Voiced labial–alveolar plosive

Voiced labial–alveolar plosive
d͡b
d̪͡b

A voiced labial–alveolar plosive is a type of consonantal sound used in some spoken languages. It is a [d] and [b] pronounced simultaneously. The symbol in the International Phonetic Alphabet that represents this sound is ⟨d͡b⟩.

Features

Features of a voiced labial–alveolar plosive are:

• Its manner of articulation is occlusive, which means it is produced by obstructing airflow in the vocal tract. Since the consonant is also oral, with no nasal outlet, the airflow is blocked entirely, and the consonant is a plosive.
• Its place of articulation is labial–alveolar, which means that it is simultaneously articulated with the front part of the tongue against the alveolar ridge and the lips.
• Its phonation is voiced, which means the vocal cords vibrate during the articulation.
• It is an oral consonant, which means that air is not allowed to escape through the nose.
• It is a central consonant, which means it is produced by directing the airstream along the center of the tongue, rather than to the sides.
• Its airstream mechanism is pulmonic, which means it is articulated by pushing air only with the intercostal muscles and abdominal muscles, as in most sounds.

Occurrence

Language	Dialect	Word	IPA	Meaning	Notes
Abkhaz[1][2]		^[example needed]			Endolabial, unlike a [p]. In free variation with [dʷ]; contrasts [t͡pʷʰ], [d͡bʷ], [t͡pʷʼ]. See Abkhaz phonology.
Lak[2]	Some dialects	^[example needed]			Endolabial, unlike a [p]. Contrasts [t͡pʷ], [d͡bʷ], [t͡pʷʼ].
Nzema[3]		mgbi	[n͜md͜bɪ̃]	'stoic'	an allophone of /ɡ͡b/ before front vowels.
Yele[4]		Mb꞉eetpuwo	[mbɛ̃ːd̪͡buw̪ɔ]	(place name)	Voiced between vowels. Contrasts voiced labial–retroflex plosive.
		Kmatpi	[k͡pŋ͡mæd̪͡bi]	(a male name)

References

1. Siegel, Bernard J. (1977). Annual Review of Anthropology. Annual Reviews Incorporated. ISBN 9780824319069.
2. Catford, J. C. (1977). Siegel, Bernard J. (ed.). "Mountain of Tongues: The Languages of the Caucasus". Annual Review of Anthropology. 6: 290. doi:10.1146/annurev.an.06.100177.001435. ISBN 9780824319069.
3. Berry, J. (1955). "Some Notes on the Phonology of the Nzema and Ahanta Dialects". Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies. 17 (1): 160–165. doi:10.1017/S0041977X00106421. ISSN 1474-0699. S2CID 162551544.
4. Levinson, Stephen C. (23 May 2022). A Grammar of Yélî Dnye: The Papuan Language of Rossel Island. De Gruyter. doi:10.1515/9783110733853. ISBN 978-3-11-073385-3. S2CID 249083265. Retrieved 16 January 2023.