What is a sonorant sound? Oral and nasal sonorities

    Sonorant sounds are unpaired voiced consonants that are pronounced without a noise effect - the noise during the formation of sonorant sounds is minimized, and they are heard completely differently from how they are written. For example, in the word trace the last letter D is heard and pronounced like the sound T - sleT. The vocal apparatus certainly participates in their formation.

    Sonorant consonants do not have paired letters:

    m, m, n, n, l, l, r, r, j.

    Look at this series of letters and you will notice that some of them are pronounced clearly, while others are pronounced softly, like a vowel.

    Sonorant sounds are never whistling. Their pronunciation resembles vowel sounds and creates the false impression of the formation of an additional syllable in a word. For example, how many syllables are in the word December? Correct - two, because the word has only two consonant letters - -e- and -a-. However, when pronounced, it seems that there are three syllables. A similar deception can be heard in the words ship, airship, gentleman, etc.

    Oh, and the Russian language is difficult)!

    l, m, n, r, j. There are also other consonant sounds, they are simply called voiced consonant sounds. These are b, c, d, e, g, h. You can read the teacher's explanation and do a couple of exercises on this page.

    The most important difference between vowels and consonants is the participation of the voice in the pronunciation of the former. Articulation of consonants is the complete absence or minimum of voice and the dominant role of noise produced in different parts of the speech apparatus. Those consonants in the pronunciation of which voice is used as much as possible, are called sonorous.

    In some languages ​​(such as modern Czech) they can even form a syllable. These sounds actually stand at the junction of consonants and vowels. For example, it is often difficult to determine what kind of sound we have in front of us - either a non-syllabic or a sonorant j. In words in which we write the letter Y after a vowel and before another one of similar quality, we are talking specifically about a non-syllabic vowel.

    Sonorous sounds have already been described to you. I’ll just add that sonorous sounds lead to mistakes for many people. for example, a child pronounces the word sleT (although you need to write D), the word breT (you only need to write the letter D), and then writes T. You yourself know what this leads to. Sonorant sounds appear independently and do not have a pair.

    The term sonorant sounds (sonorant consonants) is used in phonetics; this term denotes those sounds that are pronounced with a predominance of the voice, without the participation of noise air movement in the human speech apparatus.

    In the Russian language, all consonant sounds are divided into voiceless and voiced, as well as sonorant. Sonorant sounds include sounds such as: й,м,р,л,н.

    As I found out from my sister, certain nine sounds are considered sonorous. Everyone knows these sounds from school - they are m, m, n, n, l, l, r, r, j - say the word iodine and you will immediately hear this sound.

    These letters fall under the concept we are talking about now:

    All this is quite easy to remember, especially the letters, because there are not so many of them, and five pieces are subject to quick perception for the memory of an ordinary student, and such information will always be in stock, which is very important.

    well, in general, these are 9 sounds: m, m, n, n, l, l, r, r, j. this means more expensive, during pronunciation the main source of noise is the tone (voice), which creates vibrating vocal cords

    In Russian phonetics, vowels and consonants are distinguished. Vowel sounds have a telling name: they are pronounced with a voice. And noise takes part to a greater extent in the formation of consonant sounds. But among consonants they stand out for their sonority sonorous sounds, which, unlike other consonants, do not have a voiceless pair. Their formation involves not only noise, but also voice. These consonants are the most voiced. Now let's list them:

    l, l, m, m, n, n, r, r and unpaired soft, unpaired ringing sound th.

    The words frame, chest, pit, spruce, spinning top, young contain only sonorant sounds.

    Sonorant sounds include consonants. Moreover, consonants, which are created only by the voice, are voiced and no noise is involved in the formation of sonorous sounds. Sonorant sounds, that is, sonorant consonants include r, n, l. m.

    Sonorant sounds are the pronunciation of consonant letters that do not require air movement through the throat during pronunciation. This is the simplest explanation that can be given in your own words. In different languages, according to the rules of phonetics and phonology, these can be different letters or combinations. In Russian these are the letters l, m, n, r, y.

