In
phonetics
Phonetics is a branch of linguistics that studies how humans produce and perceive sounds or, in the case of sign languages, the equivalent aspects of sign. Linguists who specialize in studying the physical properties of speech are phoneticians ...
, a vibrant is a
class
Class, Classes, or The Class may refer to:
Common uses not otherwise categorized
* Class (biology), a taxonomic rank
* Class (knowledge representation), a collection of individuals or objects
* Class (philosophy), an analytical concept used d ...
of consonant including
taps and
trills (a trill is "sometimes referred to as a vibrant consonant"
[Nicolosi, Lucille; Harryman, Elizabeth; Kresheck, Janet; eds. (2004). ''Terminology of Communication Disorders'', p.84. Lippincott Williams & Wilkin. .]).
Spanish has two vibrants, and .
The term is sometimes used when it is not clear whether the
rhotic (''r''-sound) in a language is a tap or a trill.
See also
*
Lateral consonant
A lateral is a consonant in which the airstream proceeds along one or both of the sides of the tongue, but it is blocked by the tongue from going through the middle of the mouth. An example of a lateral consonant is the English ''L'', as in ''L ...
*
Liquid consonant
In linguistics, a liquid consonant or simply liquid is any of a class of consonants that consists of rhotics and voiced lateral approximants, which are also sometimes described as "R-like sounds" and "L-like sounds". The word ''liquid'' seems ...
References
Sonorant consonants
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