Phonemic Chart - Alghero | Els sons del català

consonants

	Articulation place
Articulation mode	bilabial Involves the upper and lower lips.	labiodental Involves the lower lip and the upper incisors.	dental Involves the front part of the tongue tip and the inside of the upper incisors.	alveolar Involves the front part of the tongue tip and the alveolar ridge.	postalveolar (Prepalatal). Involves the front part of the tongue and the back part of the alveolar region.	palatal Involves the dorsum of the tongue and the hard palate.	velar Involves the back of the tongue dorsum and the soft palate (in some cases, there is rounding of the lips).
plosive Articulated by the total obstruction of airflow resulting from contact between the two articulators, with the soft palate touching the pharynx walls, and with or without vibration of the vocal folds. In intervocalic plosives, it can be separated into three phases: a closure phase, an occlusion phase, and an opening phase.	Voiced bilabial plosive Articulated by a total obstruction of airflow resulting from contact between the upper and lower lips, with the soft palate touching the pharyngeal wall, and with vibration of the vocal chords. Symbol origin: lower-case b of the Roman aplhabet Voiceless bilabial plosive Articulated by a total obstruction of airflow resulting from contact between the upper and lower lips, with the soft palate touching the pharyngeal wall, and without vibration of the vocal chords. Symbol origin: lower-case p of the Roman alphabet		Voiced dental plosive Articulated by a total obstruction of airflow resulting from contact between the front part of the tongue and the inside of the upper incisors, and/or the very front of the alveolar ridge, with the soft palate touching the pharyngeal wall, and with vibration of the vocal chords. Symbol origin: lower-case i of the Roman aplhabet Voiceless dental plosive Articulated by a total obstruction of airflow resulting from contact between the front part of the tongue and the inside of the upper incisors, and/or the very front of the alveolar ridge, with the soft palate touching the pharyngeal wall, and without vibration of the vocal chords. Symbol origin: lower-case t of the Roman alphabet				Voiced Velar Plosive Articulated by a total obstruction of airflow resulting from contact between the postdorsum of the tongue and the soft palate, with the soft palate touching the pharyngeal wall, and with vibration of the vocal chords. Symbol origin: lower-case g of the Roman alphabet. Voiceless velar plosive Articulated by a total obstruction of airflow resulting from contact between the postdorsum of the tongue and the soft palate, with the soft palate touching the pharyngeal wall, and without vibration of the vocal chords. Symbol origin: lower-case k of the Roman alphabet
affricate Articulated by the total obstruction of airflow followed by a constriction resulting from the contact and proximity between the two articulators, with the soft palate touching the pharynx walls and with or without vibration of the vocal chords.				Voiced Alveolar Affricate Articulated by an obstruction following a constriction of airflow resulting from contact and proximity between the front part of the tongue and the inside of the upper incisors, and/or the very front of the alveolar ridge, with the soft palate touching the pharyngeal wall, and with vibration of the vocal chords. Symbol origin: lower-case d and z of the Roman alphabet, with the symbol of ligation « ͡». Voiceless Alveolar Affricate Articulated by an obstruction followed by a constriction of airflow resulting from contact and proximity between the front part of the tongue and the inside of the upper incisors, and/or the very front of the alveolar ridge, with the soft palate touching the pharyngeal wall, and without vibration of the vocal chords. Symbol origin: lower-case t and s of the Roman alphabet, with the symbol of ligation « ͡».	Voiceless Postalveolar Affricate Articulated by an obstruction following a constriction of airflow resulting from contact and proximity between the front part of the tongue and the back part of the alveolar ridge, with the soft palate touching the pharyngeal wall, and without vibration of the vocal chords. Symbol origin: lower-case t and elongated upper-case s of the Roman alphabet, with the symbol of ligation « ͡». Voiced Postalveolar Affricate Articulated by an obstruction followed by a constriction of airflow resulting from contact and proximity between the front part of the tongue and the inside of the upper incisors and/or the back part of the alveolar ridge, with the soft palate touching the pharyngeal wall, and with vibration of the vocal chords. Symbol origin: lower-case de of the Roman alphabet and lower-case + yogh of Middle English, with the symbol of ligation « ͡».
fricative Articulated by a significant constriction of the airflow resulting from the proximity between the two articulators, with the soft palate touching the pharynx walls and with or without vibration of the vocal chords.		Voiceless Labiodental Fricative Articulated by a significant constriction resulting from the proximity between the lower lip and upper incisors, with the soft palate touching the pharyngeal wall, and without vibration of the vocal chords. Symbol origin: lower-case f of the Roman alphabet. Voiced Labiodental Fricative Articulated by a significant constriction resulting from the proximity between the lower lip and upper incisors, with the soft palate touching the pharyngeal wall, and with vibration of the vocal chords. Symbol origin: lower-case v of the Roman alphabet.		Voiced Alveolar Fricative Articulated by a significant constriction resulting from the proximity between the front part of the tongue and the alveolar ridge, with the soft palate touching the pharyngeal wall, and with vibration of the vocal chords. Symbol origin: lower-case z of the Roman alphabet. Voiceless Alveolar Fricative Articulated by a significant constriction resulting from the proximity between the front part of the tongue and the alveolar ridge, with the soft palate touching the pharyngeal wall, and without vibration of the vocal chords. Symbol origin: lower-case s of the Roman alphabet.	Voiced Postalveolar Fricative Articulated by a significant constriction resulting from the proximity between the front part of the tongue and the back part of the alveolar ridge, and with vibration of the vocal chords. Symbol origin: lower-case yogh of Middle English. Voiceless Postalveolar Fricative Articulated by a significant constriction resulting from the proximity between the front part of the tongue and the back part of the alveolar ridge, and without vibration of the vocal chords. Symbol origin: elongated upper-case s of the Roman alphabet.