There are consonants in which noise practically does not participate in the formation. They are called sonorants or sonants. Their main distinguishing feature is that they are not stunned under any circumstances. In the formation of sonorous sounds, the tone of the voice created by the vibration of the vocal cords prevails over noise. These include the sounds: R, R’, L, L’, N, N’, M, M’, Y. As in the formation of all consonants, in the formation of sonants there is an obstacle in the way of the air stream. However, the frictional force of the jet against the closed organs of speech in this case is minimal, the sound finds a relatively free outlet outward. The air can find its way out either through the nose, which is how the sounds [m], [m’], [n], [n’] are formed, or into the passage between the lateral edges of the tongue and the cheeks - the sound [l], [l’]. If the obstacle is instantaneous, then the sound [р], [р’] is formed. When the gap is wide enough, the sound [j] is formed, corresponding to the letter th. For these reasons, no noise is generated. In accordance with these methods of formation, sonants are divided into fricative, occlusive and tremulous. Thus, the sound [j] is classified as fricative. When pronouncing [j], a gap is formed between the middle part of the back of the tongue and the hard palate, through which a weak air stream passes. The sounds [m], [m’], [n], [n’] are classified as passing through the closure, since the air does not pass through the complete closure, but finds its way through the cavity of the mouth and nose. The occipital ones are divided into oral, or lateral ([l], [l"]), and nasal ([m], [m"], [n], [n"]). Trembling sonants include the sound [р], [р ']. When it is formed, the tip of the tongue is curved and raised towards the alveoli, vibrating under the influence of the air stream. As a result, there is a closure and opening with the alveoli. Since the edges of the tongue are pressed against the lateral teeth, the air stream passes through the middle. These consonants do not have a pair. among voiceless consonants. In other words, in terms of deafness/voice, they are unpaired. In those positions in the word that influence voice production, they behave in a special way, for example, when surrounded by voiceless consonants or at the end of a word. differences from voiced consonants, they are not deafened. For comparison - codes [k`ody - cat]; kola - kol [kal`y - kol]; hollow [fp'ad'na], lamp [l'ampa]. In addition, before sonants there is no voicing of noisy voiceless consonants (request [proz'ba], word [sl'ova]). Sonorant sounds, despite their sonority and the complete absence of a noise component, are not capable of forming a syllable and bearing stress , unlike vowels. The sound [j] (“yot”) is closest to vowels of all sonorant sounds. Sonorant sounds differ from each other in hardness and softness, as well as in the place and method of formation.

: R, R', L, L', N, N', M, M', J.

As with the formation of all , with the formation of sonants, there is an obstacle in the path of the air stream. However, the jet against the closed organs of speech in this case is minimal, the sound finds a relatively free exit out.

The air can find its way out either through the nose, which is how the sounds [m], [m’], [n], [n’] are formed, or into the passage between the lateral edges of the tongue and the cheeks - the sound [l], [l’]. If the obstacle is instantaneous, then the sound [р], [р’] is formed. When the gap is wide enough, the sound [j] is formed, corresponding to the letter th. For these reasons, no noise is generated. In accordance with these methods of formation, sonants are divided into fricative, occlusive and tremulous. Thus, the sound [j] is classified as fricative. When pronouncing [j], a gap is formed between the middle part of the back of the tongue and the hard palate, through which a weak air stream passes.

The sounds [m], [m’], [n], [n’] are classified as passing through the closure, since the air does not pass through the complete closure, but finds its way through the cavity of the mouth and nose. The occipital passages are divided into oral, or lateral ([l], [l"]), and nasal ([m], [m"], [n], [n"])

Trembling sonants include the sound [р], [р’]. When it is formed, the tip of the tongue is curved and raised towards the alveoli, vibrating under the influence of an air stream. As a result, there is a closure and opening with the alveoli. Since the edges of the tongue are pressed against the side teeth, the air stream passes through the middle.

These have no pair among . In other words, in terms of deafness/voiceness they are unpaired. In those positions in which influence vocal performance, they behave in a special way. For example, surrounded by voiceless consonants or . In this position, unlike voiced consonants, they are not deafened. For comparison - codes - code [k`ody - cat]; kola - count [kal'y - count]; depression [fp'ad'na], lamp [l'ampa].

In addition, before sonants there is no voicing of noisy voiceless consonants ([proz'ba], word [sl'ova]). Sonorant sounds, despite their sonority and the complete absence of a noise component, are not able to form and carry, unlike from vowels. The sound [j] ("yot") is closest to vowels of all sonorant sounds. Between themselves, sonorant sounds differ in hardness and softness, as well as in the place and method of formation.

