Retroflex flap - Definition and Overview

IPA - Unicode	ɽ
IPA - image
X-SAMPA	r`
Kirshenbaum	*.
Sound sample

The retroflex flap is a type of consonantal sound, used in some spoken languages. The symbol in the International Phonetic Alphabet that represents this sound is ɽ, and the equivalent X-SAMPA symbol is r`. The Japanese ら行 (r) syllables begin with a retroflex flap. Features of this consonant:

• Its manner of articulation is flap or tap, which means it is produced with a single contraction of the muscles so that one articulator is thrown against another.
• Its place of articulation is retroflex which means it is articulated with the tip of the tongue curled up.
• Its phonation type is voiced, which means the vocal cords are vibrating during the articulation.
• It is an oral consonant, which means air is allowed to escape through the mouth.
• It is a central consonant, which means it is produced by allowing the airstream to flow over the middle of the tongue, rather than the sides.
• The airstream mechanism is pulmonic egressive, which means it is articulated by pushing air out of the lungs and through the vocal tract, rather than from the glottis or the mouth.