Which of the following does not come under the ‘Four phases’ in the production of plosives?

Correct option is D

Explanation:

Swallow does not come under the "Four phases" in the production of plosives. The four phases of plosive production are:

Closure: This is the phase where the articulators (such as the tongue and the roof of the mouth or the lips) come together to block the airflow completely. This is the first step in producing a plosive sound.
Hold: During this phase, the articulators maintain the closure while air pressure builds up behind the constriction.
Release: This is the phase when the articulators are suddenly released, allowing the air to burst out. This creates the characteristic plosive sound, like the sound [p] in "pat" or [t] in "top."
Vocalization: This phase can involve voicing the sound by vibrating the vocal cords (in voiced plosives like [b], [d], and [g]).

Information Booster:

Closure: This is the phase where the airflow is completely blocked by the articulators, such as the lips, tongue, or teeth. For example:

- In [p] (bilabial plosive), both lips come together, creating a complete closure.

- In [t] (alveolar plosive), the tongue makes contact with the roof of the mouth (the alveolar ridge), completely obstructing the airflow. The importance of this phase is that it sets up the pressure that will be released during the next phase, giving plosives their characteristic "burst" sound.

Hold: During the hold phase, the articulators stay in place and the air pressure behind the closure builds up. This buildup is essential to producing the explosive nature of plosives. The air is still trapped behind the closure, and the articulators maintain contact until the release phase.

- In plosives like [k], the back of the tongue stays in contact with the velum (soft part of the roof of the mouth) while the air pressure is being built.

- The duration of the hold phase is typically very short, lasting only a fraction of a second, but it is crucial for creating a clean and distinct release.

Release: The release of the closure is what defines plosives. When the articulators separate, the air pressure that was built up behind the closure is released, causing the plosive burst sound. This moment is the most crucial for plosive sounds because it determines the clarity and explosiveness of the sound.

- For example, the sound [p] in "pat" is produced by the lips coming apart quickly after a brief hold phase.

- In voiced plosives, such as [b] or [d], the vocal cords also vibrate during the release, which influences the sound's resonance. Voiceless plosives, like [p], [t], and [k], are produced without vocal cord vibration.

Vocalization: The vocalization or voicing aspect of plosives determines whether the vocal cords vibrate during the release phase.

- For voiced plosives like [b], [d], and [g], the vocal cords vibrate as the closure is released. This adds to the sound's resonance and tonal quality.

- For voiceless plosives like [p], [t], and [k], the vocal cords remain apart, and the sound is sharper and more abrupt.