What is the difference between a vowel and a consonant?

Phonetics And Word Formation Questions



35 Short 51 Medium 47 Long Answer Questions Question Index

What is the difference between a vowel and a consonant?

The main difference between a vowel and a consonant lies in the way they are produced and the sounds they create.

A vowel is a speech sound that is produced with an open vocal tract, allowing the air to flow freely without any obstruction. Vowels are characterized by the absence of any significant constriction or closure in the vocal tract. They are typically produced with a relatively open mouth and involve the vibration of the vocal cords. Vowels are the core sounds in a syllable and form the nucleus of a word. Examples of vowels include the sounds /a/, /e/, /i/, /o/, and /u/.

On the other hand, a consonant is a speech sound that is produced with some degree of constriction or closure in the vocal tract, causing a partial or complete obstruction of the airflow. Consonants are characterized by the presence of constriction or closure at some point in the vocal tract. They are produced by either completely or partially blocking the airflow, resulting in various sounds. Consonants can be further classified based on their place and manner of articulation. Examples of consonants include the sounds /p/, /t/, /k/, /s/, and /m/.

In summary, the main difference between a vowel and a consonant is that vowels are produced with an open vocal tract and involve the vibration of the vocal cords, while consonants are produced with some degree of constriction or closure in the vocal tract, causing an obstruction of the airflow.