Consonants and Vowels The distinction between consonants and vowels is made in the following manner if the air, once out of the glottis, is allowed to pass freely through the resonators, the sound is a vowel if the air, once out of the glottis, is obstructed partially or totally, in one or more places, the sound is a consonant Before proceeding, it should be noted that the line between vowels and consonants cannot be clearly drawn; a continuum exists between the two extremes There are also intermediate instances such as the semi-vowels and the (frictionless) spirants 2021/2/232021/2/23 6 Consonants and Vowels • The distinction between consonants and vowels is made in the following manner: – if the air, once out of the glottis, is allowed to pass freely through the resonators, the sound is a vowel; – if the air, once out of the glottis, is obstructed, partially or totally, in one or more places, the sound is a consonant. • Before proceeding, it should be noted that the line between vowels and consonants cannot be clearly drawn; a continuum exists between the two extremes. There are also intermediate instances, such as the semi-vowels and the (frictionless) spirants