Häälduskoht

Häälduskoht is a term from phonetics that denotes the place in the vocal tract where a consonant is articulated. It describes where the constriction or contact occurs and is used to classify consonantal sounds together with manner of articulation (how the sound is produced). The häälduskoht helps describe and compare how different languages shape their consonant inventories.

The determination of the häälduskoht depends on the articulators involved. Common places include the lips, teeth, tongue tip or blade, tongue body, palate, velum (soft palate), and the glottis. The combination of these articulators with the degree of constriction yields distinct consonantal sounds. For example, bilabial sounds involve both lips, as in p and b; alveolar sounds involve the tongue tip or blade against the alveolar ridge, as in t and s; velar sounds involve the tongue back against the soft palate, as in k and g; glottal sounds involve the glottis, as in h or a glottal stop.

Typical categories of häälduskoht include bilabial, labiodental, dental, alveolar, postalveolar, palatal, velar, uvular, and glottal. Some languages also feature more uncommon places such as uvulars. It is important to note that vowels are not described primarily by place of articulation; their categories are usually height, backness, and rounding, and coarticulation with the häälduskoht of neighboring consonants can occur.

In Estonian linguistics, häälduskoht is a standard concept used to analyze consonant systems, describe phonological processes such as assimilation, and aid in pronunciation guidance. See also phonetics, consonant, place of articulation.