Consonants made with non-pulmonic airstream mechanisms

Ejectives

In order to produce ejectives the closed larynx is raised. This is accompanied by a closure in the mouth (bilabial, alveolar, velar) and a raised velum. Raising the larynx squeezes the air trapped between the glottis and the consonant closure in the vocal tract and raises the air pressure in this chamber. Upon release of the consonant closure, the air rushes out. Stops produced this way are called ‘ejectives’. Because there is no vocal cord vibration, ejectives are typically voiceless. They are symbolized by the appropriate consonant symbol with the addition of an apostrophe ([p’, t’, k’]), and are common in many Amerindian languages (e.g. Nez Perce, Klamath, Nootka, Dakota), Circassian languages (e.g. Kabardian, Georgian), and African languages (e.g. Zulu, Hausa).