nasal Articulated by the total obstruction of airflow resulting from contact between the two articulators, with the soft palate separated from the pharyngeal wall (allowing airflow into the nasal passage) and with vibration of the vocal chords.	Voiced Bilabial Nasal Articulated by a total obstruction of airflow resulting from contact between the upper and lower lips, with the soft palate separated from the pharyngeal wall to allow airflow into the nasal cavity, and with vibration of the vocal chords. Symbol origin: lower-case m of the Roman alphabet.	Voiced Labiodental Nasal Articulated by a total obstruction of airflow resulting from contact between the lower lip and upper incisors, with the soft palate separated from the pharyngeal wall to allow airflow into the nasal cavity, and with vibration of the vocal chords. Symbol origin: lower-case m of the Roman alphabet with a left-pointing tail hanging from the rightmost leg.		Voiced Alveolar Nasal Articulated by a total obstruction of airflow resulting from contact between the front part of the tongue and the alveolar ridge, with the soft palate separated from the pharyngeal wall to allow airflow into the nasal cavity, and with vibration of the vocal chords. Symbol origin: lower-case n of the Roman alphabet.		Voiced Palatal Nasal Articulated by a total obstruction of airflow resulting from contact between the tongue dorsum and the hard palate, with the soft palate separated from the pharyngeal wall to allow airflow into the nasal cavity, and with vibration of the vocal chords. Symbol origin: lower-case n of the Roman alphabet with a left-pointing tail hanging from the left leg.	Voiced Velar Nasal Articulated by a total obstruction of airflow resulting from contact between the tongue postdorsum and the soft palate, with the soft palate separated from the pharyngeal wall to allow airflow into the nasal cavity, and with vibration of the vocal chords. Symbol origin: lower-case n of the Roman alphabet with a left-pointing tail hanging from the right leg.
trill Articulated by a succession of very brief obstructions between the two articulators, with the soft palate touching the pharyngeal wall and with vibration of the vocal folds.				Voiced Alveolar Trill Articulated by a succession of very rapid and brief obstructions between the front part of the tongue and the alveolar ridge, with the soft palate touching the pharyngeal wall, and with vibration of the vocal chords. Symbol origin: lower-case r of the Roman alphabet.
flap Articulated by a single brief obstruction between the two articulators, with the soft palate touched from the pharyngeal wall and with vibration of the vocal chords.				Voiced Alveolar Flap Articulated by a brief obstruction between the front part of the tongue and the alveolar ridge, with the soft palate touching the pharyngeal wall, and with vibration of the vocal chords. Symbol origin: lower-case r of the Roman alphabet without the serif line at the upper left.
lateral Articulated by an obstruction of airflow through the central part of the oral cavity, resulting from contact between the two articulators, thus allowing air to pass through one or both sides of the mouth, with the soft palate touching the pharyngeal wall and with vibration of the vocal chords.				Voiced Alveolar Lateral Articulated by an obstruction of airflow in the central part of the oral cavity resulting from contact between the front part of the tongue and the alveolar ridge such that air is able to exit from one side of the mouth with the soft palate touching the pharyngeal wall, and with vibration of the vocal chords. Symbol origin: lower-case l of the Roman alphabet.		Voiced Palatal Lateral Articulated by an obstruction of airflow in the central part of the vocal cavity resulting from contact between the front part of the tongue and the back part of the alveolar ridge such that air is able to exit from both sides of the mouth,, with the soft palate touching the pharyngeal wall, and with vibration of the vocal chords. Symbol origin: lower-case upsilon of the Greek alphabet rotated 180º.
approximant Articulated with a very weak constriction resulting from the closeness between the two articulators, with the soft palate touching the pharyngeal wall and with vibration of the vocal chords.	Voiced Bilabial Approximant Articulated with a very slight constriction resulting from the proximity between the upper and lower lips, with the soft palate touching the pharyngeal wall, and with vibration of the vocal chords. Symbol origin: lower-case bets of the Greek alphabet with a serif at the end of the vertical line.		Voiced Dental Approximant Articulated with a very slight constriction resulting from the proximity between the front part of the tongue and the upper incisors, with the soft palate touching the pharyngeal wall, and with vibration of the vocal chords. Symbol origin: lower-case eth of the Scandinavian alphabet.			Voiced Palatal Approximant Articulated with a very slight constriction resulting from the proximity between the tongue dorsum and the palate, with the soft palate touching the pharyngeal wall, and with vibration of the vocal chords. Symbol origin: lower-case j of the Roman alphabet.	Voiced Labiovelar Approximant Articulated with a very slight constriction resulting from the proximity between the tongue postdorsum and soft palate, with rounding and protrusion of the lips and the soft palate touching the pharyngeal wall, and with vibration of the vocal chords. Symbol origin: lower-case w of the Roman alphabet. Voiced Velar Approximant Articulated with a very slight constriction resulting from the proximity between the tongue postdorsum and soft palate, with the soft palate touching the pharyngeal wall, and with vibration of the vocal chords. Symbol origin: lower-case gamma of the Greek alphabet with serifs at the end of the straight lines.

