obstruent

In phonology, an obstruent is a speech sound characterized by a significant blockage or narrowing of the vocal tract, impeding the flow of air. This contrasts with sonorants, which have a more continuous, resonant sound. Obstruents are typically classified by their place and manner of articulation. The manner of articulation describes how the obstruction is made, such as stops (complete closure), fricatives (narrow constriction causing turbulence), or affricates (a stop followed by a fricative). The place of articulation refers to where in the vocal tract the obstruction occurs, like the lips (bilabial), teeth (dental), or the roof of the mouth (velar). Voicing, whether the vocal cords vibrate or not, is another key feature in classifying consonants, including obstruents.12345