Affricatives are consonant sounds that begin as stops but are released as fricatives, which involves a brief stoppage of airflow followed by a slow release with friction, such as the sounds /ch/ and /j/.

• A. Affricatives
• B. Vowels
• C. Stops
• D. Nasals

Answer: (A)

Affricates are sounds that combine a brief stop with a fricated release. The air is momentarily blocked, like a stop, and then released gradually while creating friction, producing a hissy, metallic feel. The classic examples are the sounds represented in English by “ch” and “j” (written as /t͡ʃ/ and /d͡ʒ/). This two-phase articulation—stoppage followed by a slowed, friction-filled release—is what makes an affricate distinct.

Vowels don’t fit because they are produced with an open vocal tract and continuous airflow, with no closure or friction phase. Stops have a momentary closure and a quick, loud release but no fricative portion. Nasals involve air flowing through the nasal cavity and have a nasal resonance, not a fricative release. The description given matches affricates most precisely.