3. Teaching Units

Teaching Units

The diagramme lists the six groups of sounds that will be described in this course. Two of these belong to the vowel category, i.e. monophthongs and diphthongs, four are consonants. Note that the term vowel is used here for stable sounds (monophthongs). Click the group label to go to that particular group, or use the Next button to follow the course structure.

Consonants -- Sounds produced with varying forms of hindrance or constriction in the vocal organs.

Vowels - Stable sounds that are produced with open vocal tract and which retain their quality without

noticeable change throughout their production phase.

diphthongs -- Glides; vowel-like sounds that noticeably change during their production/realisation.

Nasals --- Sounds produced with full oral closure but lowered velum so that the air is released

through the nose.

Stops --- Sounds produced with full oral closure and raised velum. The air is released through the mouth after sudden

opening of articulator (lips or tongue).

Fricatives -- Sounds produced with audible friction through narrow opening of the mouth

Approximants --- Sounds released through narrowing of the mouth without audible friction.