Which place of articulation involves the middle part of the tongue on or near the front part of the hard palate, as in 'sh'?

• A. Palate-alveolar
• B. Palatal
• C. Alveolar
• D. Bilabial

Answer: (A)

This question tests where the tongue is placed for the sound in “sh.” It’s produced with the blade of the tongue raised toward the area just behind the alveolar ridge, near the front part of the hard palate. That region is called the palato-alveolar area, so the best label for this place of articulation is palato-alveolar.

If the tongue were against the hard palate itself, you’d get a palatal sound (like the y in yes). If the tongue were at the alveolar ridge itself, you’d get alveolar sounds (like s, z, t, d). Bilabial involves both lips (like p, b, m), which isn’t applicable to “sh.”