diacritics

	devoiced Description: Indicates an articulation with less voicing than a sound without the diacritic. Use: Can be used, for example, to indicate the voiceless nature of final rhotics. Position: Under the phonetic symbol.
	retracted Description: Indicates a more retracted articulation than without the diacritic. Use: Can be used, for example, to indicate the retracted nature of the nasal consonants and pharyngealized alveolar laterals (i.e. postalveolar or prepalatal realizations): esponja [ǝsˈpɔn̠ʒǝ], el joc [ǝɫ̠ˈʒɔk]. Position: Under the phonetic symbol.
	advanced Description: Indicates a more advanced articulation than without the diacritic. Use: Can be used, for example, to indicate the advanced nature of velar sounds when followed by front vowels: quimera [k̟iˈmeɾǝ]. Position: Under the phonetic symbol.
	dental Description: Indicates a dental version of the symbol without the diacritic. Use: Can be used, for example, to indicate the dental nature of the alveolar nasal consonant or the velarized alveolar lateral (i.e.: antic [ǝn̪ˈtik], el teu [ǝɫ̪ˈtǝw]). Position: Under the phonetic symbol.
	lowered Description: Indicates an articulation that is lower and more open than a symbol without the diacritic. Use: Can be used, for example, to represent the middle vowels of the Roussillonese dialect of Catalan (cf. seva [ˈsɛ̞βǝ], seba [ˈsɛ̞βǝ]) or very open varieties of the mid-low vowels such as the variants found in Balearic Catalan and Valencian: mel [ˈmɛ̞ɫ]. Position: Under the phonetic symbols.
	raised Description: Indicates a more raised articulation than a symbol without the diacritic. Use: Can be used, for example, to represent the more closed variations of mid-low vowels of Catalan varieties like that used in Girona: hora [ˈɔ̝ɾǝ] (northern variety). Position: Under the phonetic symbol.
	velarized Description: Indicates a more velarized articulation (with raising of the tongue root toward the soft palate) that does not correspond to the same sound without the diacritic. Use: Can be used, for example, to represent the velarized nature of the alveolar lateral in Catalan: ala [ˈaɫǝ], mal [maɫ]. Position: Under the phonetic symbol.
	syllabic Description: Indicates a syllabic articulation when under a symbol that represents a non-syllabic sound. Use: Can be used, for example, to represent the syllabic nature of the final liquids in the first person singulars of the present indicative in Balearic Catalan: compr [ˈkompɾ̩], sembl [ˈsɛmpl̩], obr [ˈɔpɾ̩]. Position: Under the phonetic symbol.
	non-Syllabic Description: Indicates a non-syllabic articulation when under a symbol that represents a syllabic sound. Use: Can be used, for example, to represent the non-syllabic nature of the vowels [i] and [u] in decreasing diphthongs, to distinguish semi-vocalic articulations (cf. aire [ˈai̯ɾǝ], caure [ˈkau̯ɾǝ]) from semi-consonants (cf. quatre [ˈkwatrǝ], acció [«kÈsjo]). Also, it can be used to indicate non-syllabic articulations of consecutive vowels found in spontaneous speech (cf. no era fàcil [no e̯.rǝ ˈfa.siɫ]). Position: Under the phonetic symbol.

