manner (n.)

One of the main parameters in the PHONETIC or PHONOLOGICAL classification of speech sounds, referring to the kind of ARTICULATORY process used in a sound’s production. The distinction between CONSONANT and VOWEL is usually made in terms of manner of articulation. Within consonants, several articulatory types are recognized, based on the type of CLOSURE made by the VOCAL ORGANS. If the closure is complete, the result is a PLOSIVE, AFFRICATE or NASAL. If the closure is partial, the result is a LATERAL. If the closure is intermittent, the result is a ROLL (TRILL) or FLAP. And if there is narrowing without complete closure the result is a FRICATIVE. Within VOWELS, classification is based on the number of auditory qualities distinguishable in the sound (PURE VOWEL, DIPHTHONG, TRIPHTHONG), the position of the soft PALATE, and the type of lip position. Sounds which are vowel-like in manner of articulation, but consonantal in function, are classified as SEMIVOWELS or FRICTIONLESS CONTINUANTS.

The term has special status in DISTINCTIVE FEATURE theory in PHONOLOGY, where it constitutes one of the five main dimensions in terms of which features of speech sound are analyzed (the others being MAJOR CLASS FEATURES, CAVITY features, SOURCE features and PROSODIC features). The features subsumed under this heading, all analyzed as OPPOSITIONS, are: CONTINUANT, RELEASE features (INSTANTANEOUS and DELAYED), SUPPLEMENTARY MOVEMENTS (SUCTION and PRESSURE) and TENSE.

Several linguists use this term in the classification of LANGUAGE VARIETIES (more fully, manner of discourse), referring to the relations among the participants in a language activity, especially the LEVEL of FORMALITY they adopt (colloquial, formal, etc.). Alternative labels which have been proposed for this area are STYLE or TENOR of discourse.