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Implosive consonants are defined by a mixed airstream mechanism involving both glottalic ingressive and pulmonic egressive airflow.
Answer: True
Implosive consonants are fundamentally defined by a mixed airstream mechanism, combining glottalic ingressive airflow (air drawn inward by the glottis) with pulmonic egressive airflow (air expelled from the lungs).
Ejective consonants, like implosives, can be modified by phonation, which refers to the vibration of the vocal cords.
Answer: False
Unlike ejective consonants, which rely on a purely glottalic airstream, implosive consonants can be modified by phonation (vocal cord vibration). Ejectives typically do not involve phonation during their glottalic egressive mechanism.
During the release of an implosive consonant, there is typically a distinct burst of air, similar to pulmonary plosives.
Answer: False
Unlike pulmonary plosives, which have a distinct burst of air at release, implosives typically exhibit no air movement at all during their release, a key characteristic of their unique airstream mechanism.
Which of the following best describes the airstream mechanism of implosive consonants?
Answer: A mixed mechanism of glottalic ingressive and pulmonic egressive airflow.
Implosive consonants are characterized by a unique mixed airstream mechanism that combines glottalic ingressive airflow (air drawn inward by the glottis) with pulmonic egressive airflow (air expelled from the lungs).
What is a key distinction between implosive and ejective consonants regarding phonation?
Answer: Implosive consonants can be modified by phonation, unlike ejectives.
A key distinction is that implosive consonants can be modified by phonation (vocal cord vibration), whereas ejective consonants, which use a purely glottalic airstream, generally cannot be voiced during their production.
What happens to the air within the vocal tract during the occlusion phase of an implosive consonant?
Answer: It is rarefied by the downward pull of the glottis.
During the occlusion phase of an implosive, the glottis is actively pulled downward, which causes the air within the vocal tract to become rarefied, creating a pressure differential.
How do implosives typically compare to pulmonary plosives in terms of air movement at release?
Answer: Implosives typically have no air movement at release, unlike pulmonary plosives.
A key difference is that implosives typically exhibit no air movement at their release, contrasting sharply with pulmonary plosives, which are characterized by a distinct burst of air.
The International Phonetic Alphabet indicates implosives by adding a leftward-facing hook to the bottom of a voiced stop symbol.
Answer: False
In the International Phonetic Alphabet, implosives are indicated by a rightward-facing hook modifying the top of a voiced stop symbol, not a leftward-facing hook at the bottom.
The IPA symbol for a voiced bilabial implosive is ɓ.
Answer: True
The IPA symbol ɓ represents the voiced bilabial implosive, as listed among the specific IPA symbols for voiced implosive stops.
The attested voiceless bilabial implosive can be represented as ɓ̥.
Answer: True
The voiceless bilabial implosive is indeed represented as ɓ̥, which uses the voiceless diacritic applied to the voiced bilabial implosive symbol.
The attested voiced velar implosive is represented by the IPA symbol ɠ.
Answer: True
The IPA symbol ɠ correctly represents the voiced velar implosive, as confirmed by the list of attested voiced implosive consonants.
In 1993, the IPA replaced dedicated letters for voiceless implosives with a voiceless diacritic applied to voiced implosive symbols.
Answer: True
The IPA standardized its notation for voiceless implosives in 1993 by withdrawing dedicated letters and instead using a voiceless diacritic applied to the corresponding voiced implosive symbols.
The IPA approved a superscript left pointer (p˂, t˂, etc.) as an alternative transcription for voiceless implosives.
Answer: False
While a superscript left pointer (p˂, t˂, etc.) was considered by the IPA as an alternative transcription for voiceless implosives, it was ultimately not approved by its membership.
How are implosive consonants typically indicated in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)?
Answer: By a rightward-facing hook modifying the top of a voiced stop symbol.
In the IPA, implosives are conventionally marked by adding a rightward-facing hook to the top of a voiced stop symbol, visually representing their glottalic ingressive component.
Which of the following is the IPA symbol for a voiced palatal implosive?
Answer: ʄ
The IPA symbol ʄ specifically denotes the voiced palatal implosive, as listed among the standard symbols for voiced implosive stops.
Which of the following is an attested voiceless implosive consonant according to the provided table?
Answer: Voiceless alveolar ɗ̥
According to the provided data, the voiceless alveolar implosive ɗ̥ is an attested voiceless implosive consonant, using the voiceless diacritic.
How did the IPA's representation of voiceless implosives change in 1993?
Answer: Dedicated letters were withdrawn and replaced with a voiceless diacritic on voiced implosive symbols.
In 1993, the IPA revised its representation of voiceless implosives by discontinuing dedicated letters and adopting a voiceless diacritic applied to the existing voiced implosive symbols for standardization.
