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Voiced labial–retroflex nasal

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Voiced labial–retroflex nasal
ɳ͡m

A voiced labial–retroflex nasal is a type of consonantal sound used in the Yele language. It is a [ɳ] and [m] pronounced simultaneously. The symbol in the International Phonetic Alphabet that represents this sound is ⟨ɳ͡m⟩. Para-IPA ⟨ṇ͡m⟩ is also seen.

Features

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Features of a voiced labial–retroflex nasal are:

  • Its phonation is voiceless, which means it is produced without vibrations of the vocal cords.
  • It is a nasal consonant, which means air is exclusively allowed to escape through the nose for nasal stops; otherwise, in addition to through the mouth.
  • It is a median consonant, which means it is produced by directing the airstream down the midline of the tongue, rather than to the sides.
  • Its airstream mechanism is pulmonic, which means it is articulated by pushing air only with the intercostal muscles and abdominal muscles, as in most sounds.

Occurrence

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Language Word IPA Meaning Notes
Yele[1][2] nmó [ɳ͡mo] "we" Contrasts voiced labial–alveolar nasal and voiced labial–velar nasal.

References

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  1. ^ Levinson, Stephen C. (23 May 2022). A Grammar of Yélî Dnye: The Papuan Language of Rossel Island (PDF). De Gruyter. doi:10.1515/9783110733853. ISBN 978-3-11-073385-3. S2CID 249083265. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2023-10-05. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  2. ^ Ladefoged, Peter; Maddieson, Ian (1996). The Sounds of the World's Languages. Oxford: Blackwell. pp. 342–350. ISBN 0-631-19815-6.