Velarilike
Velarilike is a term used in phonetics and phonology to describe consonantal realizations that resemble velars in place of articulation but do not meet the strict criteria for true velar consonants. The label is employed to classify sounds that are dorsal in articulation, typically produced with the tongue body near the velum, or that exhibit velar-like articulatory traits due to coarticulation, phonetic drift, or transitional articulations across neighboring languages.
Velarilike sounds may occur across a range of manners, including stops, fricatives, or approximants. They are
Common contexts for velarilike descriptions include language contact situations, where velars influence neighboring dorsal sounds, or
Velarilike serves as a descriptive device in cross-language comparison and phonological theory. It helps linguists articulate