"fricative" 的定义和意义

What is a "fricative"?

A fricative is a type of consonant sound produced by forcing air through a narrow channel created by the position of the tongue and other articulators, which causes turbulence. This manner of articulation results in a continuous, hissing, or buzzing sound. In English, examples of fricatives include the "f" sound in "fish," the "s" sound in "snake," and the "v" sound in "van." Fricatives are significant in phonetics because they add variety to speech sounds and play a crucial role in distinguishing words and their meanings.