Implosives are phonetically classified as obstruents because they involve significant obstruction of airflow.
Answer: False
Implosives are phonetically classified as sonorants, not obstruents, because they are produced with continuous, non-turbulent airflow, despite involving an obstruction in the vocal tract.
George N. Clements proposed that implosives are phonologically unique, belonging to neither the obstruent nor sonorant categories.
Answer: True
George N. Clements (2002) posited that implosives occupy a distinct phonological category, being neither obstruents nor sonorants, which challenges traditional classifications.
The vast majority of implosive consonants are voiced because the glottis is completely closed during their production, facilitating airflow for voicing.
Answer: False
The vast majority of implosives are voiced because the glottis is only partially closed, allowing sufficient airflow for vocal cord vibration. A completely closed glottis would prevent voicing.
Voiceless implosives are sometimes referred to as 'reverse ejectives'.
Answer: True
Voiceless implosives are indeed sometimes termed 'reverse ejectives' or 'implosives with glottal closure,' reflecting their purely glottalic ingressive airstream mechanism.
Voiceless implosives involve a mixed airstream mechanism of glottalic ingressive and pulmonic egressive airflow.
Answer: False
Voiceless implosives are characterized by a purely glottalic ingressive airstream mechanism, where the glottis is completely closed, preventing any pulmonic egressive airflow.
According to the usual definition, how are implosives phonetically classified?
Answer: As sonorants.
Based on their phonetic characteristics, implosives are typically classified as sonorants, as they involve continuous, non-turbulent airflow, distinguishing them from obstruents.
What did George N. Clements propose regarding the phonological classification of implosives?
Answer: They are phonologically neither obstruents nor sonorants.
George N. Clements proposed a unique phonological status for implosives, suggesting they do not fit neatly into either the obstruent or sonorant categories, challenging conventional phonological frameworks.
Why are the vast majority of implosive consonants voiced?
Answer: Because the glottis is only partially closed, allowing airflow for voicing.
The predominant voicing in implosive consonants stems from the glottis being only partially closed during their production, which permits the necessary airflow for vocal cord vibration, albeit reducing the oral vacuum.
What is the most frequent form in which implosive consonants are found?
Answer: Voiced stops.
Implosive consonants are most commonly realized as voiced stops, though they can occasionally occur as voiceless stops, highlighting the prevalence of voicing in their production.
What alternative term is sometimes used for voiceless implosives?
Answer: Reverse ejectives.
Voiceless implosives are occasionally referred to as 'reverse ejectives' or 'implosives with glottal closure,' terms that highlight their distinct purely glottalic ingressive airstream mechanism.
What is the airstream mechanism characteristic of voiceless implosives?
Answer: A purely glottalic ingressive airstream mechanism with a completely closed glottis.
Voiceless implosives are uniquely produced with a purely glottalic ingressive airstream mechanism, where the glottis is completely closed, drawing air inward without pulmonic involvement.
The specific labial–alveolar implosive [d͡ɓ] has been documented in phonetic literature.
Answer: True
The specific labial–alveolar implosive, transcribed as [d͡ɓ], has indeed been described and documented in phonetic literature, indicating a complex articulation.
There are dedicated IPA symbols for implosive fricatives, and several confirmed cases of their occurrence.
Answer: False
There are no dedicated IPA symbols for implosive fricatives, and no confirmed cases of their occurrence have been identified, suggesting the implosive airstream mechanism is primarily associated with stop consonants.
Reported implosive affricates are usually re-analyzed as stops or not truly implosive upon further investigation.
Answer: True
Further investigation into reported implosive affricates typically leads to their re-analysis as either stops or sounds that do not genuinely exhibit an implosive airstream mechanism.
In Swahili, the 'j' sound's implosive allophone is an implosive affricate [d͡ʒ].
Answer: False
In Swahili, the 'j' sound's implosive allophone is distinguished as an implosive stop [ʄ], contrasting with a pulmonic affricate [d͡ʒ], not an implosive affricate itself.
Research on Gitxsan indicated that its reported implosive affricates are actually fortis ejectives.
Answer: False
Research on Gitxsan revealed that its reported implosive affricates are actually lenis ejectives, which are sometimes misperceived as voiced, rather than fortis ejectives.
The voiceless labial–velar implosive [k͡ɓ̥] is a common feature in all dialects of Igbo.
Answer: False
The voiceless labial–velar implosive [k͡ɓ̥] may occur in Central Igbo, but it is not stated to be a common feature across all dialects of Igbo.
Which specific labial–alveolar implosive has been documented in phonetic literature?
Answer: [d͡ɓ]
The specific labial–alveolar implosive documented in phonetic literature is [d͡ɓ], representing a complex co-articulated sound.
What is true about implosive fricatives and affricates?
