Pharyngealization

Pharyngealization

Pharyngealization is a secondary articulation of consonants or vowels, where the pharynx or epiglottis is constricted during the articulation of the sound. This type of articulation is common in various languages around the world, including Arabic, Berber languages, and some Caucasian languages.

Phonetic Description

Pharyngealization involves the retraction of the root of the tongue towards the pharyngeal wall. This constriction creates a resonance chamber in the pharynx, which gives the pharyngealized sounds a distinct acoustic quality. Pharyngealized sounds are often described as having a "guttural" or "throaty" quality.

Occurrence in Languages

Pharyngealization is a prominent feature in several languages:

• In Arabic, pharyngealization is a characteristic of the so-called "emphatic" consonants, such as /sˤ/, /dˤ/, /tˤ/, and /ðˤ/.
• In the Berber languages, pharyngealized consonants are also present and play a significant role in the phonological system.
• Some Caucasian languages exhibit pharyngealization, particularly in their consonantal systems.

Pharyngealized Consonants

Pharyngealized consonants are typically marked with a superscript ˤ in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). For example, the pharyngealized voiceless alveolar fricative is transcribed as /sˤ/.

Pharyngealized Vowels

While less common, pharyngealized vowels do occur in some languages. These vowels are produced with a similar constriction of the pharynx, affecting their acoustic properties.

Related Phonetic Phenomena

Pharyngealization is related to other types of secondary articulations, such as:

• Velarization, where the back of the tongue is raised towards the velum.
• Palatalization, where the front of the tongue is raised towards the hard palate.
• Labialization, where the lips are rounded during the articulation of a sound.

See Also

• Arabic phonology
• Berber languages
• Caucasian languages
• Velarization
• Palatalization
• Labialization
• International Phonetic Alphabet