A fricative consonant, also known as a friction consonant, is a type of consonant sound produced by forcing air through a narrow opening in the vocal tract, causing audible turbulence or friction. This turbulent airflow is a result of the partial closure or constriction of the vocal cords, tongue, teeth, or lips, which obstructs the smooth passage of air.
Fricative consonants are characterized by their distinctive "hissing" or "buzzing" sound. The articulatory features of a fricative consonant involve a high-degree of stricture, making the airflow more turbulent. This creates a continuous stream of noise rather than a distinct stop or closure like in plosive consonants.
There are various types of fricative consonants in different languages, including interdental, labiodental, alveolar, postalveolar, retroflex, palatal, uvular, and glottal fricatives. These different manners of articulation involve specific areas of the vocal tract, such as the teeth, tongue, or the back of the throat.
Fricatives are contrasted with other types of consonants, such as plosives and nasal consonants. The intensity and length of a fricative sound can vary between languages, dialects, and even between speakers. Additionally, fricatives can be voiced or voiceless, depending on whether the vocal cords are vibrating during their production.
Common examples of fricative consonants in English include the sounds /f/, /v/, /s/, /z/, /ʃ/ (sh), /ʒ/ (zh), /θ/ (th), and /ð/ (the). These sounds play a fundamental role in shaping the phonetic structure of languages across the globe.
