The Manners Of Articulation and the Places Of Articulation The categories of consonant,therefore,a are established on the basis of several factors.The most important of these factors are:(a)the actual relationship between the articulators and thus the way in which the air passes through certain parts of the vocal tract,and (b)where in the vocal tract there is approximation, narrowing,or the obstruction of air.The former is known as the Manners Of Articulation and the latter as the Places Of Articulation.The Manners Of Articulation and the Places Of Articulation The categories of consonant, therefore, are established on the basis of several factors. The most important of these factors are: (a) the actual relationship between the articulators and thus the way in which the air passes through certain parts of the vocal tract, and (b) where in the vocal tract there is approximation, narrowing, or the obstruction of air. The former is known as the Manners Of Articulation and the latter as the Places Of Articulation