PHONETICS AND PHONOLOGY
Segmental Aspects

Jones recognises two terms used for classifying consonants according to “force of articulation”. These are fortis or lenis. The terms “imply that the main distinguishing factor is the amount of energy used in their production (fortis consonants being made with greater energy than lenis)” (Jones, 2003, p. x).

According to Crystal, “the force with which the consonants are articulated” captures the differences between consonant pairs in which the contrast in voicing is present. Defining the fortis and lenis consonants, “voiceless consonants are produced with much greater force than their voiced counterparts” (Crystal, 2011, p. 243), so the terms fortis (strong) and lenis (weak) identify the differences between these two groups:

FORTIS: p, t, k, f, θ, s, ʃ, ʧ

LENIS: b, d, g, v, ð, z, ʒ, dʒ

Summing these definitions up, relatively strong muscular effort is needed when pronouncing fortis (i.e. voiceless) consonants, whereas little muscular effort is needed during pronunciation of lenis (i.e. voiced) consonants.