In the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), the symbol [q] represents the voiceless uvular stop.
Understanding the Voiceless Uvular Stop
The voiceless uvular stop is a consonant sound made by:
- Voiceless: The vocal cords do not vibrate during the production of the sound.
- Uvular: The sound is articulated at the uvula, the fleshy part hanging down at the back of your mouth.
- Stop: The airflow is completely stopped for a brief moment before being released.
Examples of [q] in Different Languages
The sound [q] is not present in English but is found in other languages, such as:
- Arabic: Often represented by the letter "ق" (qāf).
- Inuktitut: Found in many words.
- Persian: Similar to Arabic, uses a form of the letter "ق."
IPA Chart Representation
The IPA chart organizes sounds based on their place and manner of articulation. The voiceless uvular stop [q] is located in the uvular stop section of the consonant chart.
X-SAMPA Equivalent
The X-SAMPA symbol for the voiceless uvular stop is also q. According to the reference material, The voiceless uvular stop is transcribed as [q] in both the IPA and X-SAMPA.
