To understand what an obstruent is, it helps to see what it is . In linguistic terms, they are formally marked as [-sonorant] . Obstruents Airflow Restricted or blocked Relatively free Sound Quality Noisy, turbulent Resonant, musical Voicing Often voiceless Prototypically voiced Examples /p, f, tʃ/ /m, l, w, vowels/
Obstruent vs. Sonorant Consonants in Phonetics ... - Facebook
Air is blocked completely and then released (e.g., /p, b, t, d, k, g/). obstruent
An obstruent is a speech sound produced by obstructing airflow in the vocal tract, resulting in a complete or partial blockage that creates noise or friction. Unlike sonorants (such as vowels, nasals, or liquids) which allow air to flow relatively freely, obstruents are defined by their "tight" or "hissy" acoustic properties. Categories of Obstruents
Air is forced through a narrow passage, creating friction (e.g., /f, v, s, z, ʃ, h/). To understand what an obstruent is, it helps
They are marked by the presence of noise or silence during the constriction phase.
💡 If a sound feels like it "squeezes" the air (like "ssss") it’s an obstruent; if it feels smooth (like "mmmm"), it’s a sonorant. Advanced Phonological Features Sonorant Consonants in Phonetics
They produce a significant increase in air pressure inside the mouth compared to the surrounding air. Obstruent vs. Sonorant
