How do vowels and consonants differ in terms of articulation?

Vowels and consonants differ in terms of articulation in several ways.

Firstly, vowels are produced with an open vocal tract, allowing the air to flow freely without any significant obstruction. In contrast, consonants involve some degree of constriction or obstruction of the airflow. This obstruction can occur at various points in the vocal tract, such as the lips, teeth, alveolar ridge, hard palate, or soft palate.

Secondly, vowels are characterized by the absence of any significant constriction in the vocal tract. This means that the airflow is relatively unimpeded, resulting in a relatively smooth and continuous sound. On the other hand, consonants involve some form of constriction, which causes turbulence or interruption in the airflow. This turbulence creates distinct sounds that are perceived as consonants.

Thirdly, vowels are typically voiced sounds, meaning that the vocal cords vibrate during their production. This vibration contributes to the sonority and musical quality of vowels. In contrast, consonants can be either voiced or voiceless. Voiced consonants involve vocal cord vibration, while voiceless consonants are produced without vocal cord vibration. This distinction between voiced and voiceless consonants affects the perception and acoustic properties of these sounds.

Lastly, vowels are generally longer in duration compared to consonants. This longer duration allows for the formation of syllables and the rhythm of speech. Consonants, on the other hand, are typically shorter in duration and serve to shape the syllables and provide clarity and distinctiveness to speech.

In summary, vowels and consonants differ in terms of articulation in terms of the presence or absence of constriction, the smoothness or turbulence of airflow, the voicing or lack thereof, and the duration of the sounds. These differences contribute to the distinctiveness and variety of sounds in human language.