Sources:

  • Phonetics. Phonology. Basic information about stress. Intonation.
  • sonorant sounds are

Consists of one, two or more sounds pronounced simultaneously while exhaling. Each syllable must include a vowel sound. Every word contains at least one syllable. In order to accurately highlight it, you need to know the basic rules of syllabification in the Russian language.

Instructions

You should know that any contains as many vowels as there are vowel sounds, each of which corresponds to one of the letter designations: “a”, “o”, “u”, “e”, “i”, “e”, “s” ", "e", "yu", "i". In contrast, consonant sounds are not syllabic. Therefore, a syllable can also consist of one vowel sound. However, if a syllable contains two or more sounds, then it must be a consonant.

A vowel sound can not only be preceded, but also end or be limited on both sides. Therefore, a syllable can be open (ending with a vowel sound) or closed (ending with a consonant sound). Please note that open syllables are much more common than closed syllables, which are usually located at the end of a word. If a word consists of two syllables, between which there are two consonant sounds, then, as a rule, the first syllable remains open, and

  • Sound means of language
  • § 8. Sound (or phonetic) means of language are divided into
  • Part I. Substantial phonetics Segmental phonetics articulatory aspect of phonetic descriptions
  • Speech apparatus device
  • § 12. Human organs used to produce sounds are called pronunciation organs and constitute the human speech (or pronunciation) apparatus (see Fig. 1, 2).
  • The sound of speech. Vowels and consonants
  • Basic components of speech production
  • § 14. From the point of view of physiology and aerodynamics, three main functional components are distinguished in the process of speech production:
  • Initiation
  • § 15. Initiation is the creation of an air flow in the vocal tract as a result of the movement of one of the speech organs, causing an increase or decrease in pressure in one of the sections of the vocal tract.
  • Articulation
  • § 16. As mentioned above (see § 11), in the process of articulation it is customary to distinguish three stages:
  • Place of articulation
  • Types of consonants according to the position of the tip of the tongue
  • § 18. Depending on which part of the tongue takes part in the articulation of front-lingual18 consonants, in phonetics it is customary to distinguish between apical, laminal and retroflex consonants.
  • Articulation method
  • Sonorant consonants
  • Additional articulation
  • Phonation
  • § 24. Due to the movement of the arytenoid cartilages along the horizontal axis, the configuration of the vocal passage can change:
  • Mechanism of voice formation
  • § 25. During physiological breathing and during the formation of dull sounds, the vocal cords are separated.
  • Articulatory classification of sounds of the Russian language
  • § 26. Phonetic classifications are divided into:
  • Consonants
  • § 27. In Russian, four features are usually used to classify consonants:
  • Vowels
  • § 28. Vowels are a class of sounds distinguished based on the following properties:
  • § 29. In traditional phonetics of the Russian language, the classification of vowels is given in the form of a table based on three features - row, rise and labialization (see Table 5).
  • § 31. Changes in phonetic units associated with the influence of context can be caused by:
  • Transcription
  • § 33. Transcription is the recording of spoken speech by graphic means. Transcription may be
  • Phonetic transcription
  • § 34. Based on the purposes of phonetic transcription and the conditions of its application, we can formulate the two most general rules for its construction:
  • Transcription and experimental phonetics
  • Transcription and orthoepy
  • Russian phonetic transcription
  • § 37. The transcription used in modern Russian studies is based on the Cyrillic alphabet adopted in Russian orthography, with the addition of some letters from other alphabets.
  • Phonetic transcription signs
  • § 38. Two types of signs are used in transcription:
  • Designation of vowel sounds
  • § 39. Although the sound in speech, as a rule, is not isolated, the main sound type is taken to be the sound that is closest to the isolated utterance.
  • Diacritics for vowels
  • Vowels of a stressed syllable
  • Vowels of the first pre-stressed syllable.
  • § 43. In the 1st pre-stressed syllable, after hard consonants, the following sound types of vowels change:
  • Designation of consonants
  • § 47. In the transcription, all consonant letters of the Russian alphabet are used, except for, and in addition the letters j and γ.
  • Diacritics for consonants
  • Acoustic aspect of phonetic descriptions Subject of acoustic phonetics
  • § 49. In acoustic phonetics, the aerodynamic and acoustic phases of speech are studied:
  • Physical nature of sound
  • Types of vibrations. Periodic and non-periodic oscillations
  • Objective properties of sounds and their subjective correlates
  • Propagation of sound waves
  • Simple (pure) tone - harmonic vibration
  • § 54. Speech sounds are complex vibrations, i.e. Complex combinations of simple or pure tones and/or noises.
  • Complex sounds. Fourier spectral decomposition
  • Resonance
  • Acoustic theory of speech production
  • Formanta.F-pattern
  • Basic ways to study the acoustic properties of speech
  • Formation of vowel sounds
  • Correlation between articulatory and acoustic characteristics of vowels
  • Acoustic properties of consonants
  • § 65. Sonorant consonants in their spectral pattern are very close to vowels and sometimes differ from them only in less intensity.
  • § 66. Noisy consonants.
  • Sonorant consonants

