kaashäälik
Kaashäälik is a term used in linguistics to refer to a specific type of consonant sound. It originates from Estonian, where "kaashäälik" directly translates to "co-vowel" or "shared vowel." While the literal translation might suggest a vowel sound, in phonetic and phonological analysis, kaashäälik refers to a consonant that is often associated with, or functions similarly to, a vowel in certain contexts.
These sounds are typically sonorants, which include liquids (like 'l' and 'r') and nasals (like 'm' and
The concept of kaashäälik highlights the fluid boundary between consonant and vowel sounds. While traditionally distinct,