Which manner is defined by a very narrow opening between articulators, producing audible friction?

• A. Stop/plosive
• B. Nasal
• C. Liquid
• D. Fricative

Answer: (D)

Constriction of the vocal tract that is narrow enough to make air flow turbulent produces a noisy, continuous sound. That turbulent, friction-like noise is the hallmark of a fricative. The air is forced through a small gap between articulators, creating audible friction as it buzzes or hisss, and this can be voicing either with the vocal cords vibrating or without. In contrast, a stop involves a complete closure with a brief release burst, a nasal channels air through the nose giving a resonant, non-frication sound, and a liquid is a more open, smoother constriction with less turbulence. So a very narrow opening that yields audible friction describes fricatives.