Background for retroflex

retroflex

/ˈɹɛt.ɹə.flɛks/ /ˈɹɛt.ɹoʊ.flɛks/

Illustration retroflex - Image 1

noun

A consonant pronounced with the underside of the tongue approaching or touching the palate.

Examples :

"The linguist demonstrated how to produce a retroflex by curling her tongue backward towards the roof of her mouth. "

language phonetics linguistics

Illustration retroflex - Image 1

noun

A consonant pronounced with the tip of the tongue approaching or touching the back of the alveolar ridge.

Examples :

"The phonetics student struggled to produce a clear retroflex when practicing Hindi pronunciation. "

phonetics language linguistics

Illustration retroflex - Image 1

noun

A consonant pronounced with the blade of the tongue approaching or touching the back of the alveolar ridge.

Examples :

"The pronunciation of the "r" sound in some dialects of English involves a retroflex. "

phonetics linguistics language

Illustration retroflex - Image 1

noun

(phonetics, general sense) Any of the aforementioned consonants.

Examples :

"The student struggled to pronounce the retroflex correctly, finding the tongue position difficult. "

phonetics language linguistics

Illustration retroflex - Image 1

adjective

Bent or curved backwards.

Examples :

"The doctor noticed a slight retroflex curve in the patient's spine on the X-ray. "

direction body part linguistics phonetics

Illustration retroflex - Image 1

adjective

Of pronunciation in which the tip of the tongue is raised and bent backwards, so that the underside of the tongue approaches or touches the palate.

Examples :

"The teacher explained that the retroflex "r" sound in the word "rural" requires the tongue to curl back. "

language phonetics linguistics

Illustration retroflex - Image 1

adjective

Of pronunciation in which the tip of the tongue approaches or touches the back of the alveolar ridge.

Examples :

"The speaker's accent was noticeable because she used a retroflex "r" sound, curling her tongue back in her mouth when she pronounced the letter. "

phonetics language linguistics

Illustration retroflex - Image 1

adjective

Of pronunciation in which the blade of the tongue approaches or touches the back of the alveolar ridge.

Examples :

"In some dialects of Mandarin Chinese, the "r" sound is often pronounced with a retroflex tongue position. "

phonetics linguistics language

Illustration retroflex - Image 1

adjective

(phonetics, general sense) Of any of the aforementioned pronunciations.

Examples :

"The Mandarin Chinese word "shi" often has a retroflex pronunciation, curling the tongue back in the mouth while saying the sound. "

phonetics language linguistics sound