Glossary: morphology and phonology

Information about the semantic roles and syntactic functions of a verb. Also called valency.

See valence.

In a variable stress language, primary stress is not fixed on a particular position in the word.

The place of articulation of a consonant that involves a constriction involving the back of the tongue and the soft palate.

The name of an airstream mechanism in which the airflow is initiated by a closure of the back of the tongue on the velum. Clicks are produced with a velaric airstream mechanism.

A secondary articulation formed by approximating the back of the tongue towards the soft palate. 'Dark l' in English is a velarized sound.

Involving the upper surface of the velum, or soft palate, and the pharynx. A velic closure prevents air from escaping through the nose.

Another term for velic.

The soft palate, one of the places of articulation, where velars such as [k] and the velar nasal (engma) are produced.

See false vocal folds.