accuracy.

Previous judgements can influence subsequent scoring, potentially leading to bias towards confirmation or correction.

A simple scoring system that classifies sounds as either correct or incorrect.

A more detailed scoring system that categorizes sounds as correct, substitution, omission, distortion, or addition.

Sounds like /b/, /d/, and /g/ produced with vocal fold vibration throughout the closure and into the following vowel.

1. Vocal folds fully adduct.
2. Soft palate raises, closing nasal passages.
3. Oral closure is made.
4. Vocal folds vibrate during closure.
5. Oral closure releases, creating a burst.
6. Vocal folds continue to vibrate for the following vowel (no aspiration).

The time between the release of a stop consonant and the start of voicing for the following vowel.

Very short or even negative. Voicing starts almost immediately after the burst.

Sounds like /p/, /t/, and /k/ produced with no vocal fold vibration during the closure, but with full adduction and immediate voicing after the burst.

1. Partial vocal fold adduction.
2. Soft palate raises, closing nasal passages.
3. Oral closure is made.
4. No vocal fold vibration during closure.
5. Oral closure releases, creating a burst.
6. Vocal folds immediately close (no aspiration).
7. Vocal folds begin vibrating for the following vowel.

Turbulent airflow generated by approximated vocal folds.

These sounds only appear in consonant clusters (e.g., 'spot,' 'stop').

Using symbols to represent sounds, like IPA, to capture how words are spoken, especially when studying speech problems.

A speech sound that is produced differently from the standard, but is still recognizable as the intended sound.

When one sound is replaced by another in a word, like saying 'wabbit' for 'rabbit'.

Leaving out a sound completely in a word, like saying 'at' instead of 'cat'.

Adding an extra sound into a word, like saying 'buh-lue' for 'blue'.

When a child produces a sound that is not yet fully developed, but shows they understand the sound exists. For example, rounding lips for a vowel before a final consonant.

The natural flow of spoken language, where words are not pronounced in isolation, but blend together.

When sounds influence each other in connected speech, changing their pronunciation.

The short, explosive noise created when the oral closure is released, marking the end of the consonant.

Turbulent airflow generated by approximated vocal folds, happening after the release of a voiceless stop.

These sounds are produced with partial vocal fold adduction during the closure, no vibration, then immediately full adduction and voicing after the burst.

They only appear in consonant clusters, like 'spot', 'stop', etc.

When a vowel is modified by an on-glide or off-glide, creating a sound similar to a diphthong. The difference between diphthong and glide is based on vowel duration and stress.

A vowel extended in duration, indicated by ':' after the phoneme. May be subjective, but a lengthened vowel will be noticeably longer.

When a child lengthens a vowel before a missing consonant, demonstrating they know the consonant should be there. This is particularly seen with voiced obstruent consonants.

Vowels adjacent to nasal consonants acquire a nasal quality. It's normal and not necessarily an error.

Replacing one stop consonant with another. Typically involves changes in place of articulation (alveolar to velar, etc.), not manner.

Voiceless stops at the beginning of syllables have a puff of air (aspiration), indicated by 'h' superscript.

Stops at the end of an utterance may not release air. Shown by a right angle superscript.

Voicing changes can be partial, not fully lost or gained. This often happens at the start or end of words.

Replacing a stop with a glottal stop, often in word final position. It creates a sudden stop or start to a vowel sound.

Omitting stop consonants, particularly in word final position. Can be confused with unreleased stops.

A stop consonant with less defined burst, sounding 'noisy' due to slower release. AKA spirantized.

Specifically for /t/ and /d/, where the tongue tip forms closure near the lower edge of the upper teeth.

A distortion of fricative and affricate sounds, particularly sibilants (s, sh), where air escapes laterally.

Replacing fricatives with homorganic stop consonants. A common error in early speech development.

Omitting nasal consonants. Can be tricky to notice if the adjacent vowel is nasalized.

Sounds like a nasal consonant are produced without nasal airflow, often replaced by a homorganic stop or an intrusive off-glide.