Sonorous sounds - these are voiced consonants, in the formation of which the voice predominates, and the noise is minimal.

As you know, in Russian phonetics, vowels and consonants are distinguished. The composition of consonant sounds is heterogeneous. Some of them are formed with a larger share noise. This is how voiceless consonants arise:

[k], [k'], [p], [p'], [s], [s'], [t], [t'], [f], [f'], [x], [ x'], [ts], [h'], [w], [w'].

In the birth of other consonants, the proportion of noise is less. These are voiced consonants:

[b], [b'], [c], [c'], [d], [d'], [d], [d'], [g], [g'], [h], [ z'].

Among voiced consonants they stand out for their sonority sonorous (lat. sonorus - sonorous), in the formation of which the share of noise is minimal, and the voice prevails, that is, the sound comes out relatively freely. If air escapes through the nose, sonorous sounds are produced [m], [m’], [n], [n’].

Air can pass into the passage between the lateral edges of the cheeks and tongue. Then sonorous sounds are born [l], [l’].

If the tip of the tongue rises to the alveoli and trembles under the influence of an air stream, sonorous sounds occur [р], [р’].

As you can see, the listed sonorous sounds have pairs of softness/hardness.

When the gap is wide enough for exhaled air between the middle part of the back of the tongue and the hard palate, a sonorous sound occurs [th’]. It is closest to vowels, since there is almost no noise. It has no pair in terms of hardness. Sonorant consonant sound [th’] is unpaired soft.

Sonorous sounds [l], [l’], [m], [m’], [n], [n’], [r], [r’], [th’] do not have a pair among the voiceless consonants. In terms of voicedness/voicelessness, they are all unpaired. At the end of a word, unlike other voiced consonants, sonorants are not devoiced. Let's compare:

• knight [s’] - wind;
• crew [w] - angle;
• plant [t] - cocoon;
• impulse [f] - dwarf.

There is no voicing of voiceless consonants before sonorant sounds, for example:

co rk ah, boo OK ah, ka nt ata, la mp points.

Compare:

• anecdote [a n’ i g d o t];
• station [va g z a l];
• mowing [k a z’ b a].

What distinguishes sonorant consonants from other voiced consonants is that noise practically does not participate in their formation. In addition, they do not have a pair among voiceless consonants, i.e. are unpaired in voicelessness/voiceness, and behave in a special way in those positions in the word that influence voice production, in particular, at the end of the word and surrounded by voiceless consonants. Unlike voiced consonants, sonorant consonants at the end of a word and in the position before a voiceless consonant are not devoiced (compare: codes - code [k'ody - cat]; kol - kol [kal'y - kol]; depression [fp'ad'na] , lamp [l`ampa]).

Before sonorant consonants, there is no voicing of noisy voiceless consonants (request [pr'oz'ba], word [sl'ova]). Despite their sonority and the almost complete absence of a noise component, sonorant sounds in the Russian language, unlike vowels, are not able to form a syllable and bear stress (although in other languages, for example in Czech, such consonants have this ability: prst). The closest sound to vowels among sonorants is [j] (“yot”). Sonorant sounds differ among themselves in the place and method of formation, as well as in hardness/softness.

Sonorant consonants

§ 20. To describe some phonetic phenomena, they distinguish sonorous consonants (sonants). In Russian these are the sounds [l], [l"], [r], [r"], [m], [m"], [n], [n"], [j], [i] (the remaining consonants are called noisy).

Sonorant consonants differ from noisy consonants not only in articulatory, but also in acoustic and phonological characteristics (see below § 65, 157).

From an articulatory point of view, sonorant consonants occupy an intermediate position between vowels and noisy consonants. This manifests itself in the following:

when articulating nasal consonants in the vocal tract, a barrier is created for the passage of air and at the same time conditions are created that prevent the occurrence of noise: a passage into the nasal cavity opens;

when articulating the lateral ones, the lateral edges of the tongue are lowered and passages are created through which air bypasses the barrier created in the central part of the vocal tract;

when trembling articulation, a barrier is formed on such a short time that its violation does not cause noise;

a special type of sonorant consonants is formed when a narrowing of the approximant type is created in the vocal tract - for example, [i] (the same narrowing is created in the lateral region when pronouncing [l], [l’]) 23.

The consonants [р], [р"], [л], [л"] are united by the term " smooth"(liquids).

Additional articulation

§ 21. Simultaneously with the main articulation of sound, additional articulation can be carried out. In the Russian language, additional articulations are characteristic primarily of consonant sounds 24. Additional consonantal articulation differs from the main degree of narrowing in the vocal tract. At the site of additional articulation, the narrowing is less than at the site of the main one (usually it is the same as during the articulation of approximant or vowels). There are three types of additional articulations in the Russian language:

labialization– rounding of the lips (this type of articulation characterizes consonants in the position before the vowels [y] and [o]);

palatalization– displacement of the body of the tongue forward and upward in the direction of the hard palate;

velarization– displacement of the body of the tongue back and upward in the direction of the soft palate (see Fig. 47.48 in Appendix A).

