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How are the English sounds p, t, and k articulated?

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Uncover the science behind the transformation of sounds into speech — speech Speech is the faculty of producing articulated sounds, which, when blended together, form language.

In English, the sounds p, t, and k are classified as voiceless stops, meaning they are produced by a complete, momentary blockage of air in the oral cavity followed by a release.12

They are distinguished by their specific places of articulation:
* p: A bilabial stop, articulated by blocking air with the lips.1
* t: An alveolar stop, articulated by blocking air with the tongue against the alveolar ridge.1
* k: A velar stop, articulated by blocking air with the back of the tongue against the velum.1

These sounds are often aspirated when they appear at the beginning of words (e.g., "pat," "top," "keel"), which means they are produced with a forceful expulsion of air during the release. However, they are typically unaspirated when they occur at the end of words or in certain consonant clusters, such as in "spot" or "stop".32