Manner of articulation

Manner of articulation describes how speech sounds are produced by the movement and contact of speech organs, such as the tongue, lips, and the roof of the mouth. It refers to the way airflow is modified to create different sounds—like whether air flows freely through the mouth, is blocked completely, or is forced through a narrow passage. Common manners include stops (complete closure, then release), fricatives (narrow opening, creating a hissing sound), and nasals (air flows through the nose). Understanding manner helps explain how different speech sounds are formed and distinguished in spoken language.