sonorant (adj./n.) (son)

One of the MAJOR CLASS FEATURES of sound set up by Chomsky and Halle in their DISTINCTIVE FEATURE theory of PHONOLOGY, to handle variations in MANNER OF ARTICULATION. Sonorant sounds are defined articulatorily, as those produced with a relatively free airflow, and a VOCAL FOLD position such that spontaneous VOICING is possible, as in VOWELS, LIQUIDS, NASALS and LATERALS. Its opposite is non-sonorant (or OBSTRUENT), referring to sounds where there is a stricture impeding the airflow, as in PLOSIVES, FRICATIVES and AFFRICATES. An analogous term is RESONANT.