Dentaaliset

Dentaaliset, in phonetics, refers to sounds that are articulated with the tongue contacting the upper teeth or with a dental place of articulation around the teeth. The term is used to describe dental consonants and, in some descriptions, associated dentalization features that affect the sound’s place of articulation.

Articulation and notation

Dental sounds are produced by the tongue tip (apical) or blade touching the upper teeth, sometimes with the tongue very close to the teeth along the interdental area. In precise transcription, true dental stops or fricatives may be marked with a dental diacritic (for example, t̪ or d̪ for dental stops). In many languages, phonetic descriptions distinguish dental sounds from alveolar ones; in others, the two places of articulation are realized similarly or merge in the phonology. Interdental sounds, produced with the tongue between the teeth, are closely related in discussions of dental articulation and are sometimes described as dental or as a distinct category depending on the analysis.

Cross-linguistic use and variation

Dentaaliset are found in varying degrees across the world’s languages. Some languages contrast dental sounds with alveolar sounds, creating a genuine place-of-articulation distinction. Others may merge dental and alveolar realizations, or use dental articulation in specific phonemic contexts. The exact inventory—stops, fricatives, nasals, and others—varies by language, and the presence of dental sounds can influence phonotactics and pronunciation rules in different linguistic systems.

Applications and related terms

In linguistic descriptions, dental articulation is discussed alongside alveolar and labial places of articulation, as well as with interdental variants. The concept is relevant to phonology, phonetics, language acquisition, and speech therapy when addressing articulation patterns and potential misarticulations involving the teeth and tongue.