In phonetics, a strident refers to a type of sound that is characterized by a strong, sharp quality. Typically, strident sounds are produced with a high degree of turbulence and force, often involving the airflow being directed through a narrow constriction in the vocal tract. This results in a clearer, more piercing sound compared to non-strident sounds.
Stridents are most commonly associated with certain fricatives and affricates in languages. For instance, sounds like /s/, /z/, /ʃ/ (as in ‘sh’), and /ʒ/ (as in ‘measure’) are considered strident because they are produced with a significant amount of friction and have a loud, incisive quality. In contrast, sounds such as /f/ and /v/ are often viewed as less strident due to their softer quality.
Understanding stridents is important in phonetics because they can affect how speech is perceived. The distinction between strident and non-strident sounds can also play a role in phonological processes, such as assimilation or place of articulation changes in different linguistic contexts.