Sonority hierarchy

The sonority hierarchy is a concept in linguistics that ranks speech sounds based on their loudness or prominence during pronunciation. It helps explain how sounds are arranged within words, especially in syllables. Vowels rank highest because they are voiced loudly and clearly. Consonants vary, with nasal sounds (like "m" and "n") occurring close to vowels, and stops (like "p" and "t") being quieter. This hierarchy guides the typical order of sounds in syllables—vowels are often at the core, with consonants surrounding them in descending sonority. It plays a key role in understanding linguistic patterns and word formation.