Félhangos

Félhangos is a Hungarian term that literally translates to "half-sound" or "half-voice." In the context of linguistics, it refers to sounds that are produced with partial obstruction of the vocal tract, allowing for some airflow but not a complete stoppage or a fully open passage. This category encompasses a range of sounds, primarily fricatives and approximants. Fricatives, such as 'f', 'v', 's', 'z', 'sh', and 'zh', are produced by forcing air through a narrow channel, creating audible friction. Approximants, like 'w', 'y', and 'r', are made with a wider constriction, where the articulators come close but do not touch, resulting in less turbulent airflow and a smoother sound. These sounds are distinct from stops (like 'p', 'b', 't', 'd', 'k', 'g'), which involve a complete closure of the vocal tract followed by a release, and from vowels, which are produced with an open vocal tract. The concept of félhangos is important for understanding the phonetic inventory of languages and how sounds are classified based on their manner of articulation.