[+/-sonorant]

Definition

[+/-sonorant] is the major class that refers to sounds that do not have a constriction in the vocal tract during articulation, and thus do not have a buildup of pressure behind a constriction. the [sonorant] class is used to make a distinction between sonorants and obstruents. The segments that are considered to be [+sonorant] are vowels, glides, liquids, and nasals. All other sounds are [-sonorant] (Zsiga 2013, p. 258).

Examples

  • Hul’q’umi’num’
    • The following phonemes enclosed in blue are possible members of the [+sonorant] natural class in Hul’q’umi’num’. It should be noted that all vowels are also [+sonorant].
Adapted from Suttles (2003).
  • Skwxwú7mesh
    • The following phonemes enclosed in blue are possible members of the [+sonorant] natural class in Skwxwú7mesh.
Adapted from Dyck (2004).
  • Secwepemctsín
    • The following phonemes enclosed in blue are possible members of the [+sonorant] natural class in Secwepemctsín. It should be noted that all vowels are also [+sonorant].
Adapted from Gibson (1973).