Which term describes a consonant sound made by a sudden release of air from between the tongue and the alveolar / tooth ridge?

• A. Alveolar plosive
• B. Bilabial plosive
• C. Velar plosive
• D. Nasal

Answer: (A)

Consonants are described by where the tongue makes a brief closure and how the air is released. A sound produced by blocking the airflow between the tongue and the alveolar ridge and then releasing that blockage in a sudden burst fits this description as an alveolar plosive. The alveolar ridge is right behind the upper front teeth, so the tongue tip contacts there to stop the air, and when released, a sharp burst comes through the mouth. That’s the hallmark of a plosive at the alveolar place, like the English sounds /t/ and /d/.

The other options describe different places or manners: a bilabial plosive uses both lips (like /p/ or /b/), a velar plosive uses the back of the tongue against the soft palate (like /k/ or /g/), and a nasal involves air escaping through the nasal cavity rather than an oral burst.