120 hr. TEFL Course Module 5-Speaking (Pt.7 Place of Articulation)

Module 5: Speaking

Place of articulation

Consonant sounds can also be classified based on where in the vocal tract air gets obstructed, which is known as the place of articulation. Here are the different terms for where consonant sounds are articulated:

• Bilabials: When you close or constrict your lips.
• Labiodentals: When your upper teeth and lower lip meet as you speak.
• Dentals: When you press the tip of your tongue to your upper teeth as you speak.
• Alveolars: When you press the tip of your tongue to the roof of your mouth as you speak.
• Post-alveolars: postalveolar consonants are produced by touching the tip of your tongue to the back of your alveolar ridge. ? t? ? and d? are postalveolar.
• Palatals: When the body of your tongue touches your palate as you speak.
• Velars: When the body of your tongue touches your velum as you speak.
• Glottals: When you constrict your glottis as you speak.

Making vowel sounds

While vowel sounds still rely on opening and closing the mouth, we block the airflow from our throat significantly less when pronouncing them. Many people have difficulty explaining the difference between a vowel and a consonant, so learning how each of them differs in pronunciation can be helpful. Generally, different vowel sounds are made by different mouth shapes and positions of the tongue.