Answer: There are no dedicated IPA symbols, and no confirmed cases have been identified.
For implosive fricatives and affricates, the current phonetic understanding indicates a lack of dedicated IPA symbols and no confirmed cases of their occurrence, suggesting the implosive mechanism is primarily for stops.
Upon further investigation, how are reported cases of implosive affricates typically re-analyzed?
Answer: As stops or not truly implosive.
Reported instances of implosive affricates are generally re-evaluated and found to be either implosive stops or sounds that do not genuinely possess an implosive airstream mechanism.
In Swahili, the 'j' sound's implosive allophone is distinguished as what type of sound?
Answer: An implosive stop [ʄ].
In Swahili, the implosive allophone of the 'j' sound is specifically an implosive stop [ʄ], which is distinct from a pulmonic affricate [d͡ʒ].
What was the re-analysis of the reported implosive affricate [d͡ʒ] in the Roglai language?
Answer: It was re-analyzed as the implosive stop [ʄ].
The reported implosive affricate [d͡ʒ] in Roglai was re-analyzed as the implosive stop [ʄ], aligning with the general pattern of re-evaluating such sounds as stops.
Approximately 13% of the world's languages feature contrastive implosives.
Answer: True
Contrastive implosives are a notable feature in approximately 13% of the world's languages, indicating their significant, though not universal, presence in human speech.
The Serer language orthography still uses the older, dedicated letters for voiceless implosives despite the IPA's change.
Answer: True
Despite the IPA's 1993 change to using diacritics, the orthography of the Serer language continues to employ the older, dedicated letters for voiceless implosives.
The voiceless velar implosive [ɠ̊] occurs marginally in the Uspantek language.
Answer: True
The voiceless velar implosive [ɠ̊] is indeed noted to occur marginally in the Uspantek language, indicating its presence though perhaps not as a highly frequent phoneme.
The voiceless uvular implosive [ʛ̥] is found in languages like Mam, Kaqchikel, and Uspantek.
Answer: True
The voiceless uvular implosive [ʛ̥] is attested in several languages, including Mam, Kaqchikel, and Uspantek, highlighting its presence in these linguistic systems.
Implosives are widespread in Europe and northern Asia.
Answer: False
Implosives are widespread in Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia, but they are notably absent as phonemes from Europe and northern Asia.
The bilabial implosive [ɓ] is the most common implosive consonant and is rarely absent from languages with implosive stops.
Answer: True
The bilabial implosive [ɓ] is indeed the most common implosive consonant, and its presence is a strong indicator for the existence of other implosives in a language's phonemic inventory.
Yali, a Dani language, is unusual for having the bilabial implosive [ɓ] but lacking the alveolar implosive [ɗ].
Answer: False
Yali is unusual because it features the alveolar implosive [ɗ] but notably lacks the bilabial implosive [ɓ], which is typically the most common implosive.
Implosives are widespread in Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia.
Answer: True
Implosive consonants are indeed widespread across the languages of Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia, indicating a significant presence in these regions.
Implosives are commonly reported in Mayan languages in North America.
Answer: False
While implosives do occur in scattered languages like Mayan languages in North America, they are rarely reported in these regions compared to their widespread presence in Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia.
Sindhi and Saraiki are notable for having an unusually large number of contrastive implosives.
Answer: True
Sindhi and Saraiki are indeed distinguished by their unusually extensive inventories of contrastive implosives, which include bilabial, retroflex, palatal, and velar sounds.
A contrastive retroflex implosive /ᶑ/ occurs in Ngad'a and Wadiyara Koli, where it contrasts with the voiced alveolar implosive /ɗ/.
Answer: True
The contrastive retroflex implosive /ᶑ/ is indeed found in languages like Ngad'a and Wadiyara Koli, where in the latter, it specifically contrasts with the voiced alveolar implosive /ɗ/.
The Owere dialect of Igbo exhibits a seven-way contrast among its bilabial stops, including a voiceless implosive.
Answer: True
The Owere dialect of Igbo is notable for its complex phonemic inventory, featuring a seven-way contrast among its bilabial stops, which includes a voiceless implosive, alongside other bilabial sounds.
What percentage of the world's languages feature contrastive implosives?
Answer: Approximately 13%
Contrastive implosives are present in approximately 13% of the world's languages, indicating their significant, though not universal, role in global phonetics.
Which language's orthography still uses the older, dedicated letters for voiceless implosives despite the IPA's change?
Answer: Serer
The Serer language orthography notably continues to utilize the older, dedicated letters for voiceless implosives, even after the International Phonetic Alphabet updated its notation in 1993.
Where might the voiceless velar implosive [ɠ̊] occur marginally?
Answer: In the Uspantek language.
