articulatory feature: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical/Academic
Quick answer
What does “articulatory feature” mean?
A specific characteristic of how speech sounds are physically produced by the vocal organs (e.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A specific characteristic of how speech sounds are physically produced by the vocal organs (e.g., lips, tongue, vocal cords).
In phonetics and phonology, a property used to classify and distinguish speech sounds based on their manner or place of articulation, such as 'voiced', 'nasal', or 'bilabial'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling follows regional norms for 'articulatory' (same in both).
Connotations
Purely technical, with no cultural or regional connotations.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency and specialised in both varieties, confined to linguistic discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “articulatory feature” in a Sentence
[verb] + articulatory feature (e.g., 'possess', 'describe', 'analyse')[adjective] + articulatory feature (e.g., 'key', 'salient', 'relevant')articulatory feature + [preposition] + [noun] (e.g., 'feature of a consonant', 'feature for classification')Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “articulatory feature” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Linguists often feature articulatory properties in their analyses.
- The model failed to feature the crucial articulatory distinction.
American English
- The textbook features a chapter on articulatory phonetics.
- Researchers should feature articulatory data more prominently.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Core term in phonetics/phonology papers and textbooks for describing speech sound production.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Essential in linguistic analysis, speech pathology, and speech technology development.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “articulatory feature”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “articulatory feature”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “articulatory feature”
- Using 'articulation feature' (missing the '-ory' suffix).
- Confusing it with 'phonological feature', which may include abstract, system-internal properties not directly tied to articulation.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. 'Articulatory feature' specifically refers to properties of physical production. 'Distinctive feature' is a broader phonological term that can include articulatory features but may also include acoustic or abstract system features used to contrast meaning.
Yes. Common examples include [±voice] (whether vocal cords vibrate), [±nasal] (whether air escapes through the nose), and [±continuant] (whether airflow is completely blocked in the mouth).
Primarily linguists (especially phoneticians and phonologists), speech and language therapists, speech technologists, and some language teachers or advanced students of linguistics.
It provides a precise, scientific vocabulary for describing how human speech sounds are made, which is fundamental for analysing sound systems, diagnosing speech disorders, and developing speech synthesis and recognition systems.
A specific characteristic of how speech sounds are physically produced by the vocal organs (e.
Articulatory feature is usually technical/academic in register.
Articulatory feature: in British English it is pronounced /ɑːˌtɪk.jə.lə.tər.i ˈfiː.tʃər/, and in American English it is pronounced /ɑːrˌtɪk.jə.lə.tɔːr.i ˈfiː.tʃɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of an ARTIST (articulatory) carefully shaping clay with their FEET (feature) – it's about the physical shaping of sound by the vocal 'tools'.
Conceptual Metaphor
FEATURES ARE COMPONENTS (A sound is conceptualised as an object assembled from smaller, defining parts).
Practice
Quiz
What is an 'articulatory feature' primarily concerned with?