Theiling Online    Sitemap    Conlang Mailing List HQ   

Re: THEORY: clicks

From:Herman Miller <hmiller@...>
Date:Monday, April 5, 1999, 1:23
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> =3D /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). You should be able to breathe or hum at the same time as making a click.
><f!> is produced in a similar way, but with the upper >teeth placed in the inner side of the lower lip. When >the lip and the teeth split apart, there's something >I'd call a click, but also a kind of sibilant sound, >like a buzz. I called this a labiodental click. Is it >correct? Does such a sound even exist in any natlang?
I don't know of any, but it seems reasonable to call it a labiodental click. -- languages of Kolagia---> = +---<http://www.io.com/~hmiller/languages.html>--- Thryomanes /"If all Printers were determin'd not to print = any (Herman Miller) / thing till they were sure it would offend no = body, moc.oi @ rellimh <-/ there would be very little printed." -Ben = Franklin