Konsonanti

Konsonanti refers to a type of phonetic sound produced in speech. These sounds are characterized by some degree of obstruction or constriction in the vocal tract as air is expelled from the lungs. Unlike vowels, which are typically produced with an open vocal tract, consonants involve a narrowing or complete closure at a specific point of articulation. This obstruction can occur at the lips, teeth, alveolar ridge, palate, or glottis.

The way in which this constriction is made, along with the involvement of the vocal cords (voicing), determines the specific consonant sound. For example, stopping the airflow completely creates a plosive sound like 'p' or 't', while creating friction with a narrow opening results in a fricative like 'f' or 's'. The place and manner of articulation are key features used to classify consonants in phonetics. Different languages utilize varying sets of consonant sounds, contributing to their unique phonetic inventories.