    § 20. To describe some phonetic phenomena, they distinguish sonorous consonants (sonants). In Russian these are the sounds [l], [l"], [r], [r"], [m], [m"], [n], [n"], [j], [i] (the remaining consonants are called noisy).

    Sonorant consonants differ from noisy consonants not only in articulatory, but also in acoustic and phonological characteristics (see below § 65, 157).

    From an articulatory point of view, sonorant consonants occupy an intermediate position between vowels and noisy consonants. This manifests itself in the following:

      when articulating nasal consonants in the vocal tract, a barrier is created for the passage of air and at the same time conditions are created that prevent the occurrence of noise: a passage into the nasal cavity opens;

      when articulating the lateral ones, the lateral edges of the tongue are lowered and passages are created through which air bypasses the barrier created in the central part of the vocal tract;

      when articulating trembling, a barrier is formed for such a short time that its violation does not cause the formation of noise;

      a special type of sonorant consonants is formed when a narrowing of the approximant type is created in the vocal tract - for example, [i] (the same narrowing is created in the lateral region when pronouncing [l], [l’]) 23.

    The consonants [р], [р"], [л], [л"] are united by the term " smooth"(liquids).

    Additional articulation

    § 21. Simultaneously with the main articulation of sound, additional articulation can be carried out. In the Russian language, additional articulations are characteristic primarily of consonant sounds 24. Additional consonantal articulation differs from the main degree of narrowing in the vocal tract. At the site of additional articulation, the narrowing is less than at the site of the main one (usually it is the same as during the articulation of approximant or vowels). There are three types of additional articulations in the Russian language:

      labialization– rounding of the lips (this type of articulation characterizes consonants in the position before the vowels [y] and [o]);

      palatalization– displacement of the body of the tongue forward and upward in the direction of the hard palate;

      velarization– displacement of the body of the tongue back and upward in the direction of the soft palate (see Fig. 47.48 in Appendix A).

    In Russian, additional articulation characterizes most consonants. All soft consonants, except [j] and [i], are palatalized, and all hard consonants, except for the velars [k], [g], [x], are velarized. The consonant [j] cannot be palatalized, since the place of its main articulation coincides with the place of additional articulation of palatalization, and the consonants [k], [g], [x] cannot be velarized, since the place of their main articulation coincides with the place of additional articulation velarization. Thus, from an articulatory point of view, there are no unpaired consonants 25 in terms of hardness/softness (except for [j] and [i]).

    Non-palatalized and non-velarized consonants are possible in Russian in consonantal combinations in the position before a soft consonant ( With neg, h make-up etc.). Such consonants, as well as consonants with a slight degree of palatalization, are called semi-soft.

    The terms “hard” and “soft” consonant are not completely identical to the articulatory terms “velarized” and “palatalized” - thus, non-velarized [k], [g], [x] in SLSL are, nevertheless, hard consonants, and non-palatalized [ j] – soft.

    The degree of palatalization and velarization can vary both in different languages ​​and in the same language. For example, palatalization in dental consonants in the Russian language is more pronounced than in labial consonants, and the Russians [l], [sh], and [zh] are characterized by the highest degree of velarization.

    The presence of additional articulation (especially in a place close to the main one) can lead to a change in the place and method of the main articulation. When soft [t"], [d"], [n"] and especially [l"] are formed, the articulatory focus shifts backward compared to the corresponding hard ones (so [l"] in the pronunciation of most SRL speakers is, strictly speaking, not dental, but alveolar); with articulation, [z"], on the contrary, the articulatory focus shifts forward compared to the corresponding hard ones. The place of formation changes most significantly in palatalized [k’], [g’], [x’]: unlike the posterior palatal [k], [g], [x], they are mid-palatal, while remaining posterior lingual.

