Question

What are fricatives? Describe the fricatives of English. (200 words)

Answer 1

Fricatives are consonants that are formed byimpeding the flow of air somewhere in the vocal apparatus so that a friction-sound is produced. Because of the way the flow of breath is heard in producing fricatives, fricatives are also called spirants. Fricatives may be voiced (vocal cords vibrating during the articulation of the fricative) or voiceless(vocal cords not vibrating during the articulation of the fricative). Here is a list of the fricatives in Present-Day English.

1. /f/ (the phoneme spelled f infine): voiceless labiodentalfricative.
2. /v/ (the phoneme spelled v invine): voiced labiodentalfricative.
3. /q/ (the phoneme spelled thin thistle): voiceless interdentalfricative.
4. /ð/ (the phoneme spelled thin this): voiced interdentalfricative.
5. /s/ (the phoneme spelled s insue): voiceless alveolarfricative.
6. /z/ (the phoneme spelled z inzoo): voiced alveolar fricative.
7. /s</ (the phoneme spelled shin shore): voicelessalveopalatal fricative.
8. /z</ (the phoneme spelled zin azure): voiced alveopalatalfricative.

9. /h/ (the phoneme spelled hin hot): voiceless fricative, produced at various points depending upon the vowels in the vicinity. For example, inhot, /h/ is velar, whereas inheat, /h/ is alveopalatal.