The voiced retroflex lateral fricative is a type of consonantal sound. The 'implicit' IPA letter for this sound, ⟨𝼅⟩,[1] is overtly supported by the extIPA.[2] The sound may also be transcribed as a raised approximant, ⟨ɭ˔⟩.
Features
Features of the voiced retroflex lateral fricative:
Its manner of articulation is fricative, which means it is produced by constricting air flow through a narrow channel at the place of articulation, causing turbulence.
Its place of articulation is retroflex, which prototypically means it is articulated subapical (with the tip of the tongue curled up), but more generally, it means that it is postalveolar without being palatalized. That is, besides the prototypical subapical articulation, the tongue can be apical (pointed) or, in some fricatives, laminal (flat).
Its phonation is voiced, which means the vocal cords vibrate during the articulation.
It is an oral consonant, which means air is allowed to escape through the mouth only.
It is a lateral consonant, which means it is produced by directing the airstream over the sides of the tongue, rather than down the middle.