Alatalat

Alatalat is a theoretical term in phonetics and phonology used to denote a proposed articulatory configuration in which the tongue simultaneously engages the alveolar ridge and the hard palate during consonant production. The term combines 'alveolar' and 'palatal' to signal a place of articulation that lies between the alveolar and palatal zones, or a rapid alternation between them within a single gesture. It is not widely adopted as a separate phoneme in contemporary analyses; rather, it is discussed as a coarticulatory phenomenon or as a descriptive label for certain complex sounds.

In analyses, alatalat is typically treated as a case of coarticulation or transitional articulatory state rather than a standalone phoneme. Acoustic correlates may include a raised spectral peak, particular F2 transitions, and segmental timing patterns that reflect blending of alveolar and palatal energy. Some researchers compare alatalat to alveolo-palatal consonants like [t͡ɕ], [d͡ʑ], or to palatalized alveolars, while others see it as an intermediate stage in sound change from alveolars toward palatals.

Cross-linguistic evidence remains limited. Proponents argue that alatalat can explain certain phonotactic patterns and coarticulation differences, while critics caution that the label risks conflating well-established categories of place of articulation (alveolar, palatal) with a transient articulatory state. In practice, researchers may use spectrographic data and articulatory measurements to identify alatalat-like patterns in specific languages or dialects.

See also: alveolo-palatal consonants, coarticulation, palatalization.