Velarization

The term velarization is known in phonetics, a secondary articulation, in which the primary volume is given by an additional approximate constriction of the oral cavity by raising the rear tongue to the velum a darker tone.

Velarisierte consonants are represented in the IPA transcription by a superscript " ȣ » [ ˠ ] or a covering tilde [ ɫ ].

In the Russian language, for example, contrasts a soft palatalisiertes [l ʲ ] with a non- palatalized "hard" [ ɫ ]. This is significant velarization distinctive in Russian. Velarisierte variants of / l / are found also in German dialects, as in the Westphalian and Ripuarian.

Also in the standard pronunciation of British English ( Received Pronunciation ), a distinction between a bright and a dark ( velarisierten ) / l /. However, the variants are different than in the Russian language is not important distinctive. The variant [ ɫ ] has the Vokalbeiklang [ ʊ ] and [o ], the bright variant, which corresponds approximately to Germany, however, has the connotation of a [e ] or [ ɪ ]. Bright [ l] will be before a vowel or / j /, dark [ ɫ ] before all other sounds and before a pause in speaking spoken.

The formation of the dark [ ɫ ] one learns by placing the tongue tip or tongue blade to the alveolar ridge and [ ʊ ] and [o ] is talking about. The lips should be neither pre- nor everted rounded. In American English, a dark [ ɫ ] is mainly spoken.

Contrastive Velarisierungen (that is, the meaning of an otherwise homonymous word changes due to the velarization one of his consonants ) are found not only in Russian but also in other languages ​​such as Irish Gaelic and Malayalam.