Place of Articulation

The primary articulators that can cause an obstruction in most languages are the lips, the tongue tip and blade, and the back of the tongue. Specific places of articulation are indicated in Figure 2.1.

• Bilabial - Between the two lips.
• Dental - Tongue tip or blade and upper front teeth.
• Post-alveolar - Tongue blade and the back of the alveolar ridge.
• Palatal - Front of the tongue and hard palate.
• Velar - Back of the tongue and soft palate.
• Glottal - Between vocal cords.