APPROXIMANTS Meaning and
Definition
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Approximants are a group of speech sounds that are produced with a partial constriction of the vocal tract, resulting in a smooth airflow through the oral cavity without complete closure or friction. They are classified as a type of consonant and are characterized by their close approximation to a vowel-like sound.
Unlike other consonants that exhibit complete air blockage or friction, approximants have a more relaxed articulation. They possess a smoother and more flowing quality, resembling the sounds of vowels. This makes them stand out from other consonant categories such as stops, fricatives, and affricates.
There are various types of approximants in different languages, including semivowels and liquids. Semivowels, also known as glides, are sounds such as /j/ and /w/, which glide smoothly into or out of vowels. They often function as sound segments within diphthongs or in consonant clusters.
Liquids, on the other hand, include sounds like /l/ and /r/. These consonants show a partial constriction in the oral cavity, allowing slight airflow turbulence. Liquids can be further classified as lateral or retroflex, depending on their specific articulatory properties.
Overall, approximants occupy an interesting position in the phonetic spectrum, displaying characteristics of both consonants and vowels. Their production involves only a partial constriction, resulting in a smooth and flowing sound quality.
Etymology of APPROXIMANTS
The word "approximants" is derived from the verb "approximate" combined with the suffix "-ant", which denotes a person or thing that performs a particular action or has a particular quality.
The verb "approximate" has its roots in the Latin word "approximatus", the past participle of the verb "appropinquare", meaning "to come near" or "to approach". It is composed of "ad", meaning "to" or "toward", and "propinquus", which translates to "close" or "nearby".
By adding the suffix "-ant" to "approximate", the word "approximants" is formed, referring to objects or entities that have the quality of being approximate or approaching something without reaching it exactly.
