Binary Features Major Class Features Manner Features

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2.2.5.1 Binary Features

Binary features are related to opposite characteristic plus and minus to see whether the attribute is present or not, such as [+voiced] for voiced and [-voiced] for voiceless. Binary system has the purpose to show members of pairs, such as voice-voiceless, nasal-oral or rounded-unrounded.

2.2.5.2 Major Class Features

Major class features have three features: [syllabic], [sonorant], and [consonantal]. [Syllabic] feature distinguishes the role a segment plays in the level of the syllable. Generally, consonants are [-syllabic], while vowels are [+syllabic]. Also, this feature has advantage to characterize syllabic nasals and liquids [+syllabic] from their non-syllabic counterparts. Another feature is [sonorant]. This feature [sonorant] is related to the resonant quality of a sound. For instances, vowels are always [+sonorant] same as nasals, liquids, and semivowels. By contrast, the obstruents, stops, fricative, affricates and laryngeal glides are [-sonorant]. The next feature is [ ±consonantal], related to a narrowed constriction in the oral cavity. For example, stops, fricative, affricates, nasals, and liquids are [+consonantal]. On the other hand, vowels, semivowels, and laryngeal glides are classified as [-consonantal]. The table presented a contrast between [syllabic], [sonorant], and [consonantal]. 23 Schane, 1973:27

2.2.5.3 Manner Features

Manner features are proposed to distinguish obstruents, stops, fricatives, and affricates, and distinguish nasals from liquids and for the latter, laterals from non-laterals. Among the obstruents are those with continuous frication throughout [+continuant] - the fricatives, and those beginning with total occlusion [-continuant] - the stops and affricates. [continuant] also distinguishes ? [-continuant] from h [+continuant]. Affricates and stops have different released. Affricates have a delayed release [+delayed release], whereas stops are release continuously [-delayed release]. The other manner features is strident, to distinguish among the continuants. Strident is related to the outgoing air hitting the teeth or the uvula. Labiodental f, alveolar s, palate-alveolar š, and uvular X are strident. Besides, bilabial ϕ, dental θ, palatal ç, and velar x are non-strident. The delayed affricate release is always strident. Another manner features are nasal and lateral. These features differentiate various of the sonorant consonants. 24 Schane, 1973:29

2.2.5.4 Place of Articulation Features