Radical consonant

Radical consonants are articulated with the root (base) of the tongue in the throat. They include the pharyngeal and epiglottal places of articulation. Glottal consonants are also sometimes considered radicals, but they are more accurately described as having no place of articulation other than their phonation.

Related Topics:
Tongue - Throat - Pharyngeal - Epiglottal - Glottal consonant - Phonation

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The term radical was coined to disambiguate pharyngeal, which had come to mean any consonant articulated in the throat, whether the articulator was the back of the tongue ("high" pharyngeals) or the epiglottis ("low" pharyngeals). However, radical has not completely taken over, and pharyngeal is still commonly used in this broader sense.

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