Which pair of consonants is given as an example of liquids?

• A. /l/ and /r/
• B. /h/ and /w/
• C. /d/ and /g/
• D. /s/ and /z/

Answer: (A)

Liquids are a class of consonants produced with a relatively open vocal tract, allowing air to flow around the tongue rather than being completely blocked. In English, the two classic liquids are the lateral /l/, where air flows along the sides of the tongue, and the rhotic /r/, which involves a constriction but not a full stop of airflow. Because of this open, unobstructed flow, they behave differently from other consonant types like stops that close the air space, fricatives that create continuous noise with a narrow constriction, and glides that slide into a vowel. The sounds /l/ and /r/ exemplify liquids since they share this more open, sonorant quality. The other options are not liquids: /h/ is a glottal fricative, /w/ is a glide, /d/ and /g/ are stops, and /s/ and /z/ are fricatives.