A conventional speech sound produced by articulatory movements that alter, interrupt, or obstruct the expired airstream is an example of which category?

A conventional speech sound produced by articulatory movements that alter, interrupt, or obstruct the expired airstream is an example of which category?

• A. Consonant
• B. Vowel
• C. Diphthong
• D. Fricative

Answer: (A)

This describes how consonants are produced. Consonants arise when the airflow is constricted or even briefly blocked in the vocal tract by articulatory movements, altering or interrupting the airstream. Vowels, by contrast, use an open vocal tract with airflow that isn’t obstructed, and their sound comes from voicing and resonance rather than constriction. So a conventional speech sound produced by changing the airflow with some obstruction fits the category of a consonant. (Fricatives are a type of consonant with a particular narrow constriction, but the statement refers to consonants in general.)

This describes how consonants are produced. Consonants arise when the airflow is constricted or even briefly blocked in the vocal tract by articulatory movements, altering or interrupting the airstream. Vowels, by contrast, use an open vocal tract with airflow that isn’t obstructed, and their sound comes from voicing and resonance rather than constriction. So a conventional speech sound produced by changing the airflow with some obstruction fits the category of a consonant. (Fricatives are a type of consonant with a particular narrow constriction, but the statement refers to consonants in general.)