Linguolabial consonant

A type of consonantal sound used in some spoken languages

Introduction

Diagram of a linguolabial stop articulation

A linguolabial consonant is a type of consonant sound used in some spoken languages. These sounds are produced by placing the tongue against the upper lip, which is a rare articulatory gesture in the world's languages. Linguolabial consonants are found in a few languages, primarily in Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea.

Articulation

Linguolabial consonants are articulated by the contact of the tongue with the upper lip. This is in contrast to more common articulations such as bilabial consonants, where both lips come together, or alveolar consonants, where the tongue contacts the alveolar ridge. The articulatory gesture involves the tongue tip or blade making contact with the upper lip, which can be seen in the diagram of a linguolabial stop.

Types of Linguolabial Consonants

Linguolabial consonants can be stops, fricatives, or nasals, among other types. Some examples include:

• Linguolabial stops: These are produced by completely blocking the airflow with the tongue against the upper lip and then releasing it. An example is the linguolabial plosive.
• Linguolabial fricatives: These are produced by forcing air through a narrow channel formed by the tongue and the upper lip, creating a turbulent airflow.
• Linguolabial nasals: These involve the airflow being directed through the nasal cavity while the tongue contacts the upper lip.

Occurrence in Languages

Linguolabial consonants are not widespread and are considered rare. They are primarily found in some languages of Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea. For example, the V'ënen Taut language of Vanuatu includes linguolabial stops and fricatives in its phonemic inventory.

Phonetic Transcription

In the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), linguolabial consonants are indicated by the use of a diacritic. The diacritic for linguolabial articulation is a small "seagull" shape placed under the symbol for the corresponding alveolar or dental consonant. For example, a linguolabial stop might be transcribed as [t_] in the IPA.

Related pages

• Consonant
• Place of articulation
• International Phonetic Alphabet
• V'ënen Taut language