retroflex

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the phrase "retroflex" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in linguistic contexts to describe a specific type of consonant sound produced with the tongue curled back against the roof of the mouth. Example: "In some languages, such as Hindi, the retroflex sounds are distinct and play an important role in pronunciation."

✓ Grammatically correct

Encyclopedias

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

Final retroflex r is written rh.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Some of these also have retroflex affricates.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Final retroflex r is written r.

Encyclopedia Britannica

There are nine vowel sounds, including three varieties of i (retroflex, apical, and palatal).

Encyclopedia Britannica

Whatever the judgment on any individual word, it is clear that Indo-Aryan did borrow from Dravidian, and this phenomenon is important in considering a group of sounds that sets Indo-Aryan apart from the rest of Indo-European the cacumIndo-European thex, stops.

Encyclopedia Britannica

They then maintained the terms, as Old Indo-Aryan had also developed contrastive retroflex consonants.

Encyclopedia Britannica

When, as a result of close contact, Dravidian words with retroflex consonants were borrowed, they too could be taken into Indo-Aryan without changing the retroflex consonants to dentals.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The language uses typical Dravidian retroflex consonants (sounds pronounced with the tip of the tongue curled back against the roof of the mouth), such as /ḍ/, /ṇ/, and /ṭ/, as well as a series of voiced and voiceless aspirates borrowed from the Indo-Aryan language family.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

Iniencephaly is evident when the head is tilted back, in an extreme retroflexed position, such that an infant is born with the face looking upward; in most cases, the neck is apparently absent.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Sinhalese has no aspirated stops, Assamese has no retroflexes, and Kashmiri has no voiced aspirates.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The sounds that most clearly distinguish Indo-Aryan from the rest of Indo-European are the voiced aspirate stops (gh and the like, pronounced with an accompanying audible puff of breath) and the retroflexes (ṭ and so on, pronounced by curling the tongue upward toward the hard palate).

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing phonetic features in linguistics, use the term "retroflex" to specifically denote sounds produced with the tongue curled back towards the hard palate. Ensure clarity by providing examples of such sounds in various languages.

Common error

Avoid using "retroflex" loosely to describe any consonant sound made towards the back of the mouth. Ensure the tongue is specifically curled back toward the hard palate, distinguishing it from other postalveolar or velar articulations.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "retroflex" is as an adjective describing a type of consonant or articulation in phonetics. Ludwig examples show it modifying terms like "r", "sounds", "consonants", and "stops", specifying their phonetic quality. Ludwig AI confirms the term's consistent usage in linguistic contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Encyclopedias

40%

News & Media

28%

Science

32%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "retroflex" functions primarily as an adjective in linguistic contexts, specifically describing consonants articulated with the tongue curled back toward the hard palate. It's a term commonly found in encyclopedias, news articles, and scientific literature related to phonetics. Ludwig's analysis confirms that "retroflex" follows standard grammatical rules and its usage is well-established in describing phonetic features. While the term is mostly used in scientific contexts, Ludwig's examples also show its use in describing general features of languages and accents.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

retroflex consonant

Specifies the type of sound being described.

retroflex sound

A more general term for a retroflex articulation.

cacuminal consonant

Synonymous term for a retroflex consonant, focusing on the place of articulation.

curled tongue sound

Describes the action of the tongue during retroflex articulation.

apical consonant

Refers to consonants articulated with the tip of the tongue; related because retroflex consonants use the tongue tip.

subapical consonant

Refers to articulation with the underside of the tongue tip; closely related to retroflex.

postalveolar consonant

Describes consonants articulated slightly behind the alveolar ridge; overlaps with retroflex articulation.

tongue-tip articulation

General term for sounds made with the tip of the tongue, which is a component of retroflex sounds.

articulated consonant

Generic term describing consonant production.

speech sound

A broad term encompassing all sounds used in speech, including retroflex sounds.

FAQs

How is a "retroflex" consonant produced?

A "retroflex" consonant is produced by curling the tip of the tongue back towards the hard palate, located at the roof of the mouth. This contrasts with other consonants where the tongue doesn't curl back.

In what languages do "retroflex" consonants typically appear?

"Retroflex" consonants are commonly found in Dravidian languages like Tamil and Telugu, as well as Indo-Aryan languages such as Hindi. They also appear in some Scandinavian languages.

What's the difference between a "retroflex" consonant and a dental consonant?

A "retroflex" consonant involves curling the tongue back towards the roof of the mouth, while a dental consonant is produced with the tongue touching the upper teeth. The key difference lies in the point of articulation in the mouth.

Are there other terms for "retroflex" sounds?

Yes, another term for "retroflex" sounds is "cacuminal consonant". Both terms describe the same phonetic articulation.