Re: Phonology question

On Wed, 14 Jul 1999, BP Jonsson wrote:

> At 15:15 -0500 13.7.1999, Patrick Dunn wrote:
>
> >The tip arches up.  Make the /t/ sound, then relax and drop the center of
> >your tongue until you get a fricative.
> >
>
> Unless it sounds anything like an English "sh" it's definitely the
> Icelandic "thorn" sound, i.e. laminal alveolar fricative.  I read somewhere
> of a similar sound occurring as an allophone of /t/ in some Irish and Irish
> English dialects.  Does this ring a bell for someone?
>
> /BP
It doesn't sound like a "sh" (I don't remember the ascii IPA for that
sound).  The tongue is a tiny bit further forward and closer to thea
lveaolar ridge.

What does "laminal" mean?  I've never heard this one before.

--Patrick