CONSONANT POSITIONS
Bilabial: Made with the lips
English Example: b in bed
Labiodental: Made with the bottom lip and the top teeth
English Example: v in very
Dental: Made with the tip of the tongue and the top teeth
English Example: th in thing
Alveolar: Made with the tip of the tongue and the area just behind the top teeth
English Example: t in Tom
Post-Alveolar: Made with the tip of the tongue and the are just behind where the alveolarconsonants are pronounced
English Example: sh in short
Retroflex: Made with the tip of the tongue curved backward behind the alveolar ridge.
English Examples: r in some dialects of American English
Palatal: Made with the tongue and the palate
English Examples: y in yes
Velar: Made with the back of the tongue and the velum (the back of the mouth).
English Examples: c in cat
Uvular: Made with the back of the tongue and the uvula.
English Examples: No English examples. This is how the French r is usually made.
Glottal: Made with theglottis(see definition in the glossary). In essence glottal consonantsare made with the throat.
English Example: h in hat
CONSONANT QUALITIES
Plosive: Part of the vocal tract or mouth is closed, then air is released with a sharp burst
English Examples: p in pet, t in Tom
Nasal: Made with the back of the mouth closing up so that air passes through the nasalcavity
English Examples: n in nose, m in me
Trill: Made with part of the vocal tract or mouth fluttering rapidly.
English Examples: None in standard English. The trilled r in Spanish and Italian.
TaporFlap: Basically like it sounds. The consonant is made with the tongue quickly tapping some part of the mouth.
English Examples: The t in better in American English. The r in Spanish cara
Fricative: Made by closing some part of the mouth or vocal tract and pushing air through asmall opening.
English Examples: The f in free, the s in silly