In Russian, additional articulation characterizes most consonants. All soft consonants, except [j] and [i], are palatalized, and all hard consonants, except for the velars [k], [g], [x], are velarized. The consonant [j] cannot be palatalized, since the place of its main articulation coincides with the place of additional articulation of palatalization, and the consonants [k], [g], [x] cannot be velarized, since the place of their main articulation coincides with the place of additional articulation velarization. Thus, from an articulatory point of view, there are no unpaired consonants 25 in terms of hardness/softness (except for [j] and [i]).

Non-palatalized and non-velarized consonants are possible in Russian in consonantal combinations in the position before a soft consonant ( With neg, h make-up and so on.). Such consonants, as well as consonants with a slight degree of palatalization, are called semi-soft.

The terms “hard” and “soft” consonant are not completely identical to the articulatory terms “velarized” and “palatalized” - thus, non-velarized [k], [g], [x] in SLSL are, nevertheless, hard consonants, and non-palatalized [ j] – soft.

The degree of palatalization and velarization may vary as in different languages, and in one language. For example, palatalization in dental consonants in the Russian language is more pronounced than in labial consonants, and the Russians [l], [sh], and [zh] are characterized by the highest degree of velarization.

The presence of additional articulation (especially in a place close to the main one) can lead to a change in the place and method of the main articulation. When soft [t"], [d"], [n"] and especially [l"] are formed, the articulatory focus shifts backward compared to the corresponding hard ones (so [l"] in the pronunciation of most SRL speakers is, strictly speaking, not dental, but alveolar); with articulation, [z"], on the contrary, the articulatory focus shifts forward compared to the corresponding hard ones. The place of formation changes most significantly in palatalized [k’], [g’], [x’]: unlike the posterior palatal [k], [g], [x], they are mid-palatal, while remaining posterior lingual.

The change in the method of formation during palatalization is most clearly manifested in dental consonants: soft [d "], [t"] become so strongly affricated (acquire a fricative phase) that from an articulatory point of view they become affricates [d z "], [t s "].

In transcription, additional articulations are usually indicated by diacritics (softness [j] is not indicated, since it never is and cannot be physiologically hard). In the Russian phonetic tradition, velarization of consonants is traditionally not indicated 26. The semi-softness of a consonant can be indicated by a dot at the top right of the corresponding symbol: [p. n "e k].

Additional articulations most often arise in the history of language from the phenomena of coarticulation.

Sonorant sounds are unpaired voiced consonants that are pronounced without a noise effect - the noise during the formation of sonorant sounds is minimized, and they are heard completely differently from how they are written. For example, in the word trace the last letter D is heard and pronounced like the sound T - sleT. The vocal apparatus certainly participates in their formation.

Sonorant consonants do not have paired letters:

m, m, n, n, l, l, r, r, j.

Look at this series of letters and you will notice that some of them are pronounced clearly, while others are pronounced softly, like a vowel.

Sonorant sounds are never whistling. Their pronunciation resembles vowel sounds and creates the false impression of the formation of an additional syllable in a word. For example, how many syllables are in the word December? Correct - two, because the word has only two consonant letters - -e- and -a-. However, when pronounced, it seems that there are three syllables. A similar deception can be heard in the words ship, airship, gentleman, etc.

Oh, and the Russian language is difficult)!

l, m, n, r, j. There are also other consonant sounds, they are simply called voiced consonant sounds. These are b, c, d, e, g, h. You can read the teacher's explanation and do a couple of exercises on this page.

The most important difference between vowels and consonants is the participation of the voice in the pronunciation of the former. Articulation of consonants is the complete absence or minimum of voice and the dominant role of what is produced in different areas speech apparatus noise. Those consonants in the pronunciation of which voice is used as much as possible, are called sonorous.

In some languages ​​(such as modern Czech) they can even form a syllable. These sounds actually stand at the junction of consonants and vowels. For example, it is often difficult to determine what kind of sound we have in front of us - either a non-syllabic or a sonorant j. In words in which we write the letter Y after a vowel and before another one of similar quality, we are talking specifically about a non-syllabic vowel.



Sonorous sounds have already been described to you. I’ll just add that sonorous sounds lead to mistakes for many people. for example, a child pronounces the word sleT (although you need to write D), the word breT (you only need to write the letter D), and then writes T. You yourself know what this leads to. Sonorant sounds appear independently and do not have a pair.

The term sonorant sounds (sonorant consonants) is used in phonetics; this term denotes those sounds that are pronounced with a predominance of the voice, without the participation of noise air movement in the human speech apparatus.

In the Russian language, all consonant sounds are divided into voiceless and voiced, as well as sonorant. Sonorant sounds include sounds such as: й,м,р,л,н.

