Talk:Labial consonant

Lack of labials?

Are there any languages that lack labials? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 187.158.68.138 (talk) 18:35, 7 February 2010 (UTC)

Yes, for example the Na-Dené languages Tlingit and Eyak typically lack labials (though /m/ may now occasionally occur due to the influence of English). These aren't the only examples, but I'd have to search for others. When I have time, I'll add a reference in the article. --JorisvS (talk) 13:56, 9 February 2010 (UTC)

Distinction

From the current (last mod: 11:31, 22 January 2010) revision:

Very few languages, however, make a distinction purely between bilabials and labiodentals, making "labial" usually a sufficient specification of a language's phonemes. One language that does make such a distinction is Ewe, having both kinds of fricatives, though the labiodentals are produced with greater articulatory force.

I feel like there are countless distinctions between bilabials and labiodentals - English /v/ and /b/ for starters. Considering only fricatives, as the second sentence does, perhaps few or no languages need a distinction, but I think this is misleading otherwise. catParade 04:37, 1 April 2010 (UTC)

The difference between English /b/ and /v/ is not primarily one between a bilabial and a labiodental, but between a plosive and a fricative: If I were to pronounce English /v/ as /β/ you would have no trouble understanding me, meaning it's sufficient to classify both as "labial". This is exactly what is said in that sentence: "few languages make a distinction purely between bilabials and labiodentals", which excludes bilabial vs. labiodental as a secondary feature like in English, but does not focus exclusively on fricatives [Though the only phonemic bilabial vs. labiodental distinction I know of is one between fricatives]. It specifically focuses on all of the following distinctions: /p/ vs. /p̪/, /b/ vs. /b̪/, /p͡ɸ/ vs. /p̪͡f/, /b͡β/ vs. /b̪͡v/, /m/ vs. /ɱ/, /ɸ/ vs. /f/, /β/ vs. /v/, /β̞/ vs. /ʋ/, /ѵ̟/ vs. /ѵ/, and /ʙ/ vs. /ʙ̪/. --JorisvS (talk) 11:35, 1 April 2010 (UTC)

Adding a table of contents

I think adding a table of contents would help readers better understand what consonants are related to this article. A table as such would especially help those who are more familiar with the diffrent consonants represented by the IPA symboles.

The article contains a table as such in other languages in wikipedia.EsB (talk) 21:02, 17 May 2012 (UTC)