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A Quick Introduction to Features for Consonants
• We can describe any PHONE (speech sound) in terms of FEATURES. There are two major types of
features:
o MANNER OF ARTICULATION: features that describe how the phone is made in the
vocal tract (pharynx, oral cavity, and nasal cavity).
o PLACE OF ARTICULATION: features that describe where the phone is made in the
oral cavity, using which part of the tongue
• This handout deals only with features relevant to consonants. Consonants can be described as a
set by two characteristics:
o They are produced with a complete closure or narrowing of the vocal tract.
o They are less sonorous than vowels are. (i.e., they have less of a “singing” quality
to them).
Place of Articulation (PoA)
• We will identify (i) GENERAL and (ii) more specific place of articulation (PoA) feature for
consonants.
o GENERAL place of articulation features tell you whether the lips, tip of tongue,
body of tongue, or epiglottis is active.
o More detailed place of articulation features typically tell you what part of the
mouth the tongue is touching.
• GENERAL place of articulation features are written with ALL-CAPs below and have black,
round bullets.
o More specific place of articulation features are written in normal text and have
white, round bullets.
• LABIAL: [+labial] consonants are produced with the lips.
o Bilabial: Produced with the two lips touching.
[p, b, m] have the PoA features [+labial, +bilabial]
o Labiovelar: Produced with the lips rounded but not touching.
[w, ʍ] have the PoA features [+labial, +labiovelar]
o Labiodental: Produced with the lips touching the front teeth.
[f, v] have the PoA features [+labial, +labiodental]