As I found out from my sister, certain nine sounds are classified as sonorants. Everyone knows these sounds from school - they are m, m, n, n, l, l, r, r, j - say the word iodine and you will immediately hear this sound.

These letters fall under the concept we are talking about now:

All this is quite easy to remember, especially the letters, because there are not so many of them, and five pieces are subject to quick perception for the memory of an ordinary student, and such information will always be in stock, which is very important.

well, in general, these are 9 sounds: m, m, n, n, l, l, r, r, j. this means more expensive, during pronunciation the main source of noise is the tone (voice), which creates vibrating vocal cords

In Russian phonetics, vowels and consonants are distinguished. Vowel sounds have a telling name: they are pronounced with a voice. And in the formation of consonant sounds it takes part in to a greater extent noise. But among consonants they stand out for their sonority sonorous sounds, which, unlike other consonants, do not have a voiceless pair. Their formation involves not only noise, but also voice. These consonants are the most voiced. Now let's list them:

l, l, m, m, n, n, r, r and unpaired soft, unpaired ringing sound th.

The words frame, chest, pit, spruce, spinning top, young contain only sonorant sounds.

Sonorant sounds include consonants. Moreover, consonants, which are created only by the voice, are voiced and no noise is involved in the formation of sonorous sounds. Sonorant sounds, that is, sonorant consonants include r, n, l. m.

Sonorant sounds are the pronunciation of consonant letters that do not require air movement through the throat during pronunciation. This is the simplest explanation that can be given in your own words. In different languages, according to the rules of phonetics and phonology, these can be different letters or combinations. In Russian these are the letters l, m, n, r, y.

Few people in ordinary life thinks about the classification of sounds that people use in speech. Some people from the school course of the Russian language remember that there are, and the latter also come in pairs and are divided into voiced and unvoiced, and then there are hissing ones. But this is far from full list. Will an ordinary schoolchild answer the question of what a sonorous sound is? Hardly.

Classification of speech sounds

Those who are interested in philology and receive a specialized education find out during the learning process that sounds are also divided according to the method of extraction, localization, and others. characteristic features. They are best known by specialists - speech therapists-defectologists, as well as linguists specializing in phonetics.

There are several classifications based on various criteria, both acoustically and physiologically. This is the main division used by phoneticians. It is precisely the physiology of sound production that includes the division of sounds into vowels, consonants and their further fragmentation into subcategories. The classification from the point of view of acoustics is not known to everyone. That is why it will be extremely interesting to consider it.

Acoustic classification

First of all, a distinction is made between vocal and non-vocal sounds. When pronouncing the former, the voice is used, so that all vowels and some consonants are vocal. Next, a distinction is made between consonant and non-consonant sounds. The first includes all consonants, and the rest - vowels. There is also a category of sharp ones, which includes those that are distinguished by the heterogeneity of the sound spectrum, for example, [ts] or [r]. The rest are classified as unsharp. Even from school, we are familiar with the division into voiced and voiceless, but from the point of view of acoustics, voiced also includes vowels and consonants that are not paired. There are several other criteria, but they mostly depend on the vocal apparatus of a particular person and the intonations he uses.

One of the first in speech and, perhaps, the simplest to form are sonorant sounds. They are only consonants and are classified as vocal. When pronouncing such sounds, there are practically no obstacles to the exhaled air. Why are they so interesting?

Sonorant

The name of this category comes from Latin, where sonorus means "sonorous". And they really cannot be called deaf. According to the theory, a sonorant sound, when pronounced, does not create a turbulent air flow in the vocal tract, that is, in the larynx, pharynx, mouth and nose. In fact, the voice simply dominates the noise, that is, the movements of the lips, tongue, and cheeks are minimal. In Russian, such sounds include [m], [n], [l], [r] and [j]. All of them, except the last one, form a soft pair - [m"], [n"], [l"] and [r"].

The peculiarities of sonorant sounds are such that, despite belonging to consonants, their structure is very close to vowels. In addition, they sound more pleasant and melodious to the ear. This feature is used by poets and writers in a technique called sound writing. It is the sonants, as they are also called, that become the first spoken by children. And this is due precisely to the ease of their articulation and formation. By the way, it is the sonorants that most often form the “core” of a syllable, its most sonorous and noticeable part.

Sonants in other languages

Naturally, sonorant sounds are used not only in Russian speech. Examples can be found in many other languages, especially Italian and Spanish, which make them sound smooth and beautiful. There are two sonants in English, which have no analogues in Russian. It's about o [ŋ] and [w]. The sonorant sound [ŋ] belongs to the voiced nasals and is pronounced completely differently than the usual [n], and [w] is very reminiscent of a vowel and is pronounced with the lips so that it turns out something like a short [ue]. IN German There are few sonants, plucking, whistling sounds and affricates predominate, which is why many people think that it is so harsh to the ear. In non-European languages ​​there is also such a category as “sonorant sound”, and the variety of phonemes included there is amazing.