In Vowels^x, Approximants^x

I do not think it necessarily is.If we start with a definition that a vowel is a sound articulated without any obstruction of the vocal tract and that a consonant is a sound that is articulated with an obstruction, then we do not have any difficulty deciding that /a/ is a vowel and /k/ is a...

Hello Feebs, The first syllable of Paulo (Pau.lo), is a diphthong similar to "foul", the second, though unstressed, is clearly pronounced as the poetical interjection "Lo!". Coelho, has thress syllables (Co.e.lho), all the vowels are distincly pronounced, but the stress falls on the "e", which...

I suspect what the question is trying to elicit is something like this: We tend to think that there is a hard and fast distinction between vowels and consonants. There are however some sounds (nasals and approximants) which (like vowels) do not involve any friction of the organs of speech, but...

Yes, Alienvoord is right. Sonarants (nasals, approximants, glides, and vowels) can be pronounced in that way.

Why not consonants? The class of consonants has nasals and approximants, but not vowels. I suspect there is more assumed in the question than is actually stated. I suspect the word only has been left out: Is there a natural class that has only nasals and approximants but not...

I'm asked this question, which I fear is bit beyond me. Can anyone help perhaps explaining what exactly is being expected from this question and/or any answer/help towards it ??? "Is there a natural class that has nasals and approximants but not vowels?? I'm stuck on a phonology problem where...

Yes, I do sound a little like John Wayne, pardner. No need to get in a twist, King-- my tongue is obviously doing something back there: it is all tensed up, controlling the air flow and who knows what-all. The discussion, however, is intended to get foreign students to differentiate their /r/...

Hi, Guest. From the point of view of phonetics, that is, taking into account how these letters sound, "y" and "w" are called "approximants" or "semivowels" in English. We are referring here to the sounds, not to their graphic representation. There are also 12 vowel sounds and 8 dipthongs (or 9,...