Voiceless alveolar affricate

Template:Short description A voiceless alveolar affricate is a type of affricate consonant pronounced with the tip or blade of the tongue against the alveolar ridge (gum line) just behind the teeth. This refers to a class of sounds, not a single sound. There are several types with significant perceptual differences:

• The voiceless alveolar sibilant affricate {{#invoke:IPA|main}} is the most common type, similar to the ts in English cats.
• The voiceless alveolar non-sibilant affricate {{#invoke:IPA|main}} or {{#invoke:IPA|main}}, using the alveolar diacritic from the Extended IPA, is somewhat similar to the th in some pronunciations of English eighth. It is found as a regional realization of the sequence {{#invoke:IPA|main}} in some Sicilian dialects of Standard Italian.
• The voiceless alveolar lateral affricate {{#invoke:IPA|main}} is found in certain languages, such as Cherokee, Mexican Spanish, and Nahuatl.
• The voiceless alveolar retracted sibilant affricate {{#invoke:IPA|main}}, also called apico-alveolar or grave, has a weak hushing sound reminiscent of Template:Lcons affricates. One language in which it is found is Basque, where it contrasts with a more conventional non-retracted laminal alveolar affricate.

This article discusses the first two.

Voiceless alveolar sibilant affricate

The voiceless alveolar sibilant affricate is a type of consonantal sound, used in some spoken languages. The sound is transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet with Template:Angbr IPA or Template:Angbr IPA (formerly with Template:Angbr IPA or Template:Angbr IPA). The voiceless alveolar affricate occurs in many Indo-European languages, such as German (which was also part of the High German consonant shift), Kashmiri, Marathi, Pashto, Russian and most other Slavic languages such as Polish and Serbo-Croatian; also, among many others, in Georgian, in Mongolia, and Tibetan Sanskrit, in Japanese, in Mandarin Chinese, and in Cantonese. Some international auxiliary languages, such as Esperanto, Ido and Interlingua also include this sound.

Features

Features of the voiceless alveolar sibilant affricate:

• The stop component of this affricate is laminal alveolar, which means it is articulated with the blade of the tongue at the alveolar ridge. For simplicity, this affricate is usually called after the sibilant fricative component.
• There are at least three specific variants of the fricative component:
  • Dentalized laminal alveolar (commonly called "dental"), which means it is articulated with the tongue blade very close to the upper front teeth, with the tongue tip resting behind lower front teeth. The hissing effect in this variety of {{#invoke:IPA|main}} is very strong.<ref>Template:Harvcoltxt, cited in Template:Harvcoltxt</ref>
  • Non-retracted alveolar, which means it is articulated with either the tip or the blade of the tongue at the alveolar ridge, termed respectively apical and laminal.
  • Retracted alveolar, which means it is articulated with either the tip or the blade of the tongue slightly behind the alveolar ridge, termed respectively apical and laminal. Acoustically, it is close to Template:IPAblink or laminal Template:IPAblink.

Occurrence

The following sections are named after the fricative component.

Variable

Language		Word	IPA	Meaning	Notes
German	StandardTemplate:Sfnp	lang}}	main}}	'time'	The fricative component varies between dentalized laminal, non-retracted laminal and non-retracted apical.Template:Sfnp See Standard German phonology
Italian	StandardTemplate:Sfnp	lang}}	main}}	'grace'	The fricative component varies between dentalized laminal and non-retracted apical. In the latter case, the stop component is laminal denti-alveolar.Template:Sfnp See Italian phonology

