Which place of articulation uses the center of the tongue on the middle of the hard palate, as in /j/?

Which place of articulation uses the center of the tongue on the middle of the hard palate, as in /j/?

• A. Palatal
• B. Palate-alveolar
• C. Alveolar
• D. Labiodental

Answer: (A)

The key idea is where the constriction happens in the vocal tract. For the sound in question, the center of the tongue is raised toward the hard palate, creating a narrow space at the roof of the mouth without a full stop of airflow. That placement is the palatal place of articulation. The sound here is the palatal approximant, the “y” sound in “you,” which is produced with the tongue body near the palate rather than at the teeth, lips, or the alveolar ridge.

If you compare it to other places: alveolar would involve the tongue tip at the bony ridge just behind the teeth; labiodental uses the lips and teeth; palato-alveolar (between palate and alveolar ridge) is typical for sounds like “sh” or “ch.” None of those match the description of the tongue body on the middle of the hard palate, which is why the palatal place is the best answer.