Occurrence
The labiodental flap is found primarily in Africa, in perhaps a couple hundred languages in the Chadic family (Margi, Tera), Ubangian (Ngbaka, Ma'bo, Sera), Central Sudanic (Mangbetu, Kresh), and Bantoid (Ngwe, some Shona dialects). It is extremely rare outside Africa, though it has been reported from Sika in Flores.
| Language | Word | IPA | Meaning | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kera | |||||
| Mangbetu | |||||
| Mono | vwa | 'send' | Contrasts with /v/ and /w/. In free variation with bilabial flap | ||
| Sika | "I stand a pole in the ground" | Contrasts with /v/ and /β/. May also be realized as | |||
The bilabial flap is a variant of the labiodental flap in several languages, including Mono. This sound involves striking the upper lip rather than the upper teeth. The two sounds are not known to contrast in any language; the term labial flap can be used as a broader description encompassing both sounds.
In Sika, the flap is heard in careful pronunciation, but it may also be realized as a voiced labiodental plosive, or an affricate. It contrasts with both a bilabial and a labiodental fricative:
| "I stand a pole in the ground" | |
| "I buy" | |
| "We (inclusive) buy" |
Read more about this topic: Labiodental Flap
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