suprasegmentals

	primary stress Description: Before a syllable, indicates that the stress falls on the primary syllable, that is, the most prominent stress of a sequence. Use: It is assumed that each minor group has a primary stress.It is assumed that each minor group has a primary stress. Position: To the top left of the phonetic symbol. Alternative system: Acute accent (´) on top of the tonic vowel.
	secondary stress Description: Before a syllable, indicates where the secondary stress falls, that is, the less prominent stress of a sequence. Use: It is assumed that each minor group has a primary stress with the option of secondary stresses as well. Position: To the bottom left of the phonetic symbol. Alternative system: Grave accent (`) on top of the tonic vowel.
	lengthening Description: After a phonetic symbol, indicates that the sound has a longer duration. Use: Used when one wants to indicate elongation, whether spontaneous () or phonological (i.e. to represent a geminated consonant). Position: After the phonetic symbol. Alternative system: Repetition of the affected symbol in question.
	minor group Description: Between two phonic sequences, indicates a minor group border. Use: Usually corresponds to phonological phrases. Position: Between the phonic sequences.
	major group Description: Between two phonic sequences, indicates a border of the major group or intonation. Use: May coincide with a pause, but not necessarily. Position: Between the phonic sequences.
	syllable break Description: Between two symbols, indicates that there is a break between syllables. Use: Utilized to divide a sequence syllabically. Position: Between symbols.

vowels

	Tongue advancement
Tongue height	back Articulated with the tongue dorsum approaching the back of the palatal arch; also, with the tongue root approaching the pharynx walls.	central Articulated with the tongue situated in the central area of the oral cavity.	front Articulated with the tongue dorsum approaching the front of the palatal arch.
high high or close Articulated with the tongue approaching the palatal arch and the soft palate touching the pharynx walls, and with vibration of the vocal chords.	Front High Unrounded Vowel Articulated with the tongue dorsum advanced and close to the front part of the palatal arch, the lips stretched (unrounded), the soft palate touching the pharyngeal wall and vibration of the vocal chords. The mouth is almost fully closed. Symbol origin: lower-case i of the Roman alphabet.		Back High Rounded Vowel Articulated with the tongue dorsum delayed and close to the back part of the palatal arch, with the lips rounded, the soft palate touching the pharyngeal wall and vibration of the vocal chords. The mouth is almost fully closed. Symbol origin: lower-case u of the Roman alphabet.
mid-high mid-high or close mid Articulated with the tongue quite close to the palatal arch and the soft palate touching the pharynx walls, and with vibration of the vocal chords.	Front Mid-High Unrounded Vowel Articulated with the tongue dorsum advanced and very close to the front part of the palatal arch, with the lips stretched (unrounded), the soft palate touching the pharyngeal wall and vibration of the vocal chords. The mouth is somewhat closed. Symbol origin: lower-case e of the Roman alphabet.	Central Mid Vowel Articulated with the tongue dorsum slightly elevated towards the palatal arch, with the soft palate touching the pharyngeal wall and vibration of the vocal chords. The mouth is slightly open. Symbol origin: lower-case e of the Roman alphabet, inverted 180°.	Back Mid-High Rounded Articulated with the tongue dorsum delayed and very close to the back part of the palatal arch, with the lips rounded, the soft palate touching the pharyngeal wall and vibration of the vocal chords. The mouth is somewhat closed. Symbol origin: lower-case o of the Roman alphabet.
mid-low mid-low or open mid Articulated with the tongue slightly approaching the palatal arch and the soft palate touching the pharynx walls, and with vibration of the vocal chords.	Front Mid-Low Unrounded Vowel Articulated with the tongue dorsum advanced and slightly approaching the front part of the palatal arch, with the lips stretched (unrounded), the soft palate touching the pharyngeal wall and vibration of the vocal chords. The mouth is fairly open. Symbol origin: lower-case epsilon of the Greek alphabet.		Back Mid-Low Rounded Vowel Articulated with the tongue dorsum delayed and slightly approaching the back part of the palatal arch, with the lips rounded, the soft palate touching the pharyngeal wall and vibration of the vocal chords. The mouth is quite open. Symbol origin: lower-case c of the Roman alphabet inverted 180°.
low low or open Articulated with the tongue far from the palatal arch and the soft palate touching the pharynx walls, and with vibration of the vocal chords.			Back Low Unrounded Vowel Articulated with the tongue far from the palatal arch, with the tongue root slightly approaching the pharyngeal wall and vibration of the vocal chords. The mouth is very open. Symbol origin: lower-case a of the Roman alphabet.