Coronal

Definition

Coronal:

Coronal sounds refer to articulation that is made with the front or tip of the tongue. Coronal sounds include dental and interdental places of articulation, which are defined below.

  • Dental: Dental sounds are made by the tip of the tongue (active) moving towards the upper teeth (passive), creating a constriction in the vocal tract between the tongue and the teeth.
  • Interdental: Sounds that are made by the tip of the tongue (active) moving between both the upper and lower teeth during articulation

Examples

  • Hul’q’umi’num’: the sounds enclosed in red are examples of dental and interdental sounds in Hul’q’umi’num’.
Suttles (2004)
  • Skwxwú7mesh: In Skwxwú7mesh, the following sounds are articulated with a coronal place of articulation. None of the featured sounds are interdental.
Dyck (2004)
  • Secwepemctsin: the following sounds in Secwepemctsin are articulated with a coronal place of articulation, including a dental [t].
Gibson (1973)