continuant: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical / Academic
Quick answer
What does “continuant” mean?
A speech sound produced with a continuous, unimpeded airflow through the mouth, such as fricatives, nasals, and approximants.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A speech sound produced with a continuous, unimpeded airflow through the mouth, such as fricatives, nasals, and approximants.
In a broader sense, something that continues or endures without interruption; a continuous entity or process.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. The term is used identically in linguistic contexts in both varieties.
Connotations
Purely technical, neutral connotation.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general language; used almost exclusively in academic linguistics. No regional frequency variation.
Grammar
How to Use “continuant” in a Sentence
[continuant] + [noun] (e.g., continuant phoneme)[adjective] + [continuant] (e.g., voiced continuant)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “continuant” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- The sounds /s/ and /m/ are both classed as continuant consonants.
- In this analysis, we focus on continuant phonemes.
American English
- Fricatives are a type of continuant sound.
- The continuant feature distinguishes /f/ from /p/.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in linguistics, phonetics, and occasionally mathematics (referring to a continuous function or quantity).
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
The primary context. Describes a class of consonant sounds.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “continuant”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “continuant”
- Using it as a synonym for 'continuous' in general writing.
- Pronouncing it with stress on the first syllable (/ˈkɒn.tɪn.ju.ənt/). Correct stress is on the second syllable.
- Confusing it with 'continuum'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Fricative is a subset of continuant. All fricatives are continuants, but not all continuants are fricatives. Nasals (m, n) and approximants (l, r, w, j) are also continuants.
It is highly unlikely you would need to. It is a specialised linguistic term. In general contexts, use words like 'continuous sound' or 'uninterrupted'.
The main opposite is a 'stop' (or 'plosive'), like /p, t, k, b, d, g/, where the airflow is completely blocked and then released.
In a literal sense, yes, vowels involve continuous airflow. However, the term 'continuant' is traditionally used in phonology specifically for consonants. Vowels are placed in a separate category.
A speech sound produced with a continuous, unimpeded airflow through the mouth, such as fricatives, nasals, and approximants.
Continuant is usually technical / academic in register.
Continuant: in British English it is pronounced /kənˈtɪn.ju.ənt/, and in American English it is pronounced /kənˈtɪn.ju.ənt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “N/A”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'CONTINUous ANT' – an ant that makes a continuous 'ssss' or 'zzzz' sound as it walks, unlike a beetle that makes a stop-and-go 'p' or 't' sound.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOUND IS A STREAM (of air). A continuant is an unimpeded stream, while a stop is a dammed stream that releases suddenly.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is NOT a continuant sound?