tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Tue Sep 27 17:51:14 1994

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Re: Pronunciation (Was: Re: KLBC: jItagh)



I'm actually merely repeating what Lawrence and charghwI' said on this, but...

There are three manners of articulation that matter here:

stops: p, b, d, t, k, g. Sudden release of airstream.
fricatives: f, v, s, z, th, dh, sh, zh. Continuous release of airstream.
affricates: ch, dj, ts, dz. Stop followed by fricative.

There are several places of articulation --- that is, where in the mouth the
constriction is, which is where the sound is being made:
bilabial: b, p. Both lips.
labiodental: f, v. Upper lip and lower teeth.
Dental: th, dh.
Alveolar: s, z, t, d.
Palatoalveolar: sh, zh.
Velar: k, g.

Then there is uvular, which is way behind, back back, where that dangly thing
hangs over your throat. That dangly thing is the uvula, and you make uvular
sounds by bringing the uvula in contact with the back of your throat.

Now. k is a velar stop.
     q is a uvular stop.
     H is a voiceless velar fricative.
     gh is a voiced velar fricative. It is to H as zh is to sh.
     X is a voiceless uvular fricative. It shows up in Dutch a lot. It is to H
as q is to k.
     R, as in French and German, is a *voiced* uvular fricative. It is to
X as zh is to sh.
     Q is a uvular affricate. It is to q and X as ts is to t and s.

-- 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Nick Nicholas. Linguistics, University of Melbourne.   [email protected]  
        [email protected]      [email protected]
        AND MOVING REAL SOON NOW TO: [email protected]



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