Peripheral consonant facts for kids
Peripheral consonants are special sounds in language. They are made using the very edges of your mouth. Think about sounds made with your lips (like 'p' or 'm') or the very back of your throat (like 'k' or 'ng').
These sounds are different from "coronal" sounds, which are made with the middle part of your tongue, like 't' or 'd'. In many Australian Aboriginal languages, these lip and throat sounds are grouped together because they act similarly when people speak.
What are Peripheral Consonants?
Peripheral consonants are sounds that use the outer parts of your mouth.
- Labial sounds (or labials) are made with your lips. Try saying "p" or "m" – your lips come together!
- Velar sounds (or velars) are made with the back of your tongue touching the soft part at the back of your mouth, called the velum. Try saying "k" or "ng" (like in "sing") – you'll feel your tongue at the back.
These sounds are important in how many languages are built.
How They Sound in Australian Languages
In Australian Aboriginal languages, peripheral consonants are often used at the beginning of words or parts of words (syllables). They are less common at the end of words.
Here are some examples of peripheral consonants found in Australian languages:
| Lip Sounds | Back-of-Throat Sounds | |
|---|---|---|
| Stop Sounds | p (like 'p' in "pat") | k (like 'k' in "kit") |
| Nasal Sounds | m (like 'm' in "mat") | ŋ (like 'ng' in "sing") |
| Glide Sounds | w (like 'w' in "wet") | |
The 'w' sound is special because it uses both your lips and the back of your throat, so it's listed under both!
