Which place of articulation uses the center of the tongue on the middle of the hard palate, as in /j/?

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

Answer: (A)

Palatal sounds occur when the body of the tongue rises toward the hard palate. For /j/ (as in yes), the tongue’s center/dorsum moves up to the palate, creating a smooth, narrow constriction behind the teeth. That placement defines the palatal category. The other options involve different constriction sites: the alveolar area is at the ridge just behind the teeth, the palate-alveolar site sits between the alveolar ridge and the hard palate, and labiodental uses the lower lip and upper teeth.