sonant: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
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Quick answer
What does “sonant” mean?
In phonetics, a speech sound that is voiced or sonorous, such as vowels, nasals, liquids, and glides.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
In phonetics, a speech sound that is voiced or sonorous, such as vowels, nasals, liquids, and glides.
Broadly, any sound-producing or resonant element; in linguistics, specifically denotes sounds characterized by vocal cord vibration.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage between British and American English.
Connotations
Neutral; strictly a technical term in phonetics and linguistics.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both variants, primarily found in academic or specialized contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “sonant” in a Sentence
function as a sonantclassify as sonantrefer to as sonantVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sonant” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The sonant qualities of the speech were analysed in detail.
- It is considered a sonant consonant in this phonetic inventory.
American English
- The sonant features of the sound were carefully examined.
- This phoneme is classified as sonant in American linguistic texts.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used in business contexts.
Academic
Common in linguistic studies, phonetics papers, and textbooks.
Everyday
Rarely used; mostly encountered in educational or technical discussions.
Technical
Frequent in phonetics and phonology for describing sound properties.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sonant”
- Mispronouncing as /sɒnənt/ or using it to mean 'loud' instead of 'voiced'.
- Applying it outside linguistic contexts incorrectly.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In phonetics, 'sonant' refers to a speech sound that is voiced or resonant, typically including vowels, nasals, liquids, and glides.
No, it is a technical term primarily used in linguistics, phonetics, and related academic fields, so it's rare in casual conversation.
No, 'sonant' is not standardly used as a verb; it functions as a noun or adjective in linguistic contexts.
The main antonym is 'obstruent', which describes sounds that obstruct airflow, such as voiceless stops and fricatives.
In phonetics, a speech sound that is voiced or sonorous, such as vowels, nasals, liquids, and glides.
Sonant is usually technical in register.
Sonant: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsəʊnənt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsoʊnənt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'sonant' as 'sound-ant'—like an ant that makes sound—to remember it relates to voiced or resonant sounds.
Conceptual Metaphor
Sound as a living entity (from Latin 'sonare', meaning to sound).
Practice
Quiz
What best describes a sonant?