Topic-059: Approximants The consonants which make very little obstruction to the airflow are called approximants. These have traditionally been divided into two main groups semivowels (such as win wet and j in yet) which are very similar to close vowels (u and i) but are produced as a rapid glide and liquid sounds which have an identifiable constriction of the airflow (but they do not obstruct sufficiently to produce fricative noise, compression or the diversion of airflow) - this category includes lateral sound i.e., l as in lead and r sound as in read. Approximant sounds therefore, are not fricative and never contain interruptions to the flow of air. The BBC accent of English has four approximant sounds Bilabial was in whackAlveolar land r as in lack and rackPalatal j as in yak Sometimes, experts need to differentiate among various kinds of r approximant (tap, flap and trill.
