Which sound is palatal?

• A. j
• B. p
• C. t
• D. k

Answer: (A)

Palatal sounds are produced with the body of the tongue raised toward the hard palate, near the roof of the mouth. The sound associated with this place of articulation is the palatal approximant, the kind you hear as the “y” sound in yes. It is created by directing air through a constricted space as the tongue glides toward the palate, rather than by blocking the air completely. The other sounds here use different places of articulation: p is made with both lips (bilabial), t with the tongue tip at the alveolar ridge (alveolar), and k with the tongue body against the soft palate (velar). So the palatal option is the one that uses the tongue toward the palate, the “y” sound.