Which term describes a sound produced with the tip of the tongue behind or near the top teeth; the beginning sounds of 'think' and 'this'?

Which term describes a sound produced with the tip of the tongue behind or near the top teeth; the beginning sounds of 'think' and 'this'?

• A. Velar
• B. Dental
• C. Nasal
• D. Plosive

Answer: (B)

This is about where in the mouth a consonant is formed—the place of articulation. The sounds in think and this are produced with the tongue tip close to and near the upper front teeth, sometimes touching them. That place is dental. These sounds are fricatives, meaning air is forced through a narrow gap, creating a continuous, hissing-like sound rather than a full burst or nasal airflow. Velar would involve the back of the tongue against the soft palate, not the teeth. Nasal involves air going through the nose, as in and. Plosive involves a complete closure and a sharp release, as in p, t, or k. So the term that fits these sounds is dental.

This is about where in the mouth a consonant is formed—the place of articulation. The sounds in think and this are produced with the tongue tip close to and near the upper front teeth, sometimes touching them. That place is dental. These sounds are fricatives, meaning air is forced through a narrow gap, creating a continuous, hissing-like sound rather than a full burst or nasal airflow. Velar would involve the back of the tongue against the soft palate, not the teeth. Nasal involves air going through the nose, as in and. Plosive involves a complete closure and a sharp release, as in p, t, or k. So the term that fits these sounds is dental.