Inventory Kpelle (SPA 137)

Segment class Segment Marginal Allophones Representation

Consonants (Pulmonic)

Bilabial Labiodental Dental Alveolar Postalveolar Retroflex Palatal  Velar  Uvular Pharyngeal Glottal
Plosive p b t̪ d̪ t d ʈ ɖ c ɟ k ɡ q ɢ   ʔ  
Nasal m ɱ n̪ n ɳ ɲ ŋ ɴ
Trill ʙ r̪ r ʀ
Tap or Flap ⱱ ɾ̪ ɾ ɽ
Fricative ɸ β f v θ ð s z ʃ ʒ ʂ ʐ ç ʝ x ɣ χ ʁ ħ ʕ h ɦ
Lateral fricative ɬ ɮ
Approximant ʋ ɹ ɻ j ɰ
Lateral approximant l̪ l ɭ ʎ ʟ

Where symbols appear in pairs, the one to the right represents a voiced consonant. Shaded areas denote articulations judged impossible.

Consonants (Non-Pulmonic)

Clicks Voiced implosives
ʘ Bilabial ɓ Bilabial
ǀ Dental ɗ Dental/alveolar
ǃ (Post)alveolar ʄ Palatal
ǂ Palatoalveolar ɠ Velar
ǁ Alveolar lateral ʛ Uvular

Vowels

Vowel Quadrilateral
Front Central Back Close Close-mid Open-mid Open

Where symbols appear in pairs, the one to the right represents a rounded vowel.

Other Segments

˧ MODIFIER LETTER MID TONE BAR
˥ MODIFIER LETTER EXTRA-HIGH TONE BAR
m̩ LATIN SMALL LETTER M - COMBINING VERTICAL LINE BELOW
ŋ̩ LATIN SMALL LETTER ENG - COMBINING VERTICAL LINE BELOW
˩ MODIFIER LETTER EXTRA-LOW TONE BAR
kʷ LATIN SMALL LETTER K - MODIFIER LETTER SMALL W
n̩ LATIN SMALL LETTER N - COMBINING VERTICAL LINE BELOW
ŋʷ LATIN SMALL LETTER ENG - MODIFIER LETTER SMALL W
ɲ̩ LATIN SMALL LETTER N WITH LEFT HOOK - COMBINING VERTICAL LINE BELOW
b̩ LATIN SMALL LETTER B - COMBINING VERTICAL LINE BELOW
d̩ LATIN SMALL LETTER D - COMBINING VERTICAL LINE BELOW
ɡ̩ LATIN SMALL LETTER SCRIPT G - COMBINING VERTICAL LINE BELOW
ɡb LATIN SMALL LETTER SCRIPT G - LATIN SMALL LETTER B
ɡb̩ LATIN SMALL LETTER SCRIPT G - LATIN SMALL LETTER B - COMBINING VERTICAL LINE BELOW
ɡ̩ʷ LATIN SMALL LETTER SCRIPT G - COMBINING VERTICAL LINE BELOW - MODIFIER LETTER SMALL W
ɣ̩ LATIN SMALL LETTER GAMMA - COMBINING VERTICAL LINE BELOW
kp LATIN SMALL LETTER K - LATIN SMALL LETTER P
ŋ̩ʷ LATIN SMALL LETTER ENG - COMBINING VERTICAL LINE BELOW - MODIFIER LETTER SMALL W
v̩ LATIN SMALL LETTER V - COMBINING VERTICAL LINE BELOW
z̩ LATIN SMALL LETTER Z - COMBINING VERTICAL LINE BELOW