Definition & Meaning of "postalveolar consonant"in English

What is a "postalveolar consonant"?

A postalveolar consonant is a type of speech sound produced when the tongue contacts the area just behind the alveolar ridge, which is located right behind the upper front teeth. This place of articulation creates distinct sounds that are different from alveolar consonants. In English, examples of postalveolar consonants include "sh" as in "shoe" and "zh" as in "measure." These sounds are characterized by a specific manner of articulation and play a significant role in phonetics, helping to differentiate meanings in spoken language.