What category do the sounds s, z, sh, ch, j belong to?

What category do the sounds s, z, sh, ch, j belong to?

• A. Sibilant or linguoalveolar sounds
• B. Fricative or labiodental sounds
• C. Guttural sounds
• D. Bilabial sounds

Answer: (A)

These sounds share a hissing, high-frequency sound quality that defines a family known as sibilants. That sharp energy comes from a narrow constriction of air as the tongue shapes the sound, which is why s, z, sh, ch, and j all sit together in this category. The first two are alveolar fricatives, while sh is a post-alveolar fricative, and ch and j are affricates that start with a brief stop and then release into friction. None of these are produced with the lips only (not bilabial), nor produced in the back of the throat (not guttural), and while some are fricatives and some are affricates, they all share the same sibilant, hissing quality.

These sounds share a hissing, high-frequency sound quality that defines a family known as sibilants. That sharp energy comes from a narrow constriction of air as the tongue shapes the sound, which is why s, z, sh, ch, and j all sit together in this category. The first two are alveolar fricatives, while sh is a post-alveolar fricative, and ch and j are affricates that start with a brief stop and then release into friction. None of these are produced with the lips only (not bilabial), nor produced in the back of the throat (not guttural), and while some are fricatives and some are affricates, they all share the same sibilant, hissing quality.