Fricatives

Fricative sounds are produced when the articulators are brought so closely together that the sounds are accompanied by audible friction. All fricatives, except /h/, come in pairs, i.e. one Fortis and one Lenis variant. All fortis fricatives are always unvoiced, and lenis fricatives may be devoiced when not surrounded by voiced sounds. Lenis fricatives have a marked lengthening effect on the preceding sound(s). Learners must pay particular attention to this phenomenon.

Group	Bilabal	Labiodental	Dental	Alveolar	Postalveolar	Palatoalveolar	Palatal	Velar	Glottal
Fricatives	xx				xx		xx	xx

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