Clicks
Introduction
Clicks are a type of speech sound used in many languages across the globe, but most extensively in the indigenous languages of Southern Africa. They are known for their unique articulatory mechanisms and acoustic properties, which set them apart from other speech sounds.
Phonetics and Phonology
In Phonetics, clicks are categorized as non-pulmonic consonants, meaning they are produced without airflow from the lungs. Instead, they are created by a 'double closure' in the vocal tract, with one closure at the back of the mouth and another at the lips or tongue. This creates an enclosed cavity which can be rapidly opened to produce a sharp 'click' sound.
Phonologically, clicks are complex segments often involving multiple articulatory gestures and simultaneous voicing or nasalization. They can function as consonants, vowels, or both, depending on the language.
Classification
Clicks are classified according to the location of the forward closure (the place of articulation), the manner of click release, and the accompanying phonation. The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) uses specific symbols to represent each type of click.
Place of Articulation
There are five primary places of articulation for clicks, each represented by a unique IPA symbol:
1. Bilabial (ʘ): Produced with both lips. 2. Dental (ǀ): Produced with the tongue against the upper teeth. 3. Alveolar (ǃ): Produced with the tongue against the alveolar ridge. 4. Palatal (ǂ): Produced with the front of the tongue against the hard palate. 5. Lateral (ǁ): Produced with the tongue against the molars and a lateral release.
Manner of Release
The manner of release refers to the way the click is released. There are three primary manners of release:
1. Tenuis: Released without any additional voicing, aspiration, or nasalization. 2. Voiced: Released with simultaneous voicing. 3. Nasal: Released with simultaneous nasalization.
Phonation
Phonation refers to the vocal fold activity during the production of the click. There are several types of phonation, including voiced, voiceless, aspirated, and nasal.
Click Languages
Clicks are found in a number of languages worldwide, but they are most prevalent in the Khoisan language family of Southern Africa. Other languages that feature clicks include some Bantu languages, such as Zulu and Xhosa, as well as the Damin language of Australia.
Acquisition and Perception
The acquisition of clicks by children and their perception by non-native speakers have been topics of extensive research in linguistics. Clicks are generally considered difficult for adult learners to acquire, but children learning click languages acquire them as naturally as any other speech sound.