Theiling Online    Sitemap    Conlang Mailing List HQ   

Re: THEORY: clicks

From:Kristian Jensen <kljensen@...>
Date:Wednesday, April 7, 1999, 21:28
Herman Miller wrote:

>On Sun, 4 Apr 1999 10:46:29 -0300, FFlores <fflores@...> >wrote: > >>I'm having trouble feeling sure about the names I've >>given to some sounds in my latest lang, Xkanxey >>(<x> = /s./, retroflex "s"). I have two sounds that >>seem to be clicks, which I transliterate <c> and <f!>. >> >><c> is produced by placing the tip of the tongue against >>the (post)alveolar zone, then rarifying the air behind it >>so that it "pulls" the tongue backwards, and then releasing >>it. I'm quite sure this is a click. Am I right? >
>Probably. Clicks are velar ingressive sounds, with a closure at the >back of the mouth (usually velar; could also be uvular).
I'd call it a click. There are two kinds of clicks with regards to the velar airstream mechanism. One sucks air in, the other forces air out.
>You should be able to breathe or hum at the same time as making a >click.
To digress a little. I use clicks as a percussive accompaniment to my humming. I can sorta do a drum roll ("click" roll if you will) to a accompany my humming of a military marching tune. The clicks I use are alveolar and labial (both sucking and forcing out of air). The loudest one being the alveolar one that forces air out. -kristian-