[+/- anterior]

Definition

The feature [anterior] is used to distinguish between sounds that are articulated using the front of the tongue at or in front of the alveolar ridge. [+anterior] includes phonemes that are articulated at or in front of the alveolar ridge, and [-anterior] indicates the sounds are articulated with tongue front behind the alveolar ridge (Zsiga, 2013, p. 265).

Sounds in the [+anterior] natural class includes dentals and alveolars.

Examples