Dentalized laminal alveolar

Language		Word	IPA	Meaning	Notes
Armenian	EasternTemplate:Sfnp	lang}}/canc	Template:Audio-IPA	'net'	Contrasts aspirated and unaspirated forms
Basque<ref name="hualde">Template:Harvcoltxt. Although this paper discusses mainly the Goizueta dialect, the authors state that it has "a typical, conservative consonant inventory for a Basque variety".</ref>		lang}}	main}}	'cold'	Contrasts with a sibilant affricate with an apical fricative component.<ref name="hualde"/>
BelarusianTemplate:Sfnp		lang}}/cötka	main}}	'aunt'	Contrasting palatalization. See Belarusian phonology
BulgarianTemplate:Sfnp		lang}}/car	main}}	'Tsar'	See Bulgarian phonology
Chinese	MandarinTemplate:SfnpTemplate:Sfnp	lang}}Template:\Template:Tlit	Template:Nowrap	'breakfast'	Contrasts with aspirated form. See Standard Chinese phonology
	Cantonese	lang}}Template:\Template:Tlit	main}}	'breakfast'	See Cantonese phonology
CzechTemplate:Sfnp		lang}}	main}}	'what'	See Czech phonology
HungarianTemplate:Sfnp		lang}}	main}}	'kitten'	See Hungarian phonology
Japanese		lang}}Template:\tsunami	Template:Nowrap	'Tsunami'	main}} before {{#invoke:IPA|main}}. See Japanese phonology
		lang}}/mottsarera	Template:Nowrap	'mozzarella'	May appear before other vowels in loanwords. See Japanese phonology
Kashmiri		ژاس/cás	main}}	'cough'
Kashubian<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation		CitationClass=web }}</ref> || Template:Example needed || || ||
KazakhTemplate:Sfnp		{{#invoke:Lang|lang}}/investitsiya	{{#invoke:IPA|main}}	'price'	Only in loanwords from RussianTemplate:SfnpTemplate:Sfnp See Kazakh phonology and Kyrgyz phonology
KyrgyzTemplate:Sfnp
LatvianTemplate:Sfnp		lang}}	main}}	'price'	See Latvian phonology
MacedonianTemplate:Sfnp		lang}}/cvet	main}}	'flower'	See Macedonian phonology
Pashto		lang}}/cëlor	main}}	'four'	See Pashto phonology
PolishTemplate:Sfnp		lang}}	Template:Audio-IPA	'what'	See Polish phonology
Romanian<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation		CitationClass=web }}Template:Dead link</ref> || {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} || {{#invoke:IPA|main}} || 'price' || See Romanian phonology
RussianTemplate:Sfnp		lang}}/caŕ	main}}	'Tsar'	See Russian phonology
Serbo-CroatianTemplate:SfnpTemplate:Sfnp		lang}} / {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} / ڄیڵ	main}}	'target'	See Serbo-Croatian phonology
Slovak		lang}}	main}}	'emperor'	See Slovak phonology
SloveneTemplate:Sfnp		lang}}	main}}	'bloom'	See Slovene phonology
Tyap		lang}}	main}}	'to begin'
Ukrainian<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>		lang}}/cej	main}}	'this one'	Contrasting palatalization. See Ukrainian phonology
Upper SorbianTemplate:Sfnp		lang}}	main}}	'onion'
UzbekTemplate:Sfnp		Template:Example needed