The voiceless velar implosive [ɠ̊] is documented as occurring marginally in the Uspantek language, indicating its presence as a less frequent or peripheral phoneme.
Which languages are noted for featuring the voiceless uvular implosive [ʛ̥]?
Answer: Mam, Kaqchikel, and Uspantek.
The voiceless uvular implosive [ʛ̥] is specifically found in the Mam, Kaqchikel, and Uspantek languages, demonstrating its presence in these Mayan linguistic systems.
What is the general geographical distribution pattern of implosive consonants?
Answer: They show a strong tendency from front to back points of articulation and are widespread in Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia.
Implosive consonants exhibit a geographical distribution pattern characterized by a strong tendency for front-to-back points of articulation, with widespread occurrence in Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia, and some presence in the Amazon Basin.
Which implosive consonant is identified as the most common?
Answer: The bilabial implosive [ɓ].
The bilabial implosive [ɓ] is recognized as the most common implosive consonant globally, and its presence often correlates with the existence of other implosives in a language.
Which language is noted for having an alveolar implosive [ɗ] but lacking the bilabial implosive [ɓ]?
Answer: Yali
Yali, a Dani language, is a notable exception to the general pattern, as it possesses the alveolar implosive [ɗ] but notably lacks the typically more common bilabial implosive [ɓ].
Implosives are entirely absent as phonemes from which of the following regions?
Answer: Europe and northern Asia.
Implosives are notably absent as phonemes from Europe and northern Asia, as well as Australia (with a possible exception), contrasting with their widespread presence in other global regions.
Which two languages are notable for having an unusually large number of contrastive implosives?
Answer: Sindhi and Saraiki.
Sindhi and Saraiki are indeed distinguished by their unusually extensive inventories of contrastive implosives, which include bilabial, retroflex, palatal, and velar sounds.
In which language does a contrastive retroflex implosive /ᶑ/ occur and specifically contrast with the voiced alveolar implosive /ɗ/?
Answer: Wadiyara Koli
The contrastive retroflex implosive /ᶑ/ is found in Wadiyara Koli, where it specifically establishes a phonemic contrast with the voiced alveolar implosive /ɗ/.
Which of the following languages is NOT listed as featuring voiceless implosives?
Answer: English
While languages like Krongo, Lendu, and Serer are listed as featuring voiceless implosives, English is not among them, although English speakers may use implosive-like sounds phonetically.
What is notable about the bilabial stops in Owere Igbo?
Answer: They exhibit a seven-way contrast among their bilabial stops.
The Owere dialect of Igbo is remarkable for its extensive phonemic inventory, showcasing a seven-way contrast among its bilabial stops, which includes a voiceless implosive.
Implosion is a general characteristic of glottalized sonorants in several known languages.
Answer: False
While some glottalized sonorants may be pronounced with a lowering of the glottis by individual speakers, implosion is not a general characteristic of such sounds in any known language.
In some northern dialects of Ingrian, intervocalic bilabial stops can be realized as the implosive [ɓ] or [ɓ̥] phonetically.
Answer: True
In certain northern dialects of Ingrian, intervocalic bilabial stops can indeed be phonetically realized as the implosive [ɓ] or its voiceless counterpart [ɓ̥], demonstrating a phonetic variation rather than a phonemic contrast.
Maidu, Thai, and many Bantu languages feature fully voiced stops that are slightly implosive, especially when there is no phonemic contrast with modal-voiced plosives.
Answer: True
In languages such as Maidu, Thai, and various Bantu languages, fully voiced stops often exhibit a slight implosive quality, particularly when this phonetic nuance does not create a phonemic distinction from modal-voiced plosives.
Sindhi maintains a dental–retroflex distinction in both its plosives and its implosives.
Answer: False
While Sindhi maintains a dental–retroflex distinction among its plosives, this contrast is neutralized in its implosives, meaning the distinction is not present for implosive sounds.
In which European language might implosives occasionally occur phonetically, but not as distinct phonemes?
Answer: Ingrian
In some northern dialects of Ingrian, implosives like [ɓ] or [ɓ̥] can occur phonetically as allophones of intervocalic bilabial stops, even though they are not distinct phonemes in the language.
How does Sindhi's dental–retroflex distinction in plosives relate to its implosives?
Answer: The distinction is present in plosives but neutralized in implosives.
In Sindhi, while a dental–retroflex distinction is maintained for plosive consonants, this contrast is notably absent or neutralized when it comes to its implosive consonants.
How do some English speakers use implosives in their speech?
Answer: To imitate the 'glug-glug' sound of liquid being poured.
Some English speakers phonetically employ a voiceless velar implosive [ɠ̊] or a voiced implosive [ɠ] to mimic the 'glug-glug' sound of liquid, demonstrating a non-phonemic, imitative use of these sounds.