2. Consonants
2.2. Fricatives
1-Definition: Sous Partie 01
Are consonants made by forcing the breath out from the lungs through a narrow space in the mouth with the lips, tongue…etc.
2-Characteristics of fricative consonants: Sous Partie 02
Fricatives are characterized by :
1-In the articulation of fricatives the organs are brought together sufficiently to create a narrow channel.
2-The air escapes through a small passage making a “hissing sound” as a result:
3-Fricatives are like plosives and affricates which are characterized by a noise component.
Plosives aspiration. Fricatives and affricates friction
4-Fricatives are continuing consonants that is you can continue making them without interruption as long as you have enough air in your lungs: ssssss- zzzzz.
There are nine fricatives in English
Place of articulation
Labio-dental dental alveolar Palato-alveolar Glottal
Voiceless F θ s ʃh
Voiced V ð z ʒ
ʃ- ʒ: the soft palate is raised and the nasal cavity is shut off. The tip of the tongue make a light contact with the back of thee alveolar ridge while the front of the tongue is raisd towards the hard palate. The air escapes through a passage along the center of the tongue like for s and z but the passage here is wider.
Voiceless fricatives have the effect of shortening the preceding vowel, in the same way as voiceless plosives. Eg: leaf-leave