The voiceless labial–palatal fricative or approximant is a type of consonantal sound, used in a few spoken languages. The symbol in the International Phonetic Alphabet that represents this sound is ⟨ɥ̊[1] or ⟨ɸ͡ç⟩.[2] The former – more accurately the voiceless labialized palatal fricative by those who consider it to be a fricative[3] – is the voiceless counterpart of the voiced labial–palatal approximant. Other linguists posit voiceless approximants distinct from voiceless fricatives; to them, [ɥ̊] is a voiceless labialized palatal approximant.

Features

or

  • Its manner of articulation is approximant, which means it is produced by narrowing the vocal tract at the place of articulation, but not enough to produce a turbulent airstream.
  • The place of articulation of [ɥ̊] is palatal; it is also labialized.[3] The place of articulation of [ɸ͡ç] is palatal and bilabial.
  • Its phonation is voiceless, which means it is produced without vibrations of the vocal cords. In some languages the vocal cords are actively separated, so it is always voiceless; in others the cords are lax, so that it may take on the voicing of adjacent sounds.
  • It is an oral consonant, which means air is allowed to escape through the mouth only.
  • It is a central consonant, which means it is produced by directing the airstream along the center of the tongue, rather than to the sides.
  • The airstream mechanism is pulmonic, which means it is articulated by pushing air solely with the lungs and diaphragm, as in most sounds.

Occurrence

Language Word IPA Meaning Notes
Iaai [example needed] Described as an approximant. Contrasts with the voiced /ɥ/. Not protruded.[4]
Kham Gamale Kham ह्व़ा [ɥ̊ɐ] 'monkey' Described as an approximant. Contrasts with the voiced /ɥ/.[5]

Notes

  1. ^ Ohala & Solé (2010), p. 43.
  2. ^ Patricia Ashby (2013) Speech Sounds. Routledge. 2nd edition, p. 82, 116
  3. ^ a b Florence Abena Dolphyne (1988) The Akan (Twi-Fante) Language: Its Sound Systems and Tonal Structure, p.44
  4. ^ Maddieson & Anderson (1994), p. 176.
  5. ^ Wilde (2016).

References

External links