Voiced labial–velar approximant
The voiced labial–velar approximant is a type of consonantal sound, used in certain spoken languages, including English. It is the sound denoted by the letter in the English alphabet; likewise, the symbol in the International Phonetic Alphabet that represents this sound is , or rarely , and the equivalent X-SAMPA symbol is codice_1. In most languages it is the semivocalic counterpart of the close back rounded vowel . In inventory charts of languages with other labialized velar consonants, will be placed in the same column as those consonants. When consonant charts have only labial and velar columns , may be placed in the velar column, (bi)labial column, or both. The placement may have more to do with phonological criteria than phonetic ones. Some languages have a voiced labial–prevelar approximant, which is more fronted than the place of articulation of the prototypical voiced labialized velar approximant, though not as front as the prototypical labialized palatal approximant. Features. Features of the voiced labial–velar approximant: