approximant (n.)

A general term used by some PHONETICIANS in the classification of speech sounds on the basis of their MANNER OF ARTICULATION, and corresponding to what in other approaches would be called FRICTIONLESS CONTINUANTS, i.e. [w], [j], [r], [l], and all VOWELS. The term is based on the ARTICULATIONS involved, in that one articulator approaches another, but the degree of narrowing involved does not produce audible friction. In some analyses, [h] would also be considered an approximant (i.e. the voiceless equivalent of the VOWEL following).