palatoalveolär

Palatoalveolär refers to a consonant sound produced with the tongue making contact with both the hard palate and the alveolar ridge. This dual point of articulation is what defines the sound. In phonetic terms, this means the middle or back of the tongue is raised towards the hard palate, while the tip or blade of the tongue is also in contact with or close to the alveolar ridge, which is the bony ridge behind the upper front teeth.

Sounds produced in this manner are often described as post-alveolar or alveolopalatal. These consonants are characterized by their relatively high frequency, meaning they have a noticeable sibilance or "hissing" quality. Examples of palatoalveolar consonants can be found in various languages. In English, the sounds represented by "sh" as in "ship" and "zh" as in "measure" are typically palatoalveolar. The "ch" in "church" and the "j" in "judge" are also often described as palatoalveolar, though their exact articulation can vary slightly, sometimes being classified as post-alveolar affricates.

The precise phonetic transcription for palatoalveolar sounds can vary depending on the specific dialect and the phonetic system used, but they are generally distinct from sounds articulated solely at the alveolar ridge or solely at the palate. Their production involves a complex coordination of tongue movement to achieve the constriction necessary for their characteristic sound.