As a linguistics expert with a focus on phonetics and phonology, I'm often asked about the various types of speech sounds that make up the rich tapestry of human language. One of the key distinctions in this field is between obstruents and sonorants. Let's delve into the concept of an obstruent sound.
An obstruent is a type of speech sound that is characterized by the partial or complete obstruction of the airflow through the vocal tract. This obstruction is what gives obstruents their distinctive sound qualities. There are several ways in which this obstruction can occur, and it's important to understand the different manners of articulation that lead to the production of obstruents.
Firstly, let's consider the places of articulation for obstruents. These include:

1. Bilabial: The obstruction is made with both lips, as in the sounds [p] and [b].

2. Labiodental: The lower front teeth come into contact with the upper lip, as in the sounds [f] and [v].

3. Dental: The tongue touches the upper teeth, as in the sound [θ] (as in "thin") or [ð] (as in "this").

4. Alveolar: The tip of the tongue makes contact with the alveolar ridge, just behind the upper teeth, as in the sounds [t], [d], [s], and [z].

5. Postalveolar: The tongue is curled back slightly from the alveolar ridge, as in the sounds [ʃ] (as in "ship") and [ʒ] (as in "measure").

6. Palatal: The middle part of the tongue approaches the hard palate, as in the sounds [j] (as in "yes") and sometimes [ʧ] (as in "church").
7.
Velar: The back of the tongue makes contact with the soft palate, as in the sounds [k] and [g].
8.
Uvular: The very back part of the tongue approaches the uvula, as in the sounds [q] and [ɢ], which are less common in many languages.
9.
Glottal: The vocal folds themselves come together, as in the sound [h] or the glottal stop [ʔ], which is found in some English dialects and is the sound that replaces the [t] in the word "kitten" when pronounced as "kit'n."
Now, let's discuss the manners of articulation for obstruents, which include:

1. Plosives (or stops): A complete blockage of the airflow is created and then released suddenly, as in [p], [b], [t], [d], [k], and [g].

2. Fricatives: A partial blockage of the airflow creates friction, as in [f], [v], [s], [z], [ʃ], [ʒ], [h], and the affricates [ʧ] and [ʤ].

3. Affricates: These begin as a stop and then continue as a fricative, as in [ʧ] (as in "church") and [ʤ] (as in "judge").

4. Nasal stops: The oral airflow is blocked, but air is allowed to escape through the nose, as in [m] and [ŋ] (the "ng" sound in "sing").
It's important to note that all obstruents are consonants. Vowels, on the other hand, are classified as sonorants because they involve a relatively free flow of air and produce a resonant sound. Sonorants also include some consonants that are not obstructed to the same degree as obstruents, such as liquids (like [l] and [r]) and nasals (like [m], [n], and [ŋ]).
The distinction between obstruents and sonorants is crucial in the study of phonology, as it helps to explain patterns of sound change, the structure of syllables, and the way in which sounds interact within a language. Understanding these concepts is fundamental to the field of linguistics and is essential for anyone interested in the scientific study of language.
In conclusion, obstruents are a fascinating aspect of human speech sounds, and their study provides insight into the physical mechanisms of speech production and the abstract patterns that govern the sounds of the world's languages.

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An obstruent is a speech sound such as [k], [d??], or [f] that is formed by obstructing airflow. Obstruents contrast with sonorants, which have no such obstruction and so resonate. All obstruents are consonants, but sonorants include both vowels and consonants.read more >>