What are the nasal sounds in phonetics?

In phonetics, nasal sounds are a specific category of sounds produced by allowing air to flow through the nose while obstructing the oral cavity. These sounds are characterized by the lowering of the velum (soft part of the roof of the mouth) to allow air to pass through the nasal cavity.

The main nasal sounds in phonetics are the nasal consonants, which include the sounds /m/, /n/, and /ŋ/.

The sound /m/ is a bilabial nasal consonant, produced by closing the lips together and allowing air to pass through the nose. An example of this sound is found in the word "man."

The sound /n/ is an alveolar nasal consonant, produced by placing the tip of the tongue against the alveolar ridge (the area behind the upper front teeth) and allowing air to pass through the nose. An example of this sound is found in the word "no."

The sound /ŋ/ is a velar nasal consonant, produced by raising the back of the tongue against the soft part of the roof of the mouth (the velum) and allowing air to pass through the nose. An example of this sound is found in the word "sing."

Nasal sounds are important in phonetics as they contribute to the overall sound system of a language. They can also play a role in distinguishing meaning between words, as seen in minimal pairs such as "man" and "ban" or "sing" and "sin."