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The linguistics encyclopedia 34
4 An approximant is a sound in whose articulation the airstream flows continuously,
while two speech organs approach each other without touching, that is, the two speech
organs are in open approximation. Consequently, there is no audible friction—the sound
is frictionless. Approximants, which correspond to what the IPA (see THE
INTERNATIONAL PHONETIC ALPHABET) formerly called frictionless continuants
and semivowels, are by definition any speech sounds so articulated as to be just below
friction limit, that is, just short of producing audible friction between two speech organs.
Approximants are subdivided into lateral approximants and median approximants.
Examples of lateral approximants include [ ], in the case of which the two speech
organs which are said to approach each other are the side(s) of the tongue and the side(s)
of the teeth-ridge. Some examples of median approximants are [ ].
One particular type of speech sound which the IPA only partially recognizes but which
should be fully recognized as median approximants are the speech sounds to which some
refer as spirants and which are quite distinct from fricatives. The sounds correspond to
the letters b, d, and g in, e.g., haber, nada, and agua in Spanish, in the articulation of
which, in normal allegro speech, there occurs no audible friction. These spirants are often
symbolized by , and respectively, although these symbols are not recognized by
the IPA (see THE INTERNATIONAL PHONETIC ALPHABET). Note also that any
close and ‘closish’ vowels, situated along or near the axis between the cardinal vowels
nos 1 and 8 or nos 9 and 16 may justifiably be said to be approximants when they
function as the so-called semivowels. Approximants thus make up a category of
heterogeneous speech sounds, including as they do certain of the vowels. There are
divergent identifications of some approximants on the part of individual phoneticians.
5 A nasal is a sound in whose articulation the egressive airstream meets obstruction at
a given point in the oral cavity and is channelled into the nasal cavity—the soft palate
being lowered—through which it issues out. Some examples of nasals are [m n ŋ].
6 A roll or trill is a sound in whose articulation one speech organ strikes several times
against the other rapidly, e.g. [r].
7 A flap or tap is a sound in whose articulation one speech organ strikes against the
other just once, i.e. [ ].
8 An ejective is a sound in whose articulation a contact or constriction made by two
speech organs at a given point in the oral cavity is released as the closed glottis is
suddenly raised and pushes the compressed air in the mouth outwards, e.g. [p’ s’ ts’], and
the air issues out as the oral closure is suddenly released. An ejective can thus be a
plosive, a fricative, or an affricate.
9 An implosive is a sound in whose articulation a contact made by two speech organs
in the oral cavity is released as air rushes in from outside. This is made possible by a
sudden lowering of the loosely closed glottis, e.g. [ ] and the air then rushes further
inwards as the oral closure is released. An implosive is thus a plosive as well.
10 A click is a sound in whose articulation a contact between two speech organs is
made at a relatively forward part in the oral cavity at the same time as the closure made
between the back of the tongue and the soft palate—velar closure—is released. As a
result air rushes in as the back of the tongue slides backwards on the soft palate, e.g. [ ],
A click is a plosive as well.