Classification of consonants in the manner of articulation.
All English phonemes can be divided into consonants phonemes and vowels phonemes. The following 20 vowel phonemes are distinguished in BBC English (RP): [i:, a:, o:, u:, з:, i, e,; ei, ai, oi].
Sonorants are sounds that differ greatly from other consonants. This is due to the fact that in their production the air passage between the two organs of speech is fairly wide, that is much wider than in the production of noise consonants. As a result, the auditory effect is tone, not noise (m, n, w, r, ŋ, l).
Consonants and sonorants may be occlusive and constrictive.
Occlusive consonants are sounds in the production of which the air stream meets a complete obstruction in mouth.
Occlusive noise consonants ( stops ) – the breath is completely stopped at some point of articulation and then it is released with an explosion ( plosive ).
Occlusive sonorants ( nasal ) – made with a complete obstruction but the soft palate is lowered and the air stream escapes through the nose.
2. Constrictive consonants apw the air stream meets an incomplete obstruction in the resonator, so the air passage is constricted.
Constrictive noise consonants ( fricatives ) – apw the air passage is constricted and the air escapes through the narrowing with friction.
Constrictive sonorants ( oral ) – made with an incomplete obstruction but with a rather wide air passage; so tone prevails over noise.
3. Occlusive – constrictive consonants ( affricates ) – noise consonant sounds produced with a complete obstruction which is slowly released and the air escapes from the mouth with some friction.