Labialized velar consonant

Velar consonant that is labialized A labialized velar or labiovelar is a velar consonant that is labialized, with a /w/-like secondary articulation. Examples are [kʷ, ɡʷ, xʷ, ɣʷ, ŋʷ], which are pronounced like a [k, ɡ, x, ɣ, ŋ], with rounded lips, such as the labialized voiceless velar plosive [kʷ] and labialized voiced velar plosive [ɡʷ], obstruents being common among the sounds that undergo labialization. Labialized velar continuants The most common labiovelar consonant is the voiced approximant [w]. It is normally a labialized velar, as is its vocalic equivalent [u]. (Labialization is called rounding in vowels, and a velar place is called back). [w] and its voiceless equivalent are the only labialized velars with dedicated IPA symbols: IPA Description Example Language Orthography IPA Meaning ʍ Voiceless labial–velar fricative English which [ʍɪtʃ] 'which' w Voiced labial–velar approximant witch [wɪtʃ] 'witch' ^ In dialects that distinguish between which and witch; see Pronunciation of English ⟨wh⟩. Historical development Labialized velars frequently derive from a plain velar followed by a rounded (labialized) vowel, such as [u] or [o]. In turn, they ma