CONSONANT Meaning and
Definition
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A consonant is a speech sound that is produced by obstructing or narrowing the airflow through the vocal tract while making articulatory movements. It is one of the two main categories of speech sounds, the other being vowels. Consonants differ from vowels in that they are produced with some degree of constriction or closure within the mouth, throat, or nasal passages.
In terms of linguistic classification, consonants can be categorized based on various articulatory features, such as the place of articulation, manner of articulation, and voicing. The place of articulation refers to the specific point in the vocal tract where the airflow is obstructed, while the manner of articulation describes how the airflow is altered to produce the sound. Voicing refers to the vibration of the vocal cords during the production of a sound.
Consonants are vital building blocks of most languages, forming the structural framework for words and providing the basis for linguistic distinctions. They can occur at the beginning, middle, or end of syllables and can combine with vowels to form syllables and words. Additionally, consonants play a crucial role in the formation of consonant clusters, which involve the combination of two or more consonant sounds within a word. This interplay of consonants and vowels contributes to the diversity and complexity of language systems worldwide.
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• Agreeing; according; consistent; suitable.
• A letter which cannot be sounded without a vowel.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
Top Common Misspellings for CONSONANT *
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Other Common Misspellings for CONSONANT
Etymology of CONSONANT
The word "consonant" comes from the Latin word "consonans", which means "sounding with" or "sounding together". It is derived from the prefix "con-" meaning "together" and the verb "sonare" meaning "to sound". In Latin, "consonans" referred to a sound that is produced by the combination of two or more sounds. This term was later borrowed into English in the late 14th century, specifically to describe certain speech sounds produced by obstructing or partially obstructing airflow.
Similar spelling words for CONSONANT
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