Re: Cerebral consonants & transliterarion

Sally Caves wrote:

>What's a retroflex consonant?
>
>Sally
The term "retroflex" has been used for a variety of different
articulations, which are linked as much by the shape of the tongue
involved in the region on the upper surface of the mouth. Try saying
a <t> <d> <s> <l> or any other coronal sound with the tongue tip
curved upwards - then you'd have an "apical post-alveolar"
articulation. In severe cases, you might even have a "sub-apical"
retroflex where the tongue-tip is curved further back such that the
under-side of the tongue tip touches the upper surface of the mouth.

Retroflex consonants are quite common in the subcontinent of India.
I'm sure you have heard English spoken with a sub-continental Indian
accent with a distinct retroflexation of all coronal consonants. It
sounds so funny 8-) If not, then I'm sure you have heard of American
Southerner English with a lot of retroflexation of <s> <t> <d> and
<n> especially after <r>, eg. "first" "thirst" "third" "burn".

Hope that helps,
-Kristian- 8-)