Which sounds are called affricates and why? Write a note on their manner of articulation.

Ans. Sounds that are produced with a stricture of complete closure and slow release are called affricates. In British R.P. there are two affricates: /tʃ/ and /dʒ/. During the articulation of these sounds the active and passive articulator come into firm contact with each other and thus the lung-air cannot escape through the mouth. Again, simultaneously there is a velic closure. The soft palate is raised and touches the back wall of the pharynx and thus completely blocks the nasal passage of air. On account of the oral and nasal closure the lung-air is blocked in the mouth. However, then the active articulator is removed slowly from the passive articulator. As a result, instead of the explosive noise that is the characteristic of plosive consonants, a friction is heard. Hence these sounds are called affricates.

While /tʃ/, as in the English word 'cheap', is a voiceless palato-alveolar affricate, /dʒ/, as in the English word 'jeep', is a voiced palato-alveolar affricate. /tʃ/ is voiceless because during its production the vocal cords are wide apart and the glottis is wide open. But /dʒ/ is voiced because during its production the vocal cords are loosely held together and the pressure of the air from the lungs makes them vibrate. During the articulation of these two sounds the tip and blade of the tongue first come into close contact with the teeth ridge and then are slowly removed from the teeth ridge. Simultaneously, the front of the tongue is raised in the direction of the hard palate. It is worth pointing out in this context that the degree of affrication corresponds to the degree of rapidity with which the separation of the articulating organs is performed.