Voiced retroflex flap

IPA Unicode 0x027D

Voiced Retroflex Flap

The voiced retroflex flap is a type of consonantal sound used in some spoken languages. It is characterized by the articulation of the sound with the tongue curled back (retroflex) against the palate, and a flapping motion similar to a quick tapping. This sound is represented in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) as ⟨ɽ⟩.

Characteristics

The voiced retroflex flap is a retroflex, flap consonant. Its manner of articulation is flap, which means the sound is produced with a single contraction of the muscles so that the tongue strikes the palate only once. In its articulation, the tongue is curled back to make a retroflex sound, which is not common in many languages outside of the Indian subcontinent.

Occurrence

This sound is most notably found in languages such as Hindi, Urdu, and other languages of the Indian subcontinent. It is the sound represented by the letter ⟨ड़⟩ in Devanagari script used in Hindi and by the letter ⟨ڑ⟩ in Urdu. The voiced retroflex flap is an important phoneme in these languages and can differentiate words that otherwise look similar in writing.

Articulation

The articulation of the voiced retroflex flap involves the following steps:

• The tongue is curled back so that its underside comes in contact with the palate.
• The sound is voiced, meaning the vocal cords vibrate during the articulation.
• The tongue makes a quick, tapping motion against the palate, which distinguishes it from a trill.

Phonetic Description

In phonetic terms, the voiced retroflex flap is described as a sound that involves the rapid striking of the curled-back tongue against the alveolar ridge or just behind it. This action is quick and results in a flapping sound that is brief and has a specific retroflex quality due to the position of the tongue.

Comparison with Other Sounds

The voiced retroflex flap is distinct from the Voiced retroflex plosive, which involves a complete closure and release, and from the Retroflex approximant, which does not involve the flapping motion. It is also different from the Alveolar flap, which is articulated without the tongue being curled back.

In Phonology

In the phonology of languages that feature the voiced retroflex flap, it can play a significant role in distinguishing between words and in the rhythmic and intonational patterns of speech. Its presence or absence can also affect the allophony and phonotactics of the language.

See Also

• Retroflex consonant
• Flap consonant
• International Phonetic Alphabet
• Phonetics
• Phonology