postalveolär

Postalveolär is a term used in phonetics and linguistics to describe a place of articulation for consonants. It specifically refers to sounds produced with the tongue blade (the part just behind the tip) against the alveolar ridge, but with the tongue body retracted slightly further back in the mouth, towards the hard palate. This position is posterior to the typical alveolar articulation.

While standard alveolar consonants involve the tongue tip or blade making contact with the alveolar ridge directly, postalveolar sounds involve a more retracted position. This subtle difference in tongue placement can create distinct phonetic qualities. Examples of postalveolar consonants in English include the "sh" sound in "ship" and the "zh" sound in "measure." These sounds are often categorized as postalveolar fricatives or affricates.

The distinction between alveolar and postalveolar can be important for accurately transcribing speech and for understanding phonological patterns in various languages. The precise location of articulation can influence the perceived sound and is a key characteristic in phonetic analysis. Linguists use the term postalveolar to specify this particular area in the mouth where the airflow is constricted to produce certain speech sounds.