Sulcalization

Sulcalization (from Latin: sulcus 'groove'), in phonetics, is the pronunciation of a sound with a deep, longitudinal concavity (groove) down the back of the tongue (the dorsum), roughly opposite of the uvula.^[1][2] This is accomplished by raising the sides of the dorsum, and leaving a hollow along the mid-line.^[3][4]

This articulation has typically been associated with rhotics such as a 'bunched' or 'molar' [ɹ̈]^[5][6] and r-colored vowels,^[7][8][2] as well as 'dark' or 'throaty' quality sounds,^[4] either more velar-like (such as [ɫ])^[3][9] or more pharyngeal-like (such as [ɒ]).^[10][11]

No spoken language is known to make a phonemic distinction between sulcalized and ordinary vowels;^[4] though it has been reported that for some speakers of Received Pronunciation, the vowel /ɒ/, which is normally described as rounded, is pronounced with spread lips, and is instead given its characteristic quality through a "hollowing or sulcalization of the tongue-body."^[10] One scholar has also suggested that the vowel in the RP pronunciation of words like bird, typically transcribed /ɜ/, is actually a sulcal schwa, retaining the sulcality of the original rhotic consonant. Accordingly, the realization of the /ə/-element of the centring diphthongs /ɪə̯/, /ʊə̯/, /ɛə̯/ in words such as near, pure and scare, is interpreted as the product of a loss of sulcality.^[8]

Grooved fricative

Palatograms of [s], which is grooved, and [θ], which is slit

Some linguists have referred to grooved fricatives, a similar but distinct articulatory concept, as sulcalized,^[1][12] though this should not be confused with the more common definition described in the section above.^[a] Contrasting with slit fricatives, which are pronounced with the tongue flat, grooved fricatives also involve forming a groove down the center of the tongue (such as in some realizations of /s/ in the English words sit and case).^[12]

Unlike the more common definition of sulcalization, grooved fricatives involve the sides of the tongue focusing the airstream on the teeth, producing a more intense sound, typically associated with sibilants.^[13][1] J. C. Catford observed that the degree of tongue grooving differs between places of articulation as well as between languages;^[14] however, no language is known to contrast sibilants based purely on the presence or absence of tongue grooving.

Ultrasound imaging has shown /θ/ to exhibit tongue grooving in English, despite being typically regarded as slit.^[15]

See also

• Tongue rolling