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classes of consonants are distinguished:
a) Occlusive, in the production of which a complete
obstruction is formed;
b) Constrictive, in the production of which an incomplete
obstruction is formed.
Each of the two classes is subdivided into noise consonants
and sonorants – it depends what prevails in their formation – noise
or tone component in the auditory characteristic of a sound.
In their turn noise consonants are divided into plosive
consonants and affricates.
Another characteristic of English consonants is the place of
articulation which is determined by the active organ of speech
against the point of articulation. According to this principle the
English consonants are classed into:
a) Labial;
b) Lingual;
c) Glottal.
The class of labial consonants is subdivided into:
a) Bilabial:
b) Labio-dental.
Among the class of lingual consonants three subclasses are
distinguished. They are:
a) Forelingual;
b) Mediolingual;
c) Backlingual.
Next point should be made in connection with another
sound property, that is voiced – voiceless characteristic which
depends on the work of the vocal cords whether there’s the
absence or presence of vibrations of the vocal cords, or the
absence or presence of voice or tone component.
There is one more articulatory characteristic which is
usually included into the set of principles on the basis of which the
English consonants are classified, that is the position of the soft
palate. According to this principle consonants can be oral or nasal.

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