Velarization (definition)

Velarization is a secondary articulation on consonants that references the back of the tongue's closeness to the velum. Velarized consonants like English's dark /l/ ([ɫ]), are produced with flatter tongue bodies as the back of the tongue approaches the soft palate. In the Celtic languages, velarization is also known as broadening and is distinct from slenderization (i.e. attenuation). This contrast is marked overtly in the Gaelic writing system; broad consonants are adjacent to one of the broad orthographic vowels <a, o, u> while slender consonants are always adjacent to either or <e>.

In Gaelic, velarization is sometimes used as a morphological cue in Noun Declension.

See Also

• Broad and Slender
  • Orthography
• Attenuation (definition)

External Links

• https://www.sltinfo.com/allo101-velarization/

The link below takes you away from the Gaelic Wiki to Wikipedia. Since wikipedia pages can be edited by anyone, they often contain inaccurate information. So be careful!

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velarization

References

• Lamb, William (2003) Scottish Gaelic. 2nd edition. Munich: Lingcom Europa
• Ladefoged, D. (2010) A Course in Phonetics. 6th Edition. Wadsworth Publishing.