Voiced uvular tap and flap

Voiced uvular tap or flap is a type of consonantal sound used in some spoken languages. The symbol in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) that represents this sound is ⟨ʀ̆⟩, a combination of the symbol for the voiced uvular fricative ⟨ʀ⟩ and a diacritic indicating a short, tapping motion.

Characteristics

A tap or flap is a type of articulatory gesture that involves a quick, direct contact of the articulator with the place of articulation. In the case of the voiced uvular tap or flap, the back of the tongue (the uvula) quickly contacts the uvular region of the roof of the mouth. This sound is distinct from a trill, which involves oscillation of the articulator, and from a fricative, which involves a narrow constriction through which air passes turbulently.

Occurrence

The voiced uvular tap or flap is rare among the world's languages. It may occur allophonically or as a distinct phoneme in certain linguistic environments. Detailed information on languages that utilize this sound is often specific to particular dialects or linguistic studies.

Phonetic Description

In phonetic terms, the voiced uvular tap or flap involves:

• Voicing throughout the articulation
• A rapid, single contact between the back of the tongue and the uvula
• A brief gesture that does not sustain the vibration necessary for a trill

Articulation

The articulation of this sound involves several steps: 1. The tongue is positioned near the uvula, with the back of the tongue raised towards the uvular region. 2. The voicing mechanism is engaged, causing the vocal cords to vibrate. 3. The tongue quickly taps the uvula once before returning to its resting position.

Comparison with Related Sounds

The voiced uvular tap or flap is closely related to the voiced uvular trill ⟨ʀ⟩ and the voiced uvular fricative ⟨ʁ⟩. The primary difference lies in the manner of articulation (tap/flap versus trill or fricative) and the duration of the contact between the tongue and the uvula.

In Phonology

The presence of a voiced uvular tap or flap in a language's phonology can influence the phonetic realization of adjacent sounds and affect the phonological rules of the language. Its rarity makes it a point of interest for linguistic study, particularly in the fields of phonetics and phonology.