Non-retracted alveolar

Language		Word	IPA	Meaning	Notes
Arabic	NajdiTemplate:Sfnp	lang}}/tsalb	main}}	'dog'	main}} and {{#invoke:IPA|main}} in other dialects
Asturian	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} || {{#invoke:IPA|main}} || 'eight' || Corresponds to standard {{#invoke:IPA|main}}
	Ḷḷena, Mieres, and others	ḷḷuna	main}}	'moon'	Alveolar realization of che vaqueira instead of normal retroflex Template:IPAblink
Basque<ref name="hualde"/>		lang}}	main}}	'sound'	The fricative component is apical. Contrasts with a laminal affricate with a dentalized fricative component.<ref name="hualde"/>
CatalanTemplate:Sfnp		lang}}	main}}	'maybe'	main}} + {{#invoke:IPA|main}}). Long and short versions of intervocalic affricates are in free variation in Central Catalan {{#invoke:IPA|main}} ~ {{#invoke:IPA|main}}. See Catalan phonology
Central Alaskan Yup'ikTemplate:Sfnp		lang}}	main}}	'four'	main}} before schwa
ChamorroTemplate:Sfnp		lang}}	main}}	'Chamorro'	lang}} in the orthography used in the Northern Mariana Islands.
Chechen		lang}} / {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} / {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}	main}}	'sieve'
Cherokee<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>		lang}} {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}	main}}	'Cherokee'
Danish	StandardTemplate:Sfnp	lang}}	main}}	'two'	The fricative component is apical.Template:Sfnp In some accents, it is realized as {{#invoke:IPA|main}}.Template:Sfnp Usually transcribed {{#invoke:IPA|main}} or {{#invoke:IPA|main}}. Contrasts with the unaspirated stop Template:IPAblink, which is usually transcribed {{#invoke:IPA|main}} or {{#invoke:IPA|main}}. See Danish phonology
Dargwa		lang}} / {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} / {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}	main}}	'unity, oneness'
Dutch	Orsmaal-Gussenhoven dialectTemplate:Sfnp	mat	main}}	'market'	main}}.Template:Sfnp See Orsmaal-Gussenhoven dialect phonology
English	Broad CockneyTemplate:Sfnp	tea	main}}	'tea'	Possible word-initial, intervocalic and word-final allophone of {{#invoke:IPA|main}}.Template:SfnpTemplate:Sfnp See English phonology
	Received PronunciationTemplate:Sfnp		{{#invoke:IPA|main}}
	New YorkTemplate:Sfnp				main}}.Template:Sfnp See English phonology
	New ZealandTemplate:Sfnp				main}}.Template:Sfnp See English phonology
	North WalesTemplate:Sfnp		{{#invoke:IPA|main}}		main}}; in free variation with a strongly aspirated stop {{#invoke:IPA|main}}.Template:Sfnp See English phonology
	Port Talbot<ref name=":0">Template:Cite book</ref>				main}}. In free variation with {{#invoke:IPA|main}}.<ref name=":0" />
	ScouseTemplate:Sfnp				main}}.Template:Sfnp See English phonology
	General South AfricanTemplate:Sfnp	wanting	main}}	'wanting'	main}}.Template:Sfnp
Esperanto		cico	main}}	'nipple'	See Esperanto phonology
Filipino		lang}}	main}}	'chocolate'
French	Quebec	tu	main}}	'you'	main}} before {{#invoke:IPA|main}}.
GeorgianTemplate:Sfnp		lang}}/k'atsi	main}}	'man'
Haida		x̱ants	main}}	'shadow'	main}}.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
LuxembourgishTemplate:Sfnp		lang}}	main}}	'train'	See Luxembourgish phonology
Marathi		चमचा/tsamtsā	main}}	'spoon'	Represented by /च/, which also represents Template:IPAblink. It is not a marked difference.
Nepali		lang}}/tsāp	main}}	'pressure'	Contrasts aspirated and unaspirated versions. The unaspirated is represented by /च/. The aspirated sound is represented by /छ/. See Nepali phonology
Portuguese	European<ref name="rio grande">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} || Template:Nowrap || 'lifeless part' || rowspan=2| Allophone of Template:IPAslink before {{#invoke:IPA|main}}, or assimilation due to the deletion of {{#invoke:IPA|main}}. Increasingly used in Brazil.<ref name="camila">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Brazilian<ref name="rio grande"/><ref name="camila"/>	lang}}	main}}	'participation'
	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} || {{#invoke:IPA|main}} || 'shiatsu' || Marginal sound. Many Brazilians might break the affricate with epenthetic {{#invoke:IPA|main}}, often subsequently palatalizing {{#invoke:IPA|main}}, specially in pre-tonic contexts (e.g. {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}}).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> See Portuguese phonology
Spanish	Madrid<ref name="unikiel">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || rowspan=2| {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} || rowspan=2| {{#invoke:IPA|main}} || rowspan=2| 'wide' || rowspan=3| Palatalized;<ref name="unikiel"/> with an apical fricative component. It corresponds to Template:IPAblink in standard Spanish. See Spanish phonology
	Chilean
	Some Rioplatense dialects	lang}}	main}}	'aunt'
	Some Venezuelan dialects	lang}}	main}}	'fox'	main}} word initially.
Tamil	Jaffna Tamil	lang}}/cantai	main}}	'market'	main}}.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Telugu		lang}}/ĉaṭṭi	main}}	'pot'

Voiceless alveolar non-sibilant affricate

Occurrence

Language		Word	IPA	Meaning	Notes
Dutch	Orsmaal-Gussenhoven dialectTemplate:Sfnp	lang}}	main}}	'passer-by'	main}} before pauses.Template:Sfnp
English	General AmericanTemplate:Sfnp	tree	Template:Audio-IPA	'tree'	Phonetic realization of the stressed, syllable-initial sequence {{#invoke:IPA|main}}; more commonly postalveolar Template:IPAblink.Template:Sfnp See English phonology
	Received PronunciationTemplate:Sfnp
Italian	SicilyTemplate:Sfnp	lang}}	Template:Nowrap	'foreign'	main}}; may be a sequence {{#invoke:IPA|main}} or {{#invoke:IPA|main}} instead.Template:Sfnp See Italian phonology

See also

• Index of phonetics articles

References

• Template:Cite journal
• Template:Cite book
• Template:Cite book
• Template:Cite book
• Template:Cite book
• Template:Cite book
• Template:Cite journal
• Template:Cite book
• Template:Cite journal
• Template:Cite book
• Template:Cite book
• Template:Cite book
• Template:Cite book
• Template:Cite book
• Template:SOWL
• Template:Cite book
• Template:Cite journal
• Template:Cite thesis
• Template:Cite book
• Template:Cite book
• Template:Cite book
• Template:Cite book
• Template:Citation
• Template:Citation
• Template:Cite book
• Template:Cite journal
• Template:Cite book
• Template:Cite book
• Template:Cite journal
• Template:Cite book
• Template:Cite journal
• Template:Cite book
• Template:Cite book
• Template:Cite book
• Template:Accents of English

External links

• Template:Phoible