Voiceless labial-velar plosive
Encyclopedia
The voiceless labial–velar plosive is a type of consonant
al sound, used in some spoken language
s. It is a [k] and [p] pronounced simultaneously. To make this sound, say Coe, but close your lips as if you were saying Poe; release your lips at the same times as or a fraction of a second after you pronounce the C of Coe. The symbol in the International Phonetic Alphabet
that represents this sound is k͡p.
The voiceless labial–velar plosive is found in Vietnamese
and various languages in West and Central Africa. In Yoruba
it is written with a simple ⟨p⟩.
and in Vanuatu
, combine this voiceless labial–velar plosive with a labial–velar approximant release, hence [k͡pʷ]. Thus Mwotlap (Banks Islands
, north Vanuatu
) has [k͡pʷɪlɣɛk] ('my father-in-law').
In the Banks Islands
languages which have it, the phoneme /k͡pʷ/ is written ⟨⟩ in local orthographies
.
In other languages of Vanuatu
further south (such as South Efate
, or Lenakel), the same segment is spelled ⟨⟩.
Consonant
In articulatory phonetics, a consonant is a speech sound that is articulated with complete or partial closure of the vocal tract. Examples are , pronounced with the lips; , pronounced with the front of the tongue; , pronounced with the back of the tongue; , pronounced in the throat; and ,...
al sound, used in some spoken language
Language
Language may refer either to the specifically human capacity for acquiring and using complex systems of communication, or to a specific instance of such a system of complex communication...
s. It is a [k] and [p] pronounced simultaneously. To make this sound, say Coe, but close your lips as if you were saying Poe; release your lips at the same times as or a fraction of a second after you pronounce the C of Coe. The symbol in the International Phonetic Alphabet
International Phonetic Alphabet
The International Phonetic Alphabet "The acronym 'IPA' strictly refers [...] to the 'International Phonetic Association'. But it is now such a common practice to use the acronym also to refer to the alphabet itself that resistance seems pedantic...
that represents this sound is k͡p.
The voiceless labial–velar plosive is found in Vietnamese
Vietnamese language
Vietnamese is the national and official language of Vietnam. It is the mother tongue of 86% of Vietnam's population, and of about three million overseas Vietnamese. It is also spoken as a second language by many ethnic minorities of Vietnam...
and various languages in West and Central Africa. In Yoruba
Yoruba language
Yorùbá is a Niger–Congo language spoken in West Africa by approximately 20 million speakers. The native tongue of the Yoruba people, it is spoken, among other languages, in Nigeria, Benin, and Togo and in communities in other parts of Africa, Europe and the Americas...
it is written with a simple ⟨p⟩.
Features
Features of the voiceless labial–velar plosive:Occurrence
| Language | Word | IPA International Phonetic Alphabet The International Phonetic Alphabet "The acronym 'IPA' strictly refers [...] to the 'International Phonetic Association'. But it is now such a common practice to use the acronym also to refer to the alphabet itself that resistance seems pedantic... | Meaning | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ega Ega language Ega, also known as Egwa and Diés, is a language of uncertain affiliation within the Niger–Congo language family spoken Ivory Coast. It does not appear to belong to any of the traditional branches of Niger–Congo... |
[k͡pá] | 'build a hedge to enclose a field' | |||
| Kalabari Kalabari language Kalabari is an Ijaw language of Nigeria. Its three dialects are mutually intelligible. The Kalabari dialect is one of the best-documented varieties of Ijaw, and as such is frequently used as the prime example of Ijaw in linguistic literature.... |
àkpà Latin alphabet The Latin alphabet, also called the Roman alphabet, is the most recognized alphabet used in the world today. It evolved from a western variety of the Greek alphabet called the Cumaean alphabet, which was adopted and modified by the Etruscans who ruled early Rome... |
[àk͡pà] | 'bag' | ||
| Mono Mono language (Congo) Mono is a language spoken by about 65,000 people in the northwestern corner of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is one of the Banda languages, a subbranch of the Ubangian branch of the Niger–Congo languages... |
kpa Latin alphabet The Latin alphabet, also called the Roman alphabet, is the most recognized alphabet used in the world today. It evolved from a western variety of the Greek alphabet called the Cumaean alphabet, which was adopted and modified by the Etruscans who ruled early Rome... |
[k͡pa] | 'flee' | ||
| Vietnamese Vietnamese language Vietnamese is the national and official language of Vietnam. It is the mother tongue of 86% of Vietnam's population, and of about three million overseas Vietnamese. It is also spoken as a second language by many ethnic minorities of Vietnam... |
[luk͡p˧ˀ˥] | 'time' | Allophone of /k/ after /u/ and /w/. See Vietnamese phonology Vietnamese phonology This article is a technical description of the sound system of the Vietnamese language, including phonetics and phonology.-Consonants:Two main varieties of Vietnamese, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, are described below.-Hanoi:... |
||
Similar sounds
Some languages, especially in Papua New GuineaPapua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
and in Vanuatu
Vanuatu
Vanuatu , officially the Republic of Vanuatu , is an island nation located in the South Pacific Ocean. The archipelago, which is of volcanic origin, is some east of northern Australia, northeast of New Caledonia, west of Fiji, and southeast of the Solomon Islands, near New Guinea.Vanuatu was...
, combine this voiceless labial–velar plosive with a labial–velar approximant release, hence [k͡pʷ]. Thus Mwotlap (Banks Islands
Banks Islands
The Banks Islands are a group of islands in northern Vanuatu.Together with the Torres Islands to the northwest, they make up the northernmost province of Torba. The group lies about north of Maewo, and includes Gaua and Vanua Lava, two of the 13 largest islands in Vanuatu...
, north Vanuatu
Vanuatu
Vanuatu , officially the Republic of Vanuatu , is an island nation located in the South Pacific Ocean. The archipelago, which is of volcanic origin, is some east of northern Australia, northeast of New Caledonia, west of Fiji, and southeast of the Solomon Islands, near New Guinea.Vanuatu was...
) has [k͡pʷɪlɣɛk] ('my father-in-law').
In the Banks Islands
Banks Islands
The Banks Islands are a group of islands in northern Vanuatu.Together with the Torres Islands to the northwest, they make up the northernmost province of Torba. The group lies about north of Maewo, and includes Gaua and Vanua Lava, two of the 13 largest islands in Vanuatu...
languages which have it, the phoneme /k͡pʷ/ is written ⟨⟩ in local orthographies
Orthography
The orthography of a language specifies a standardized way of using a specific writing system to write the language. Where more than one writing system is used for a language, for example Kurdish, Uyghur, Serbian or Inuktitut, there can be more than one orthography...
.
In other languages of Vanuatu
Vanuatu
Vanuatu , officially the Republic of Vanuatu , is an island nation located in the South Pacific Ocean. The archipelago, which is of volcanic origin, is some east of northern Australia, northeast of New Caledonia, west of Fiji, and southeast of the Solomon Islands, near New Guinea.Vanuatu was...
further south (such as South Efate
South Efate language
The South Efate language is a Nuclear Southern Oceanic language of the Malayo-Polynesian language family, spoken on the island of Efate in central Vanuatu. , there are approximately 6,000 speakers who live in coastal villages from Pango to Eton. The language's grammar has been described by Nick...
, or Lenakel), the same segment is spelled ⟨⟩.