Manner of articulation

Manner of articulation refers to how the airflow is obstructed in the production of speech sounds. Here are some explanations of the different manners of articulation:
1. Stops: These are sounds that are produced by completely blocking the airflow in the vocal tract. Examples include /p/, /b/, /t/, /d/, /k/, and /g/.
2. Fricatives: These sounds are produced by forcing air through a narrow channel in the vocal tract, causing friction. Examples include /f/, /v/, /s/, /z/, /ʃ/, and /ʒ/.
3. Affricates: These sounds are produced by first stopping the airflow and then releasing it slowly while keeping the articulators in place, creating a burst of sound followed by a fricative. Examples include /tʃ/ (as in “church”) and /dʒ/ (as in “judge”).
4. Nasals: These sounds are produced by closing the oral cavity and allowing the sound to pass through the nasal cavity. Examples include /m/, /n/, and /ŋ/.
5. Liquids: These sounds are produced by allowing the air to flow around the sides of the tongue while it is held in a specific position in the mouth. Examples include /l/ and /r/.
6. Glides: These sounds are produced by quickly moving the articulators from one position to another. Examples include /w/ (as in “water”) and /j/ (as in “yes”).
7. The glottal stop and the flap: The glottal stop is produced by closing the glottis (the opening between the vocal cords) briefly, creating a sudden stop in airflow. The flap is produced by quickly tapping the tongue against the alveolar ridge. Examples include the glottal stop in “uh- oh” and the flap in “butter”.
8. Vowels and Diphthongs: Vowels are sounds that are produced with an open vocal tract and without any major constriction. English has 12 vowel sounds: /i/, /ɪ/, /e/, /ɛ/, /æ/, /ʌ/, /ɑ/, /ɔ/, /o/, /ʊ/, /u/, and /ə/. Diphthongs are vowel sounds that consist of a combination of two vowel sounds, with a smooth transition from one to the other. Examples include /eɪ/ (as in “play”) and /aɪ/ (as in “buy”).
In teaching, it is important to understand the different manners of articulation as they form the building blocks of speech sounds. Teachers can help students identify and produce different speech sounds accurately by explaining the manner of articulation and providing practice opportunities.