Linguistics Today: The Labiodental FLAP

OFFICIAL RECOGNITION A sound present in more than 70 African languages has been included in the International Phonetic Alphabet of 28 vowel symbols, 86 consonant symbols and 75 other marks for tone, stress, aspiration and other phonetic details. The sound, the labiodental flap, is the first to be added to the alphabet in 12 years.

The New York Times has With Sound From Africa, the Phonetic Alphabet Expands

For the first time in 12 years, the International Phonetic Association is amending its official alphabet. A sound called the labiodental flap will be granted its own letter, one that looks something like a v with a hook.

The sound, a buzz sometimes capped by a faint pop, is present in more than 70 African languages. It is produced by the lower lip moving back and forward, flapping on the inside of the upper teeth.

“The labiodental flap sound is as important as any other sound to speakers of languages that use it,” said Peter Ladefoged, emeritus professor of linguistics at the University of California, Los Angeles. “Think how Americans would protest if there were no way of transcribing the vowel in ‘bird,’ which in the usual U.S. pronunciation is almost as rare among the sounds of the world’s languages as the labiodental flap.”

Flap couldn’t resist this piece.

MP3 of the labiodental flap in the Mono word for vehicle is here.

A video is here.

H/T LA Observed.

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