apico alveolar articulation

phonetics

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June 18, 2026

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In phonetics, an "apico-alveolar articulation" describes a speech sound produced by placing the tip of the tongue (apical) against the alveolar ridge, which is the bony ridge behind the upper front teeth. This is a primary articulation, meaning it's a fundamental way the vocal tract is configured to create a sound.12

This type of articulation leaves other parts of the vocal tract, like the lips or the back of the tongue, free to make secondary adjustments. These secondary articulations can modify the primary sound, leading to variations in pronunciation across different languages.1

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articulation
For example, an “apico alveolar” articulation involves the tip of the tongue but leaves the lips and back of the tongue free to produce some degree of further stricture in the vocal tract. This latter is called a secondary articulation. Among the chief secondary articulations are palatalization, as…
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For example, an “apico alveolar” articulation involves the tip of the tongue but leaves the lips and back of the tongue free to produce some degree of further stricture in the vocal tract. This latter is called a secondary articulation. Among the chief secondary articulations are palatalization, as…
Read More