Alveolar

Definition

Alveolar:

Alveolar sounds are those made by the front of the tongue (active) touching the alveolar ridge, including both post-alveolar and retroflex sounds.

  • Post-alveolar: sounds that are made with the tongue blade moving making a constriction where the roof of the mouth raises steeply (behind the alveolar ridge).
  • Retroflex: retroflex sounds are similar to post-alveolar in that they are made with a constriction in the same area. Retroflex sounds, however, are made with the tip of the tongue curling back, so that the bottom of the tongue touches the post-alveolar ridge.

Examples

  • Hul’q’umi’num’: the following sounds enclosed in red are produced with an alveolar place of articulation in Hul’q’umi’num’.
Suttles (2004)
  • Skwxwú7mesh: the following sounds enclosed in red are articulated with an alveolar place. There are no retroflex sounds in Skwxwú7mesh.
Dyck (2004) ****
  • Secwepemctsin: in Secwepemctsin, the following sounds are articulated at an alveolar place.
Gibson (1973)