Voiced retroflex approximant

IPA Unicode 0x027B

Voiced retroflex approximant

The voiced retroflex approximant is a type of consonantal sound used in some spoken languages. The symbol in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) that represents this sound is ⟨ɻ⟩, and the equivalent X-SAMPA symbol is r`.

Characteristics

An approximant consonant is a consonant that is made by bringing one articulator close to another without the vocal tract being narrowed to such an extent that a turbulent airstream is produced. The voiced retroflex approximant involves the tip of the tongue being curled back towards the palate, creating a sound that is characteristic of this specific articulation.

Articulation

The articulation of the voiced retroflex approximant involves the following:

• Its manner of articulation is approximant, which means the articulator (in this case, the tongue) is brought close to another articulator, but not close enough to produce a turbulent airstream.
• Its place of articulation is retroflex, which means it is articulated with the tip of the tongue curled up towards the alveolar ridge.
• Its phonation is voiced, which means the vocal cords vibrate during the articulation.
• It is an oral consonant, which means air is allowed to escape through the mouth only.
• It is a central consonant, which means it is produced by directing the airstream along the center of the tongue, rather than to the sides.

Occurrence

The voiced retroflex approximant is found in a number of languages across the world, including some dialects of English, where it can be heard in words like "water" in some American accents. It is also present in languages such as Mandarin Chinese, Brazilian Portuguese, and several Dravidian languages, among others.

See also

• Retroflex consonant
• Approximant consonant
• Voiced dental and alveolar approximants