Kitalakiäänet

Kitalakiäänet, often translated as "palatal sounds" or "velar sounds" in English phonetics, refers to a class of speech sounds produced with the middle part of the tongue, known as the palate or velum, making contact with the roof of the mouth. This articulation point is distinct from the alveolar ridge (where sounds like 't' and 'd' are made) or the lips (where sounds like 'p' and 'b' are made).

The exact location of contact within the palate can vary, leading to different types of kitalakiäänet. Sounds produced further back towards the soft palate are often termed velar, while those produced more anteriorly, though still on the palate, might be described more generally as palatal. These sounds can be consonants or vowels, depending on the airflow and other phonetic features.

In many languages, kitalakiäänet are common. For example, the 'k' sound in English "cat" and the 'g' sound in "go" are velar stops. The 'y' sound in "yes" is a palatal approximant. Vowels produced with the tongue raised towards the palate, such as the 'ee' in "see," are also considered palatal vowels. The phonetic inventory and specific realization of kitalakiäänet can differ significantly across languages, contributing to their unique sound systems.