    The change in the method of formation during palatalization is most clearly manifested in dental consonants: soft [d "], [t"] become so strongly affricated (acquire a fricative phase) that from an articulatory point of view they become affricates [d z "], [t s "].

    In transcription, additional articulations are usually indicated by diacritics (softness [j] is not indicated, since it never is and cannot be physiologically hard). In the Russian phonetic tradition, velarization of consonants is traditionally not indicated 26. The semi-softness of a consonant can be indicated by a dot at the top right of the corresponding symbol: [p. n "e k].

    Additional articulations most often arise in the history of language from the phenomena of coarticulation.

    Sonorant sounds are special phonetic units. They differ from other sounds not only in their characteristics, but also in the specificity of their functioning in speech. What does “sonorant sounds” mean and what are their features is discussed in detail in the article.

    Russian language sound system

    Language is a unique phenomenon. It is studied and described from various positions, which determines the existence of many sections in the science of language - linguistics. One of these sections is phonetics. In the systemic view of language, phonetics is the first, basic linguistic tier. It deals with one of the material aspects of language, namely its sound. Thus, phonetics is a branch of linguistics that studies the sound side of language.

    Phonetics defines sound as the minimal indivisible unit of language; all speech sounds are divided into vowels and consonants; their key difference is in the method of articulation: vowels are created using tone (at school they usually say that such sounds “can be sung”), and consonants are formed by noise.

    There was once a debate about the number of vowel sounds in the Russian language; points of view were divided: the Moscow phonological school did not recognize the sound [s] as independent, considering it a variant of the sound [i], while the Leningrad scientific school insisted on complete independence of [s]. Thus, according to the former, there are 5 vowel sounds in the Russian language, and according to the latter, there are 6. Note that the point of view of the Leningrad phonological school is still generally accepted.

    Consonants

    In linguistics, the classification of consonant sounds is carried out on various grounds:

    • at the place of formation (depending on the place in the mouth where the outgoing air stream meets an obstacle);
    • by the method of formation (depending on what obstacle the air stream encounters and how it overcomes it);
    • by the presence/absence of palatalization (mitigation);
    • by noise level (i.e. by the ratio of tone and noise during articulation).

    It is the last principle that is of interest to us, since it is according to it that all consonants are usually divided into noisy and sonorant. When noisy consonants are formed, the noise intensity is much higher than when sonorant ones are formed.

    Note that this classification is generally accepted, but is far from the only one.

    Sonorant sounds in Russian

    In the formation of sonorant sounds, tone prevails over noise. But we already know that vowel sounds are formed with the help of tone (voice). It turns out that sonorous sounds are vowels?! Modern linguistics clearly classifies sonorants as consonants, but this was not always the case.

    If you look at the textbook by Professor, Doctor of Philology A. A. Reformatsky, “Introduction to Linguistics,” 1967 edition, you will see that the author divides sounds into sonorant and noisy. Thus, in Reformatsky’s classification, all vowels, as well as [p], [l], [m], [n] and their soft pairs, as well as [j] are considered sonorant precisely because of the dominance of tone over noise in the process of articulation .

    Over time, the classification has undergone changes, and today it is customary to distinguish between vowels and sonorants, and the latter are included in consonants. Modern linguistics classifies as sonorant [p], [l], [m], [n] (as well as their palatalized pairs) and [j] (in some school textbooks it is designated as [th]).

    But the change in the formal side did not change the principle and method of their formation, which determines the special position of these sounds in the phonetic system of the Russian language. Simply put, sonorant sounds are consonant sounds that behave like vowels in speech from the point of view of phonetic laws.

    For example, they are not subject to, like other voiced consonants at the end of a word, for example: oak [dup], but also they are not subject to the law of assimilation, which states that a deaf person standing in front of a voiced consonant becomes voiced, i.e., becomes similar to it, and a voiced one in front of a deaf person he is deafened. Sonorants do not affect the quality of the preceding consonant sound, just like vowel sounds. Compare: pass [zdatꞌ] and path [doroshka], but primus [prꞌimus].

    Let's sum it up

    So, sonorant sounds are the sounds [р], [л], [м], [н] and their soft pairs [рꞌ], [лꞌ], [мꞌ], [нꞌ], respectively, as well as the sound [j]. All these sounds do not have a hardness/dullness pair, that is, they are always voiced. And the sound [j] does not have a pair in terms of hardness/softness, that is, it is not only always sonorous, but also always soft.



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