Which articulations are described as mid-way between consonants and vowels and include sounds like the English 'w' and 'j'?

• A. Stops
• B. Nasals
• C. Glides
• D. Affricates

Answer: (C)

Glide sounds, also called approximants or semivowels, sit between consonants and vowels because their articulation is fairly open—closer to a vowel than to a fully obstructed consonant—and they act like consonants in guiding the syllable’s flow rather than serving as the nucleus of a syllable. When you produce a glide, the articulators move quickly toward the position for the following vowel, creating a smooth, brief transition rather than a sharp burst of air. English sounds like /w/ in water and /j/ in yes are perfect examples: they are voiced, involve a relatively open constriction, and typically occur at the start of a syllable before a vowel. In contrast, stops have a complete closure and a release, nasals redirect air through the nasal cavity, and affricates combine a stop with a fricative, all of which involve more obstruction than a glide.